Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt, Germany; Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
Lucas Alberto Mongiat
Instituto de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente, Universidad Nacional del Comahue-CONICET, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
Stephan Wolfgang Schwarzacher
Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
Ernst Strüngmann Institute (ESI) for Neuroscience in Cooperation with Max Planck Society, Frankfurt, Germany; Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Frankfurt, Germany
Compartmental models are the theoretical tool of choice for understanding single neuron computations. However, many models are incomplete, built ad hoc and require tuning for each novel condition rendering them of limited usability. Here, we present T2N, a powerful interface to control NEURON with Matlab and TREES toolbox, which supports generating models stable over a broad range of reconstructed and synthetic morphologies. We illustrate this for a novel, highly detailed active model of dentate granule cells (GCs) replicating a wide palette of experiments from various labs. By implementing known differences in ion channel composition and morphology, our model reproduces data from mouse or rat, mature or adult-born GCs as well as pharmacological interventions and epileptic conditions. This work sets a new benchmark for detailed compartmental modeling. T2N is suitable for creating robust models useful for large-scale networks that could lead to novel predictions. We discuss possible T2N application in degeneracy studies.
