Analysis of Dynamics of Cultured Neuronal Networks Using I & F Model

Experimentally, spontaneous activity of the developing cultured neuronal networks of cortical neurons is known to show three different types of dynamics according to their developmental stages. As these changes of dynamics play an important role in development of the networks, it is necessary to explore the mechanism of these changes of dynamics for understanding how the networks develop. However, little is known concerning the mechanism from the experiments because of difficulties in controlling experimental conditions. The simulation of electrical activity of neuronal networks formed by simple integrated and fire neurons provide a useful method for exploring such changes of dynamics. The simulation suggests that these changes of dynamics were mainly due to development of connectivity of synapses, changes of relative refractory period and development of inhibitory synapses.