We study synaptic integration in mammalian cortical neurons - encoding of synaptic inputs into patterns of action potentials, or spikes. We are currently interested in - development of advanced electrical stimulation techniques (conductance injection) - ion channel kinetics which are functionally relevant to synaptic integration, in particular voltage- and time-dependence of NMDA receptor kinetics. - the dynamics and reliability of spike generation and of gamma frequency synchronization. - the diversity of spike dynamics amongst different cell types in the cortical circuit. - coding by action potential shape in cortical neurons
