A network of fast-spiking cells in the neocortex connected by electrical synapses

Encoding of information in the cortex is thought to depend on synchronous firing of cortical neurons. Inhibitory neurons are known to be critical in the coordination of cortical activity, but how interaction among inhibitory cells promotes synchrony is not well understood. To address this issue directly, we have recorded simultaneously from pairs of fast-spiking (FS) cells, a type of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing neocortical interneuron. Here we report a high occurrence of electrical coupling among FS cells. Electrical synapses were not found among pyramidal neurons or between FS cells and other cortical cells. Some FS cells were interconnected by both electrical and GABAergic synapses. We show that communication through electrical synapses allows excitatory signalling among inhibitory cells and promotes their synchronous spiking. These results indicate that electrical synapses establish a network of fast-spiking cells in the neocortex which may play a key role in coordinating cortical activity.     

Activation of specific interneurons improves V1 feature selectivity and visual perception

Inhibitory interneurons are essential components of the neural circuits underlying various brain functions. In the neocortex, a large diversity of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) interneurons has been identified on the basis of their morphology, molecular markers, biophysical properties and innervation pattern. However, how the activity of each subtype of interneurons contributes to sensory processing remains unclear. Here we show that optogenetic activation of parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons in the mouse primary visual cortex (V1) sharpens neuronal feature selectivity and improves perceptual discrimination. Using multichannel recording with silicon probes and channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-mediated optical activation, we found that increased spiking of PV+ interneurons markedly sharpened orientation tuning and enhanced direction selectivity of nearby neurons. These effects were caused by the activation of inhibitory neurons rather than a decreased spiking of excitatory neurons, as archaerhodopsin-3 (Arch)-mediated optical silencing of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CAMKIIα)-positive excitatory neurons caused no significant change in V1 stimulus selectivity. Moreover, the improved selectivity specifically required PV+ neuron activation, as activating somatostatin or vasointestinal peptide interneurons had no significant effect. Notably, PV+ neuron activation in awake mice caused a significant improvement in their orientation discrimination, mirroring the sharpened V1 orientation tuning. Together, these results provide the first demonstration that visual coding and perception can be improved by increased spiking of a specific subtype of cortical inhibitory interneurons.     

基于动态群体的聚集演化求解多峰函数优化问题

指出了现有的演化算法框架都是群体固定的演化迭代过程，对求解多峰函数优化问题时由于无法事先得知峰值点的个数而很难确定合适的群体大小，影响了算法的效率，提出了一种群体动态可调的演化方式，使得初始群体大小可任意指定，在演化过程中通过聚集和按比例引入新个体两个过程而动态变化。实验表明，该算法能尽可能多地定位峰值点。     

一类非线性时滞Fokker-Planck方程的近似平稳解

研究了一类非线性随机时滞动力系统,特别考虑到描述这一系统的非线性随机时滞微分方程扩散项含有时间延迟效应;为此首先利用摄动理论导出了相应于非线性随机时滞微分方程的非线性时滞Fokker-Planck方程,然后利用平稳概率密度的一阶近似法得出了在时间延迟很小的情况下非线性时滞Fokker-Planck方程的一阶近似平稳解。     

Balanced inhibition underlies tuning and sharpens spike timing in auditory cortex

Neurons in the primary auditory cortex are tuned to the intensity and specific frequencies of sounds, but the synaptic mechanisms underlying this tuning remain uncertain. Inhibition seems to have a functional role in the formation of cortical receptive fields, because stimuli often suppress similar or neighbouring responses, and pharmacological blockade of inhibition broadens tuning curves. Here we use whole-cell recordings in vivo to disentangle the roles of excitatory and inhibitory activity in the tone-evoked responses of single neurons in the auditory cortex. The excitatory and inhibitory receptive fields cover almost exactly the same areas, in contrast to the predictions of classical lateral inhibition models. Thus, although inhibition is typically as strong as excitation, it is not necessary to establish tuning, even in the receptive field surround. However, inhibition and excitation occurred in a precise and stereotyped temporal sequence: an initial barrage of excitatory input was rapidly quenched by inhibition, truncating the spiking response within a few (1-4) milliseconds. Balanced inhibition might thus serve to increase the temporal precision and thereby reduce the randomness of cortical operation, rather than to increase noise as has been proposed previously.     

