Network Excitability Measurement
Network Excitability Measurement - Related Videos
14:35
Using TMS to Measure Motor Excitability During Action Observation
0 Views •
2023
Source: Laboratories of Jonas T. Kaplan and Sarah I. Gimbel—University of Southern California Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that involves passing current through an insulated coil placed against the scalp. A brief magnetic field is created by current in the coil, and because of the physical process of induction, this leads to a current in the nearby neural tissue. Depending on the duration, frequency, and magnitude of these magnetic...
04:56
In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of the Rat Ulnar Nerve with Axonal Excitability Testing
0 Views •
Cited by 3 •
2018
Axonal excitability techniques provide a powerful tool to examine pathophysiology and biophysical changes that precede irreversible degenerative events. This manuscript demonstrates the use of these techniques on the ulnar nerve of anesthetized rats.
02:05
Measuring the Electrophysiological Activity of Neuronal Networks Using Micro-Electrode Arrays
0 Views •
2025
The video demonstrates how to use a microelectrode array (MEA) to record the electrophysiological activity of neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Electrophysiological activity from a multiwell MEA containing a neuron-astrocyte co-culture is recorded to detect action potentials from multiple neurons in the network, confirming the successful differentiation of hiPSCs into neurons.
12:00
Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticle Integrated Photo-responsive Liposomes and Measurement of Their Microbubble Cavitation upon Pulse Laser Excitation
0 Views •
Cited by 2 •
2016
This protocol describes a simple preparation method for gold nanoparticle integrated photo-responsive liposomes with the commercially available materials. It also shows how to measure the microbubble cavitation process of the synthesized liposomes upon the treatment of pulsed laser.
12:13
Assessing Primary Motor Cortex Excitability and Excitability Modulation by Pairing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Electromyography
0 Views •
2025
Here, we present a protocol outlining the methodology to assess primary motor cortex excitability and excitability modulation using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paired with electromyography (EMG).
FAQs
Excitation-inhibition balance influences whether a neural circuit produces limited activity or a stronger, more sustained response. Measurements of firing, field potentials, synaptic responses, and synchrony reveal how the circuit reacts after stimulation, allowing investigators to assess whether excitation or inhibition has shifted. This is important when comparing normal and altered circuit function in neuroscience.
Threshold, response strength, and duration describe different dimensions of circuit responsiveness. Threshold indicates how much stimulation is associated with a response, strength describes the magnitude of that response, and duration captures how long the resulting activity persists. Examining these measures together prevents a single change, such as stronger activity, from being mistaken for a general change in excitability.
Each readout emphasizes a different feature of network behavior. Action-potential firing reflects neuronal output, field potentials capture electrical activity at the network level, synaptic responses indicate communication between neurons, and synchrony shows coordination across activity. Selecting or combining these measures helps researchers distinguish altered firing from changes in transmission or coordinated dynamics.
A practical workflow begins by applying a controlled stimulus, recording the resulting neural response, and measuring relevant features such as threshold, strength, duration, or synchrony. Researchers then compare the measurements under defined conditions. Specifying the stimulus and comparison conditions makes it possible to attribute differences to the circuit state being studied rather than to an unspecified procedural change.
These measurements are useful when the question concerns how a circuit changes after a defined biological or experimental manipulation. Comparing responses under controlled conditions can show whether drugs, genetic changes, or injury alter firing, synaptic responses, field potentials, or synchrony. The resulting profile helps characterize the direction and extent of altered neural communication.
In neuroscience, network excitability measurement connects circuit-level electrical responses with broader changes in neural function. Researchers can use response thresholds, strength, duration, and coordination to examine how activity patterns vary during learning or development. The same information can inform therapeutic strategies intended to restore more stable network activity when circuit dynamics have become disrupted.