Conductance-based Adaptive Exponential integrate-and-fire model

The intrinsic electrophysiological properties of single neurons can be described by a broad spectrum of models, from the most realistic Hodgkin-Huxley type models with numerous detailed mechanisms to the phenomeno-logical models. The Adaptive Exponential integrate-and-fire (AdEx) model has emerged as a convenient “middle-ground” model. With a low computational cost, but keeping biophysical interpretation of the parameters, it has been extensively used for simulations of large neural networks. However, because of its current-based adaptation, it can generate unrealistic behaviors. We show the limitations of the AdEx model and to avoid them, we introduce the Conductance-based Adaptive Exponential integrate-and-fire model (CAdEx). We give an analysis of the dynamics of the CAdEx model and show the variety of firing patterns it can produce. We propose the CAdEx model as a richer alternative to perform network simulations with simplified models reproducing neuronal intrinsic properties.