Switching neuronal state: optimal stimuli revealed using a stochastically-seeded gradient algorithm
Student Authors
Joshua ChangUMass Chan Affiliations
Department of NeurologyDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2014-12-01Keywords
BiologyComputational Neuroscience
Computer Sciences
Neurosciences
Statistical Models
Theory and Algorithms
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Inducing a switch in neuronal state using energy optimal stimuli is relevant to a variety of problems in neuroscience. Analytical techniques from optimal control theory can identify such stimuli; however, solutions to the optimization problem using indirect variational approaches can be elusive in models that describe neuronal behavior. Here we develop and apply a direct gradient-based optimization algorithm to find stimulus waveforms that elicit a change in neuronal state while minimizing energy usage. We analyze standard models of neuronal behavior, the Hodgkin-Huxley and FitzHugh-Nagumo models, to show that the gradient-based algorithm: (1) enables automated exploration of a wide solution space, using stochastically generated initial waveforms that converge to multiple locally optimal solutions; and (2) finds optimal stimulus waveforms that achieve a physiological outcome condition, without a priori knowledge of the optimal terminal condition of all state variables. Analysis of biological systems using stochastically-seeded gradient methods can reveal salient dynamical mechanisms underlying the optimal control of system behavior. The gradient algorithm may also have practical applications in future work, for example, finding energy optimal waveforms for therapeutic neural stimulation that minimizes power usage and diminishes off-target effects and damage to neighboring tissue.Source
J Comput Neurosci. 2014 Dec;37(3):569-82. doi: 10.1007/s10827-014-0525-5. Epub 2014 Aug 22. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1007/s10827-014-0525-5Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/33368PubMed ID
25145955Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1007/s10827-014-0525-5