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This function initializes a new network object with specified parameters. Networks are used to simulate two-dimensional cortical patches (of layers and columns) using Growth Transform dynamical systems.

Usage

new.network(
  network_name = "not_provided",
  recording_name = "not_provided",
  type = "Growth_Transform",
  genotype = "WT",
  sex = "not_provided",
  hemi = "not_provided",
  region = "not_provided",
  age = "not_provided",
  unit_time = "ms",
  unit_sample_rate = "Hz",
  unit_potential = "mV",
  unit_current = "mA",
  unit_conductance = "mS",
  unit_distance = "micron",
  t_per_bin = 1,
  sample_rate = 10000
)

Arguments

network_name

Character string giving name of the network (default: "not_provided").

recording_name

Character string giving name of the recording on which this network is based (default: "not_provided").

type

Character string giving type of network; "Growth_Transform" is the only option available (default: "Growth_Transform").

genotype

Character string giving genotype of the animal from which the modelled network comes, e.g. "WT", "KO", "MECP2", "transgenic", etc. (default: "not_provided").

sex

Character string giving sex of the animal from which the modelled network comes (default: "not_provided").

hemi

Character string giving hemisphere of the animal from which the modelled network comes, e.g. "left", "right" (default: "not_provided").

region

Character string giving brain region of the animal from which the modelled network comes, e.g. "V1", "M1", "CA1", "PFC", etc. (default: "not_provided").

age

Character string giving age of the animal from which the modelled network comes, e.g. "P0", "P7", "P14", "adult", etc. (default: "not_provided").

unit_time

Character string giving unit of time for spike raster or other recording data on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "ms", "s", etc. (default: "ms").

unit_sample_rate

Character string giving unit of sample rate for recording data on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "Hz", "kHz", etc. (default: "Hz").

unit_potential

Character string giving unit of cell-membrane potential for recording data on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "mV", "uV", etc. (default: "mV").

unit_current

Character string giving unit of cell current for recording data on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "mA", "uA", etc. (default: "mA").

unit_conductance

Character string giving unit of axon and dendrite conductance for recording data on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "mS", "uS", etc. (default: "mS").

unit_distance

Character string giving unit of distance axon and dendrite measurements on which the model is based or being compared, e.g. "micron", "mm", etc. (default: "micron").

t_per_bin

Time (in above units) per bin, e.g., 1 ms per bin (default: 10.0).

sample_rate

Sample rate (in above units), e.g., 1e4 Hz (default: 1e4).

Value

A new network object.

Details

Mathematically, networks are points (representing neurons) connected by directed edges. Within the growth-transform (GT) model framework, these edges are transconductance values representing synaptic connections between neurons.

Point types: Points can be grouped by types, which affect their behavior and connectivity. Within the GT model framework, these types each have their own temporal modulation constants (determining, e.g., whether the cell bursts or fires singular spikes) and valence (excitatory or inhibitory).

Global structure: Modelling the mammalian cortex, networks are assumed to divide into a coarse-grained two-dimensional coordinate system of layers (rows) and columns (columns). Each point is assigned to a layer-column coordinate (called a "node"), having both local x-y coordinates within that node and a global x-y coordinate within the network.

Local structure: Each layer-column coordinate defines a "node" containing a number of points determined by layer and type. Connections (edges) within a node are determined by a local recurrence factor matrix determining the transconductance between points of each type. These edges are called "local".

Long-range projections: Connections (edges) between points in different nodes are determined by a long-range projection motif and labelled with the same of that motif.