Computational investigation of effects of UP state on EPSP in striatal Medium Spiny Neurons

Abstract

Reward circuit is considered as the major site at which many drugs of abuse act. The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) plays an important role in the reward circuit and it constitutes the major subdivision of the ventral striatum. Medium Spiny Neuron (MSN), is the principal neuron of Nucleus accumbens (Nacc) and is known to possess bimodal behavior. Due to the bi modal behavior of the cell, there are significant discrepancies in the shape of the EPSP generated in the cell. A change in the active conductances of the cells causes a significant change in the nature of the EPSP generated. The effect of Sodium and Potassium channels is explored to understand their effect on MSN excitability.