Mathematical modeling of the electromechanical processes that underlie the vibrissal system mechanotransduction: A study over the passive perception of tactile information

ANA LÍA ALBARRACÍN; FERNANDO DANIEL FARFÁN; ALVARO GABRIEL PIZÁ; FACUNDO LUCIANNA; JORGE HUMBERTO SOLETTA; GABRIEL ALFREDO RUIZ; CARMELO JOSÉ FELICE

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XXX Congreso Argentino de Investigación en Neurociencias; 2015

Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias

In the present study we are proposing a mathematical model able to predict the afferent discharges of the afferent vibrissal nerve. Vibrissal passive stimulation has been used as the model signal input. The mechanisms of mechanotransduction within follicle-sinus complex were implemented by using the model of Lottem and Azouz (2011), which uses the rigid body model principle and predict neuronal responses evocated by unidirectional passive stimulation. In this work we have modelling the vibrissal system considering the changes in the neuronal responses due to the directional sensibility. The simulations obtained have been validated with experimental recording of the afferent activity of the vibrissal nerve evocated by vibrissae passive stimulation in different directions. To fit the experimental data to the modeling results, we implemented a simplified model for electrophysiological activity in a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers. Finally, the result demonstrated that it is possible to predict the afferent nerve discharges in passive conditions by using the model proposed.