非线性人口动力系统稳态解的适定性

本文从最一般的人口动力系统出发,讨论其稳态解的适定性。采用了把非线性问题线性化的的方法推出一个判断稳态解渐进稳定的一个特殊方程——习惯上称为对应稳态解的特征方程,并由特征方程讨论解的适定性。最后给出几种特殊的人口方程的稳态解的适定性。     

基于平稳分布的随机恒化器动力学分析

基于平稳分布,研究了一类带有参数扰动的随机恒化器模型的空间动力学行为。首先,利用微分方程的基本理论,求出微生物种群平稳分布概率密度函数的完全表达式;然后,对于所得的平稳分布密度函数的形态进行分析,发现噪声在很大程度上将改变原有确定性恒化器模型的动力学行为,而且最大概率平衡点会随噪声强度的改变而改变,呈现出较为复杂的动力学行为;最后,通过一组文献中的实验数值进行模拟分析,所得结论与理论结果一致。研究恒化器模型的主要目的是研究其中微生物的生存分布,对这一问题进行深入的研究,可为相关从业工作者提供较为完善的理论依据。     

Precise inhibition is essential for microsecond interaural time difference coding

Microsecond differences in the arrival time of a sound at the two ears (interaural time differences, ITDs) are the main cue for localizing low-frequency sounds in space. Traditionally, ITDs are thought to be encoded by an array of coincidence-detector neurons, receiving excitatory inputs from the two ears via axons of variable length ('delay lines'), to create a topographic map of azimuthal auditory space. Compelling evidence for the existence of such a map in the mammalian lTD detector, the medial superior olive (MSO), however, is lacking. Equally puzzling is the role of a--temporally very precise glycine--mediated inhibitory input to MSO neurons. Using in vivo recordings from the MSO of the Mongolian gerbil, we found the responses of ITD-sensitive neurons to be inconsistent with the idea of a topographic map of auditory space. Moreover, local application of glycine and its antagonist strychnine by iontophoresis (through glass pipette electrodes, by means of an electric current) revealed that precisely timed glycine-controlled inhibition is a critical part of the mechanism by which the physiologically relevant range of ITDs is encoded in the MSO. A computer model, simulating the response of a coincidence-detector neuron with bilateral excitatory inputs and a temporally precise contralateral inhibitory input, supports this conclusion.     

Two networks of electrically coupled inhibitory neurons in neocortex

Inhibitory interneurons are critical to sensory transformations, plasticity and synchronous activity in the neocortex. There are many types of inhibitory neurons, but their synaptic organization is poorly understood. Here we describe two functionally distinct inhibitory networks comprising either fast-spiking (FS) or low-threshold spiking (LTS) neurons. Paired-cell recordings showed that inhibitory neurons of the same type were strongly interconnected by electrical synapses, but electrical synapses between different inhibitory cell types were rare. The electrical synapses were strong enough to synchronize spikes in coupled interneurons. Inhibitory chemical synapses were also common between FS cells, and between FS and LTS cells, but LTS cells rarely inhibited one another. Thalamocortical synapses, which convey sensory information to the cortex, specifically and strongly excited only the FS cell network. The electrical and chemical synaptic connections of different types of inhibitory neurons are specific, and may allow each inhibitory network to function independently.     

一类带有Size结构竞争种群系统平衡解的稳定性条件

研究一类带有Size结构竞争种群系统平衡解的稳定性条件．利用不动点定理证明了平衡解的存在唯一性,并得出了平衡解的特征方程．     

一个肿瘤化学治疗空间结构模型的定性分析

 研究了一个肿瘤化学治疗反应的空间结构的数学模型,这是一个动力系统模型,它是偏微分方程的自由边界问题。假设肿瘤的繁殖和死亡由局部药物浓度决定。在一些条件下,通过运用抛物方程的Lp理论、压缩映像原理证明了这个问题局部解的存在唯一性,然后用延拓方法得到了整体解的存在唯一性。在另外一些条件下,通过运用反应扩散方程的上、下解方法,得到了：当0s,R_s)。     

一般变换下Klein-Gordon方程新的精确解

将行波变换下修正的双Jacob i椭圆函数展开法推广到范围非常广泛的一般函数变换下进行,利用这一方法求得了K le in-Gordon方程的更多新的周期解,补充了前面研究的结果.当模m→1或m→0时,这些解退化为相应的孤波解、三角函数解和奇异的行波解.     

人口发展方程边值问题的H~(3/2,3/2)(Ω)解

为深入研究人口控制系统,利用函数分析方法讨论人口发展方程非齐次边值问题,在Sobolev空间内得到新的级数解,进一步证明了解的稳定性.该解的表达式为定量人口学的某些理论研究提供了新的关系式,并为进一步研究人口方程边值问题的正则解提供理论基础.     

