Skip to main content
  • Poster presentation
  • Open access
  • Published:

Constraining neural microcircuits with surrogate physiological data and genetic algorithms

Background

Biophysically detailed bottom-up approaches to modelling neural networks have previously used simulated annealing, gradient-decent or ad-hoc algorithms to constrain the many free parameters [1]. This study explores the use of genetic algorithms to automatically search for a known configuration using extracellular spike recordings or intracellular voltage data. Surrogate data on neural responses is generated and the ability of the algorithms to find the (known) neural parameters is assessed.

Materials and methods

Four cell subtypes, in a known microcircuit of the mammalian cochlear nucleus [2], are simulated in a network with 60 frequency channels of auditory input. Each cell received a 'tonotopic' projection of auditory nerve fibres, simulated using a phenomenological auditory nerve model response to a 60 dB SPL notch noise stimuli. Single compartment Hodgkin-Huxley neurons and conductance synapses were implemented in NEURON. Detailed equations for the active voltage-dependant currents INa, IKHT, IKLT, IKA and Ih, were derived from in vitro studies of cochlear nucleus cells [3]. Using genetic algorithm optimisation, four cost functions using identical input stimuli were investigated. The cost functions calculated error in either: (i) absolute spike times, (ii) peri-stimulus time histograms, (iii) cumulative spike counts, or (iv) average intracellular voltages for each cell in the network. Network parameters controlling the number, weight and distribution of the synaptic connections were used in the optimisation, but these could easily be extended to incorporate other cell properties. In all, 30 parameters controlling 10 synaptic connections were converted to a GA binary string.

Results

Each cost function was allowed to run for 2 × 200 generations of the GA, after which a best solution was determined. Normalisation of the results was difficult due to the different scale of scores produced by the cost functions and the different binary resolutions of the parameters. Table 1 shows the performance of the cost function as judged by the best solutions. The average intracellular voltage obtained the best solution as determined by the parametric mean error relative to the target parameters, although each of the cost functions were able to converge successfully to a solution that was within 30% of the target values. Cost function parameter sensitivity was a key factor, since some parameters were visibly under constrained. Sensitivity analysis was also performed for each parameter in the search space around the target.

Table 1 Genetic Algorithm Cost Function Performance

Conclusion

Success of the GA optimization was affected by intrinsic noise in the neural model and depended on the sensitivity of the cost function to changes in each parameter. The results have shown the potential of genetic algorithms to constrain the underlying synaptic parameters of BNNs from any of the chosen sources of physiological data. More work is needed to assess the impact of reducing the amount of information available to the cost function and setting confidence limits for each parameter.

References

  1. De Schutter E, Ekeberg Or, Kotaleski JH, Achard P, Lansner A: Biophysically detailed modelling of microcircuits and beyond. Trends Neurosci. 2005, 28 (10): 562-569. 10.1016/j.tins.2005.08.002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ferragamo MJ, Golding NL, Oertel D: Synaptic inputs to stellate cells in the ventral cochlear nucleus. J Neurophysiol. 1998, 79 (1): 51-63.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rothman JS, Manis PB: The roles potassium currents play in regulating the electrical activity of ventral cochlear nucleus neurons. J Neurophysiol. 2003, 89 (6): 3097-3113. 10.1152/jn.00127.2002.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael A Eager.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eager, M.A., Grayden, D.B., Meffin, H. et al. Constraining neural microcircuits with surrogate physiological data and genetic algorithms. BMC Neurosci 8 (Suppl 2), P16 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-8-S2-P16

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2202-8-S2-P16

Keywords