Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter III
Forward Dendritic Spikes:
A Mechanism for Parallel Processing
in Dendritic Subunits and Shifting
Output Codes
Oscar Herreras
Cajal Institute, Spain
Julia Makarova
Cajal Institute, Spain
José Manuel Ibarz
Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Spain
AbSTRACT
Neurons send trains of action potentials to communicate each other. Different messages are issued ac-
cording to varying inputs, but they can also mix them up in a multiplexed language transmitted through
a single cable, the axon. This remarkable property arises from the capability of dendritic domains to
work semi autonomously and even decide output. We review the underlying mechanisms and theoretical
implications of the role of voltage-dependent dendritic currents on the forward transmission of synaptic
inputs, with special emphasis in the initiation, integration and forward conduction of dendritic spikes.
When these spikes reach the axon, output decision was made in one of many parallel dendritic substa-
tions. When failed, they still serve as an internal language to transfer information between dendritic
domains. This notion brakes with the classic view of neurons as the elementary units of the brain and
attributes them computational/storage capabilities earlier billed to complex brain circuits.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search