Variation of the Spiking Dynamics of a Hodgkin-Huxley Neuron with an Electrical Autaptic Connection Under Ion Channel Blocking

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate how the blockage of potassium and sodium ion channels embedded in membranes affects the spiking dynamics of a Hodgkin-Huxley neuron model owing autaptic connection. We consider an electrical autapse expressed by its coupling strength and delay time. It is found that the spiking behavior of the neuron becomes more ordered with the increment of autaptic conductance regardless of the ion channel block level. Furthermore, it is obtained that the blockage of potassium and sodium ion channels influences differently to the spiking regularity of the neuron. Potassium ion channel blockage promotes regularity, whereas sodium ion channel blockage destroys.