The CNP signal is able to silence a supra threshold neuronal model

• Published in: Frontiers in computational neuroscience Vol. 9; p. 44
• Main Authors: Camera, Francesca, Paffi, Alessandra, Thomas, Alex W, Apollonio, Francesca, D'Inzeo, Guglielmo, Prato, Frank S, Liberti, Micaela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 28.04.2015; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Analgesics; Central nervous system; CNP Signal; Electromagnetism; feed-forward neuron network; Hodgkin and Huxley neuron model; Magnetic fields; Magnetic Stimulation of the brain; Nervous system; Neurons; Neuroscience; Pain; pulsed magnetic fields; Canada; pulsed magnetic fields; magnetic stimulation of the brain; CNP signal; Hodgkin and Huxley neuron model; feed-forward neuron network
• DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2015.00044
• ISSN: 1662-5188

Several experimental results published in the literature showed that weak pulsed magnetic fields affected the response of the central nervous system. However, the specific biological mechanisms that regulate the observed behaviors are still unclear and further scientific investigation is required. In this work we performed simulations on a neuronal network model exposed to a specific pulsed magnetic field signal that seems to be very effective in modulating the brain activity: the Complex Neuroelectromagnetic Pulse (CNP). Results show that CNP can silence the neurons of a feed-forward network for signal intensities that depend on the strength of the bias current, the endogenous noise level and the specific waveforms of the pulses. Therefore, it is conceivable that a neuronal network model responds to the CNP signal with an inhibition of its activity. Further studies on more realistic neuronal networks are needed to clarify if such an inhibitory effect on neuronal tissue may be the basis of the induced analgesia seen in humans and the antinociceptive effects seen in animals when exposed to the CNP.