Modeling the biophysical mechanisms of sound encoding at inner hair cell ribbon synapses

Modellierung der biophysikalischen Mechanismen der Schallkodierung an Bandsynapsen der inneren Haarzellen

by Nikolai Chapochnikov
Doctoral thesis
Date of Examination:2011-12-15
Date of issue:2012-11-28
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Fred Wolf
Referee:Prof. Dr. Fred Wolf
Referee:Prof. Dr. Tobias Moser
Referee:Prof. Dr. Alexander Gail
Persistent Address: http://dx.doi.org/10.53846/goediss-2898

 

 

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Abstract

English

A key stage in auditory encoding is the transformation of the analog and continuous electrical signal at inner hair cells (IHCs) into the discrete spike timings in auditory nerve fibers (ANFs). In this work, using modeling, we investigated the biophysical specializations of the IHC ribbon synapse, which support this transcoding of the auditory signal. First, in combination with experiments, we studied the coupling of the ANF postsynaptic bouton to its action potential generator. We found that ANFs encode with submillisecond precision the timings of neurotransmitter release from IHCs. Then, we investigated the sound signal encoding at the presynapse. By modeling vesicle diffusion on the synaptic ribbon, we show that the ribbon might act as a “Brownian conveyor trap
Keywords: cochlea; hair cell; auditory nerve fibers; ribbon synapse; synaptic transmission; action potential; integrate-and-fire neuron; modeling; coding; computational neuroscience
Schlagwörter: Hörschnecke; Haarzelle; Hörnervenfasern; Bändersynapse; synaptische Transmission; Aktionspotential; Integrate-and-Fire-Neuron; Modellierung; Kodierung; Computational Neuroscience
 
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