Coincidence detection: Consider the two-input FFL motif of Fig 6.22. The two inputs receive brief activation pulses at a slight delay. The pulse of Sx1 has duration d. At time t0 after the start of the pulse, a pulse of Sx2 begins and lasts for duration d.
(a) What is the minimal Sx1 input pulse duration d that can activate Z without the need for the second pulse of Sx2?
(b) Plot the region in which Z shows a response on a plane whose axes are pulse duration d and inter-pulse spacing t0.
124 CHAPTER 6
Input 1
Time (b)
Output
(a)
Input X
0.5
0.5
Input X 3
5
3
3
Time (c)
FIGURE 6.22 Dynamics in a model of a C. elegans neuronal multi-input FFL following pulses of input stimuli. (a) A two-input FFL. The input functions and activation thresholds are shown. (b) Dynamics of the et al., 2004.