Modeling physiological oscillations in a biologically constrained CA1 network from two perspectives: full-scale parallel network and rationally reduced Network Clamp

I developed a full-scale, biologically constrained model of hippocampal CA1 subfield that is capable of spontaneous theta and gamma oscillations with distinct interneuronal phase preferences. In addition to structural constraints on the cell numbers and connectivity, experimental observations drove the development of the electrophysiology for the nine cell types and their synapses. To characterize and experimentally constrain the model, I designed and developed a custom software tool called SimTracker. SimTracker works with my NEURON code template to enable efficient coding, simulation design and execution, and analysis of results for parallel network NEURON simulations. I also created the Network Clamp, a software tool that implements the concept of a rational method for reducing a full-scale parallel network model to a small, yet biologically constrained model whose simulations can be run on a personal computer. Here I characterize the physiological oscillations displayed by the model. Additionally, I explore the parameter-space of the model by studying its oscillatory properties while manipulating its connectivity, excitation level, and synapse kinetics. This dual approach model is well characterized, flexible and accessible, and it represents a useful collation of experimental knowledge as well as a significant technical advance in neural network modeling