Fast Kinetic Models for Simulating AMPA, NMDA, GABA A and GABA B Receptors

Since the introduction of the alpha function by Rall in 1967 [12], there has been significant progress in our understanding of the molecular events underlying synaptic transmission. Particular receptor types have been identified and their activation kinetics characterized. It is now possible to develop models of these receptors, using a formalism similar to that introduced by Hodgkin and Huxley [9]. In this paper, we present recently-introduced models obtained by simplifying more detailed biophysical models of postsynaptic receptors [7]. The simplified models are fully compatible with the Hodgkin-Huxley formalism, are very efficient to simulate, and account for important phenomena such as synaptic summation and desensitization. These models should be useful in large-scale network simulations.