Synapse

neurotransmitter-gated Channel

CONICAL object class

Base Classes

Channel	variable-conductance current

Derived Classes

MarkovSyn	Markov-model Synapse
AlphaSyn	alpha-function synapse

Member Functions & Variables

real pulseTime ;
real Vthresh ;
real Lconc ;
virtual void Step ( const real dt );
Synapse ( VSink * pTo , VSource * pComp , real pMaxG = 0 . 1 );

A synapse is a channel whose conductance depends on the concentration of neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft, which in turn depends on the presynaptic membrane potential. This class defines a member variable "Lconc" which is the concentration of ligand (i.e. neurotransmitter) in the cleft. Its value should be updated in the Step(dt) method. In this class, Lconc takes the shape of a square pulse, with amplitude 1 and ending pulseTime after V drops below Vthresh.

This class also defines a Vthresh variable, which sets the threshold voltage for neurotransmitter release, and pulseTime, which defines the duration of a transmitter pulse. The exact use and meaning of these variables may vary in derived classes.

Derived classes may want to call Synapse::Step(dt), even if they have their own Step method, to use the pulse-shaped Lconc function.