Neuronal firing and DNA dynamics in a neural network

Abstract

We study the mutual effects of neuronal electrical activity and DNA dynamics in a network of electrically coupled neurons with nearest neighbors communication. For that we develop by means of the coupling function method, a mathematical DNA-neuron model that can be considered as an extension of the simplified Hodgkin-Huxley models. Numerically, we explore the biological properties of the model with emphasis on local phase transitions and synchronous neural activity. Our results suggest that firing and coherent behavior of neural network are controlled by DNA dynamics. Conversely, neuronal activity induces DNA electrochemical denaturation. As a result, we expect that the prominent DNA-neuron model would be worth in controlling gene expression and neurodegen-erative diseases in the sensory thalamus.