A Continuum Neuronal Model for the Instigation and Propagation of Cortical Spreading Depression

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2011

Abstract

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) waves can occur in the cortices of various brain structures and are associated with the spread of depression of the electroencephalogram signal. In this paper, we present a continuum neuronal model for the instigation and spreading of CSD. Our model assumes that the brain-cell microenvironment can be treated as a porous medium consisting of extra- and intracellular compartments. The main mechanisms in our model for the transport of ions into and out of neurons are cross-membrane ionic currents and (active) pumps, coupled with diffusion in the extracellular space. To demonstrate the applicability of our model, we have carried out extensive numerical simulations under different initial conditions and inclusion of various mechanisms. Our results show that CSD waves can be instigated by injecting cross-membrane ionic currents or by applying KCl in the extracellular space. Furthermore, the estimated speeds of CSD waves are within the experimentally observed range. Effects of specific ion channels, background ion concentrations, extracellular volume fractions, and cell swelling on the propagation speed of CSD are also investigated. © 2011 Society for Mathematical Biology.

Identifier

81255142063 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-011-9647-3

e-ISSN

15229602

ISSN

00928240

PubMed ID

21404132

First Page

2773

Last Page

2790

Issue

11

Volume

73

Grant

1022848

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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