Large Ghostbursting in sensory cells of electric fish

Abstract

We give an overview of the analysis of a new type of bursting ("ghost-bursting") seen in pyramidal cells of weakly electric fish. We start with the experimental observations and characterization of the bursting, describe a compartmental model of a pyramidal cell that undergoes ghostbursting and the development of another simplified yet realistic conductance-based model of this cell. This model then motivates a minimal leaky integrate-and-fire model that also has the qualitative features of ghostbursting.