A model of theta rhythm production in the septal-hippocampal system and its modulation by ascending brain stem pathways

Recent experimental observations have disclosed the existence of a septal-hippocampal feedback circuit, composed of medial septum diagonal band of Broca (ms-dbB) GABAergic projections to the inhibitory interneurons of the hippocampus, and hippocampal GABAergic projections to the ms-dbB, the major targets of which are the GABAergic septo-hippocampal projection cells. We propose that this feedback circuit provides the mechanism for the rhythmic suppression of interneuronal activity in the hippocampus, which is observed as low-level GABAergic-mediated theta activity. We also propose that this circuit may be the mechanism by which ascending brain stem pathways to the ms-dbB, in particular from the reticular formation, can influence hippocampal information processing in response to particular behavioral states, by exercising control over the level and frequency of theta activity in the hippocampus. In support of these proposals, we describe a minimal computational model of the feedback circuit which uses a set of four coupled differential equations describing the average dynamic activity of the populations of excitatory and inhibitory cells involved in the circuit. We demonstrate through simulations the inherently robust 4-6-Hz oscillatory dynamics of the circuit, and show that manipulation of internal connection strengths and external modulatory influences on this circuit changes the dynamics in a way which closely mimics corresponding manipulations in recent neurophysiological experiments investigating theta activity.     

Oscillatory model of attention-guided object selection and novelty detection.

We develop a new oscillatory model that combines consecutive selection of objects and discrimination between new and familiar objects. The model works with visual information and fulfils the following operations: (1) separation of different objects according to their spatial connectivity; (2) consecutive selection of objects located in the visual field into the attention focus; (3) extraction of features; (4) representation of objects in working memory; (5) novelty detection of objects. The functioning of the model is based on two main principles: the synchronization of oscillators through phase-locking and resonant increase of the amplitudes of oscillators if they work in-phase with other oscillators. The results of computer simulation of the model are described for visual stimuli representing printed words.     

Effect of sodium cyanate-modified affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen on resistance of rats to heat

Department of Biophysics, Grodno State Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences K. V. Sudakov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 114, No. 12, pp. 600–603, December, 1992.