一类具Size结构的非线性种群平衡解的稳定性

考虑一类具有Size结构的非线性种群系统平衡解的稳定性条件.利用不动点定理得到了平衡态的存在唯一性,给出平衡态的表达式,导出了系统的特征方程,从而获得平衡解的稳定性条件.     

映射神经元前馈环网络基元中的随机共振和相干共振

采用映射神经元模型,通过数值模拟方法研究了由3个神经元组成的前馈环（Feed—Forward—Loop,FFL）网络基元中噪声对体系非线性动力学行为的影响．由3个神经元组成的前馈环网络基元,因神经元本身分为兴奋和抑制两种类型,共有8种不同的形式．通过对不同类型前馈环网络基元的数值模拟,在多种类型的前馈环中发现了随机共振及相干共振现象．在对不同前馈类型及不同耦合强度下的结果进行比较后,发现不同的前馈形式及耦合强度对体系的动力学行为有着非常重要的影响．     

Mechanisms and circuitry underlying directional selectivity in the retina

In the retina, directionally selective ganglion cells respond with robust spiking to movement in their preferred direction, but show minimal response to movement in the opposite, or null, direction. The mechanisms and circuitry underlying this computation have remained controversial. Here we show, by isolating the excitatory and inhibitory inputs to directionally selective cells and measuring direct connections between these cells and presynaptic neurons, that a presynaptic interneuron, the starburst amacrine cell, delivers direct inhibition to directionally selective cells. The processes of starburst cells are connected asymmetrically to directionally selective cells: those pointing in the null direction deliver inhibition; those pointing in the preferred direction do not. Starburst cells project inhibition laterally ahead of a stimulus moving in the null direction. In addition, starburst inhibition is itself directionally selective: it is stronger for movement in the null direction. Excitation in response to null direction movement is reduced by an inhibitory signal acting at a site that is presynaptic to the directionally selective cell. The interplay of these components generates reduced excitation and enhanced inhibition in the null direction, thereby ensuring robust directional selectivity.     

改进的灰狼算法在电动汽车充电调度中的应用

针对灰狼优化算法（grey wolf opotimizer, GWO）易早熟收敛和陷入局部最优的缺点,提出一种基于精英反向学习的混合灰狼算法（grey wolf optimizer based on particle swarm optimizer,PSO-GWO）。首先,利用精英反向学习机制初始化种群,使种群保持多样性;然后提出一种非线性控制因子策略,增加算法的搜索能力,提高算法的收敛速度;最后基于差分进化和粒子群思想更新了位置方程,从而提升算法的收敛性能。采取10个基准测试函数将本文提出的改进的算法与差分进化算法、粒子群算法、传统灰狼算法、其他学者提出的改进灰狼优化算法进行对比。实验结果表明,本文提出的算法与其他算法相比,在求解多峰函数问题上效果显著,可以搜索到最优解0,同时求解最优非0解函数的效果也体现地较优越;同时运用改进的算法在实际电动汽车充电调度上进行了对比分析,发现也取得了不错的效果。     

Purkinje neuron synchrony elicits time-locked spiking in the cerebellar nuclei

An unusual feature of the cerebellar cortex is that its output neurons, Purkinje cells, release GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). Their high intrinsic firing rates (50?Hz) and extensive convergence predict that their target neurons in the cerebellar nuclei would be largely inhibited unless Purkinje cells pause their spiking, yet Purkinje and nuclear neuron firing rates do not always vary inversely. One indication of how these synapses transmit information is that populations of Purkinje neurons synchronize their spikes during cerebellar behaviours. If nuclear neurons respond to Purkinje synchrony, they may encode signals from subsets of inhibitory inputs. Here we show in weanling and adult mice that nuclear neurons transmit the timing of synchronous Purkinje afferent spikes, owing to modest Purkinje-to-nuclear convergence ratios (～40:1), fast inhibitory postsynaptic current kinetics (τ(decay) = 2.5?ms) and high intrinsic firing rates (～90?Hz). In vitro, dynamically clamped asynchronous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials mimicking Purkinje afferents suppress nuclear cell spiking, whereas synchronous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials entrain nuclear cell spiking. With partial synchrony, nuclear neurons time-lock their spikes to the synchronous subpopulation of inputs, even when only 2 out of 40 afferents synchronize. In vivo, nuclear neurons reliably phase-lock to regular trains of molecular layer stimulation. Thus, cerebellar nuclear neurons can preferentially relay the spike timing of synchronized Purkinje cells to downstream premotor areas.