Principles of Computational Modelling in Neuroscience

This chapter covers a spectrum of models for both chemical and electrical synapses. Different levels of detail are delineated in terms of model complexity and suitability for different situations. These range from empirical models of voltage waveforms to more detailed kinetic schemes, and to complex stochastic models, including vesicle recycling and release. Simple static models that produce the same postsynaptic response for every presynaptic action potential are compared with more realistic models incorporating short-term dynamics that produce facilitation and depression of the postsynaptic response. Different postsynaptic receptor-mediated excitatory and inhibitory chemical synapses are described. Electrical connections formed by gap junctions are considered.