| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/S60914/01 |
| Title: |
Branching dendrites & active spines |
| Principal Investigator: |
Coombes, Professor S |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Mathematical Sciences |
| Organisation: |
University of Nottingham |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
20 September 2004 |
Ends: |
19 January 2008 |
Value (£): |
127,708
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biomedical neuroscience |
Non-linear Systems Mathematics |
| Numerical Analysis |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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As dendrites form the predominant elements in neurons, so dendritic spines form the dominant component of many types of dendritic trees. Direct observations have confirmed earlier speculations that these small mushroom-like extensions of dendrites possess excitable membrane. As a consequence signal processing in the spatially extended dendritic tree is highly nonlinear due to the ability of spine heads to generate action potentials. We propose to explore the fascinating dynamical phenomenon of saltatory wave propagation and wave scattering amongst dendritic branches within a new mathematically tractable and computationally inexpensive Spike-Diffuse-Spike framework. This framework is also ideally suited for the study of neural response to synaptic input and the effects of biophysically motivated Hebbian learning schemes. The methodology we propose to employ draws upon a number of established principles from different scientific disciplines, but is predominantly from those of nonlinear dynamics, numerical analysis of stochastic and deterministic systems, computational neuroscience and computational learning theory.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk |