LFPy

LFPy computes extracellular potentials from multicompartment neuron models to relate transmembrane currents to recorded local field potentials (LFP) and multi-unit activity (MUA).

Key Features:

• Integration with NEURON Simulator: Operates on top of the NEURON simulator to run multicompartment neuron model simulations.
• Biophysical Modeling Scheme: Calculates extracellular potentials as a weighted sum of all transmembrane currents from cells near the recording electrode.
• Class Structure: Provides classes for defining neurons, synapses, and recording electrodes as Python objects.
• Efficient Calculation Methods: Implements an efficient line-source-method for calculating extracellular potentials.

Scientific Applications:

• Simulation of LFP and MUA: Simulates local field potentials (LFPs) and multi-unit activity (MUA) from single cells and populations.
• Synaptic Contribution Analysis: Quantifies synaptic contributions from individual cells and neuronal populations to extracellular signals.
• Extracellular Signature Interpretation: Relates action potential waveforms and synaptic integration to extracellular recordings from electrodes.

Methodology:

Extracellular potentials are computed as a weighted sum of transmembrane currents using the line-source-method applied to multicompartment neuron models simulated in the NEURON environment within a biophysical modeling framework.