Sensitivity of neurons exposed to AC induction electric field

Abstract

Neuronal coding is one of the characteristics that exhibit the response of the neuron to the external stimulus. Based on a simplified Hodgkin-Huxley model, this paper firstly establishes a new neuronal model under the effect of alternating current (AC) induction electric field, and investigates the mechanism of neuronal encoding and the sensitivity of firing rate to noises. According to the model established, this paper obtains the bifurcation point of the model with the membrane voltage-time curves Then by the data analysis of the mean firing rate-electric field frequency or the mean firing rate-amplitude curves, it obtains the relationship between the neuronal firing rate and noises as well as the electric field intensity, proving that the fluctuations of electric field frequency or amplitude can affect the sensitivity of neurons. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.