Controlling Seizure-Like Events by Perturbing Ion Concentration Dynamics with Periodic Stimulation
Date
2013-09-16
Authors
Owen, Jeremy A.
Barreto, Ernest
Cressman, John R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
We investigate the effects of adding periodic stimulation to a generic, conductance-based neuron model that includes ion concentration dynamics of sodium and potassium. Under conditions of high extracellular potassium, the model exhibits repeating, spontaneous, seizure-like bursting events associated with slow modulation of the ion concentrations local to the neuron. We show that for a range of parameter values, depolarizing and hyperpolarizing periodic stimulation pulses (including frequencies lower than 4 Hz) can stop the spontaneous bursting by interacting with the ion concentration dynamics. Stimulation can also control the magnitude of evoked responses to modeled physiological inputs. We develop an understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of this system by a timescale separation procedure that identifies effective nullclines in the ion concentration parameter space. Our results suggest that the manipulation of ion concentration dynamics via external or endogenous stimulation may play an important role in neuronal excitability, seizure dynamics, and control.
Description
Keywords
Neurons, Action potential, Epilepsy, Tetanus, Membrane potential, Electrical stimulation, Potassium, Intracellular membranes
Citation
Owen JA, Barreto E, Cressman JR (2013) Controlling Seizure-Like Events by Perturbing Ion Concentration Dynamics with Periodic Stimulation. PLoS ONE 8(9): e73820. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0073820