Single cell contributions to network activity in the hippocampus

The information processing capabilities of neuronal populations are a function of the connectivity and single cell properties of the neurons that comprise the network. An important area of investigation is how information is encoded and processed by neurons in the network. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating how the specific biophysical properties of individual neurons contribute to network processing as a whole. We illustrate through several examples in the hippocampal formation how cellular biophysics can directly effect the timing of neuronal spiking in the context of on-going network oscillations and how network patterns can influence the intrinsic properties of single cells. We discuss the consequences of the cooperation and competition between single cell and network properties. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.