Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.

The estimation of parameters controlling the electrical properties of biological neurons is essential to determine their complement of ion channels and to understand the function of biological circuits. By synchronizing conductance models to time series observations of the membrane voltage, one may...

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Main Authors: Joseph D Taylor, Samuel Winnall, Alain Nogaret
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-07-01
Series:PLoS Computational Biology
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008053&type=printable
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author Joseph D Taylor
Samuel Winnall
Alain Nogaret
author_facet Joseph D Taylor
Samuel Winnall
Alain Nogaret
author_sort Joseph D Taylor
collection DOAJ
description The estimation of parameters controlling the electrical properties of biological neurons is essential to determine their complement of ion channels and to understand the function of biological circuits. By synchronizing conductance models to time series observations of the membrane voltage, one may construct models capable of predicting neuronal dynamics. However, identifying the actual set of parameters of biological ion channels remains a formidable theoretical challenge. Here, we present a regularization method that improves convergence towards this optimal solution when data are noisy and the model is unknown. Our method relies on the existence of an offset in parameter space arising from the interplay between model nonlinearity and experimental error. By tuning this offset, we induce saddle-node bifurcations from sub-optimal to optimal solutions. This regularization method increases the probability of finding the optimal set of parameters from 67% to 94.3%. We also reduce parameter correlations by implementing adaptive sampling and stimulation protocols compatible with parameter identifiability requirements. Our results show that the optimal model parameters may be inferred from imperfect observations provided the conditions of observability and identifiability are fulfilled.
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spelling doaj-art-6ca5f02766d04a6396faa1a36e59f85e2025-08-20T02:55:13ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Computational Biology1553-734X1553-73582020-07-01167e100805310.1371/journal.pcbi.1008053Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.Joseph D TaylorSamuel WinnallAlain NogaretThe estimation of parameters controlling the electrical properties of biological neurons is essential to determine their complement of ion channels and to understand the function of biological circuits. By synchronizing conductance models to time series observations of the membrane voltage, one may construct models capable of predicting neuronal dynamics. However, identifying the actual set of parameters of biological ion channels remains a formidable theoretical challenge. Here, we present a regularization method that improves convergence towards this optimal solution when data are noisy and the model is unknown. Our method relies on the existence of an offset in parameter space arising from the interplay between model nonlinearity and experimental error. By tuning this offset, we induce saddle-node bifurcations from sub-optimal to optimal solutions. This regularization method increases the probability of finding the optimal set of parameters from 67% to 94.3%. We also reduce parameter correlations by implementing adaptive sampling and stimulation protocols compatible with parameter identifiability requirements. Our results show that the optimal model parameters may be inferred from imperfect observations provided the conditions of observability and identifiability are fulfilled.https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008053&type=printable
spellingShingle Joseph D Taylor
Samuel Winnall
Alain Nogaret
Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
PLoS Computational Biology
title Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
title_full Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
title_fullStr Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
title_short Estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations.
title_sort estimation of neuron parameters from imperfect observations
url https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008053&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT josephdtaylor estimationofneuronparametersfromimperfectobservations
AT samuelwinnall estimationofneuronparametersfromimperfectobservations
AT alainnogaret estimationofneuronparametersfromimperfectobservations