Methods
The concentration-response curve under consideration is given as mean spike rate depending on the logarithm of concentration. We present two methods to calculate biphasic concentration-response curves.
Firstly, a fitting algorithm, extending the method described in [3] is developed, leading not only to monophasic but also biphasic concentration-response curves. The fitting parameters gained with this method exhibit new features describing the effect of neuroactive substances in a new way.
Secondly, a smoothing spline [4] is applied to the data. Thereby efforts are being made to keep close at the data as well as to achieve a smooth curve. Computational Geometry is used to calculate the minimal and maximal curvature, the area under the curve as well as the local extrema of the fitted curve. These values quantify concentration dependent effects of the used substances.
We applied both approaches to datasets which are derived by adding agmatine or bicuculline, respectively, to the neuronal network (data by courtesy from Neuroproof GmbH). As these substances have biphasic or monophasic concentration-response curves, we were able to compare the values of the new features for these different effects.