Influence of inhibitory synapses on the criticality of excitable neuronal networks

Abstract: In this work, we study the dynamic range of a neuronal network of excitable neurons with excitatory and inhibitory synapses. We obtain an analytical expression for the critical point as a function of the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic intensities. We also determine an analytical expression that gives the critical point value in which the maximal dynamic range occurs. Depending on the mean connection degree and coupl-ing weights, the critical points can exhibit ceasing or ceaseless dynamics. However, the dynamic range is equal in both cases. We observe that the external stimulus mask some effects of self-sustained activity (ceaseless dynamic) in the region where the dynamic range is calculated. In these regions, the firing rate is the same for ceaseless dynamics and ceasing activity. Furthermore, we verify that excitatory and inhibitory inputs are approximately equal for a network with a large number of connections, showing excitatory-inhibitory balance as reported experimentally.