A new stochastic model for auditory‐nerve discharge

This paper investigates the mechanisms for history‐dependent probability of eighth‐nerve discharge, which is modeled as the probability that the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) process crosses afferent membrane threshold, with the discharge history dependence due to the dependence of postsynaptic threshold voltage on time since previous action potential. The model parameters are the Poisson intensity αt of vesicle release, the duration e and probability density pV(v) of single‐vesicle EPSP’s, and the threshold voltage curve θ(τ) for spiking. It is proven that the infinitesimal conditional probabilities of discharge exhibit two distinct behaviors. The first is associated with the time τ=TD, exactly the time the neuron releases from absolute refractory where there is no intensity [θ(τ)=∞, for τdead time, τ...