Neuroscience: An Introduction to Neural Oscillators

Neuroscience: An Introduction to Neural Oscillators

Neurons and neural regions communicate to other cells and regions through a variety of means. The simplest means that is seen in early development is through gap junctions. The transport of ions or potential is done via diffusion resulting in a coupling term that depends on the difference between the two coupled entities. The most common communication is via chemical synapses. Other ways of communication are via pooled substances that can accumulate in the extracellular space such as ions (Ca2+, K+) and second messengers (such as, NO, cAMP). This chapter discusses a number of properties of chains of oscillators that have local connectivity and depend only on phase-differences. These arise from the averaging reduction and have been used to understand the central pattern generator of the lamprey. Periodically forced chains have been exploited to provide information on the structure of the lamprey spinal cord central pattern generator.