A massively connected subthalamic nucleus leads to the generation of widespread pulses

A composite model of the subthalamic nucleus is developed from physiological and anatomical considerations. First, study of a geometric model of the anatomical arrangements of projection neurons within the nucleus indicates that they form a massively connected network. Second, given the excitatory nature of these neurons, their threshold and peak firing rates, a simple model of neuron responses reveals that large regions of this highly interconnected nucleus can respond to excitatory input in the form of a widespread uniform pulse. Such widespread pulses of activity may act as a braking signal that resets the major basal ganglia output nuclei.

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