Effect of Channel Noise in Synchronization and Metabolic Energy Consumption in Unidirectionally Coupled Neurons: Drug Blocking of Sodium and Potassium Channels

Abstract

In this work the stochastic generalization of single Hodgkin-Huxley neuron is further extended to unidirectionally coupled neurons. Our main focus is to elucidate the role of channel noise in the kinetics and energetics of spiking of action potential and the synchronization between two coupled neurons. We have found that the size of the patch is playing the pivotal role in synchronization and metabolic energy consumption. For example, there exists three different patch size ranges in which coupled neuron system behaves in a different manner from noise enhanced phase to dead range state before reaching the deterministic limit. We have also found that the sodium and potassium channel blockers have characteristic kinetic and energetic effects on synchronization process and metabolic energy consumption rate which has been validated with the simulated data.