Parameter Identification Problem in the Hodgkin and Huxley Model

Abstract: The Hodgkin and Huxley (H-H) model is a nonlinear system of four equations that describes how action potentials in neurons are initiated and propagated, and represents a major advance in the understanding of nerve cells. However, some of the parameters are obtained through a tedious combination of experiments and data tuning. In this paper, we propose the use of an iterative method (Landweber iteration) to estimate some of the parameters in the H-H model, given the membrane electric potential. We provide numerical results showing that the method is able to capture the correct parameters using the measured voltage as data, even in the presence of noise.