Role of A-current in lamprey locomotor network neurons

A compartmental model of lamprey central pattern generator neurons was built in order to examine the effects of a fast, transient, high-voltage-activated potassium current (A-current) found experimentally. The model consisted of a soma, a compartment corresponding to the axon initial segment, and a dendritic tree. The simulation showed that the A-current was necessary for repetitive spiking in the single neuron following current injection. The functional role of adding an A-current was also examined in a network model. In this model, the A-current stabilizes the swimming rhythm by making the burst cycle duration and the number of spikes per burst less variable. All these effects are also seen experimentally.