Using the Dynamic Clamp to Explore the Relationship Between Intrinsic Activity and Network Dynamics

Our goal is to understand how neural network dynamics depend on the properties of the component neurons and their synaptic connections. To that end, we propose a novel method using the dynamic clamp to evaluate the intrinsic properties of isolated neurons that replaces conventional methods such as measuring input impedance. Secondly, we construct novel circuits using the dynamic clamp by electrically coupling pairs of pacemakers of rhythmically active pyloric networks from stomatogastric ganglia. We determine whether we can synchronize pacemakers with different intrinsic frequencies and how the coupled network frequency depends on the frequencies of the isolated pacemaker kernels.