Neuronal dynamics based on individual stochastic ion channels

Abstract

A new neuronal model based on the stochastic activity of a single channel is proposed. The model connects the microscopic ionic kinetics to the macroscopic neuronal behavior and describes a neuron as a organized structure of individual subneuronal elements. This illustration has not been well achieved by the common models employed so far. Simulational results by using this novel model shows that spatially distributed ion channels can reproduce the neuronal dynamics - the existence of the stable state, initiation and propagation of the action potentials. The membrane potential measured at different points enables us to estimate the propagation speed of the action potentials.