A PRC description of how inhibitory feedback promotes oscillation stability

Abstract

Using methods of geometric dynamical systems modeling, we demonstrate the mechanism through which inhibitory feedback synapses to oscillatory neurons stabilize the oscillation, resulting in a flattened phase-resetting curve. In particular, we use the concept of a synaptic phase-resetting curve to demonstrate that periodic inhibitory feedback to an oscillatory neuron locks at a stable phase where it has no impact on cycle period and yet it acts to counter the effects of extrinsic perturbations. These results are supported by data from the stable bursting oscillations in the crustacean pyloric central pattern generator.