Synchronisation, resonance and reliability in auditory receptor neurons [Elektronische Ressource] / von Samuel Glauser

Synchronisation, Resonance and Reliability inAuditory Receptor NeuronsDISSERTATIONzur Erlangung des akademischen Gradesdoctor rerum naturalium(Dr. rer. nat.)im Fach Biologieeingereicht an derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät IHumboldt-Universität zu BerlinvonHerrn dipl. zool. Samuel Glausergeboren am 23.12.1975 in Zug, SchweizPräsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin:Prof. Dr. Christoph MarkschiesDekan der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät I:Prof. Dr. Christian LimbergGutachter:1. Prof. Dr. Andreas V. M. Herz2. Prof. Dr. Bernd Ronacher3. Prof. Dr. Oliver Behrendeingereicht am: 3. Dezember 2007Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 26. Mai 2008AbstractThis thesis deals with the effect of resonance and synchronisation on the precision andreliability of receptor neurons. Precision of individual neurons at the periphery of a ner-vous system, for example sensory neurons, is very important for later stages of processing.Different forms of resonance lead to an increase of precision in a neuron. Here, we exam-ine neuronal timing resonance: a neuron produces action potentials (spikes) with greaterprecision around its resonance frequency – its firing rate – than at other frequencies. Byusing electrophysiological experiments on auditory receptor neurons of the locust Locustamigratoria, spike responses are generated whose precision is investigated using differentreliability measures.