Three-dimensional neural constructs: a novel platform for neurophysiological investigation.

Morphological and electrophysiological properties of neural cells are substantially influenced by their immediate extracellular surroundings, yet the features of this environment are difficult to mimic in vitro. Therefore, there is a tremendous need to develop a new generation of culture systems that more closely model the complexity of nervous tissue. To this end, we engineered novel electrophysiologically active 3D neural constructs composed of neurons and astrocytes within a bioactive extracellular matrix-based scaffold.

Parsimonious design principles for motor unit models.

Motor units are known to display type-specific differences in passive and active electrical properties, and attempts to predict motor unit type based on the measurement of membrane properties have been rather successful. Quantitative models of motoneurons have also grown in complexity and their predictive power is predicated upon the accurate description of basic membrane properties. This paper presents results from a modeling study which sought to specify a small and simple set of "design rules" that motoneurons might obey during type-specific differentiation.

Synaptic amplification in motoneurons: computational and mechanistic implications.

Motoneurons are known to possess the latent ability to amplify their inputs in a voltage-dependent manner. Additionally, this synaptic amplification is known to be under neuromodulatory control. This paper presents results from a computer modeling study for one possible mechanism, termed electrotonic compression, which could underlie this behavior.

Synaptic amplification versus bistability in motoneuron dendritic processing: a top-down modeling approach.

Motoneurons have been shown to exhibit both bistable firing and synaptic amplification. Both of these behaviors have generally been attributed to a single mechanism-dendritic plateau potentials based on L-type Ca(2+) conductances. However, our recent discovery of a fast-amplification mode calls this into question.