Stochastic resonance in a single autapse–coupled neuron

The signal detection ability of nervous system is highly associated with nonlinear and collective behaviors in neuronal medium. Neuronal noise, which occurs as natural endogenous fluctuations in brain activity, is the most salient factor influencing this ability. Experimental and theoretical research suggests that noise is beneficial, not detrimental, for regular functioning of nervous system. In this regard, there is a general agreement that noise at an adequate intensity can engage rhythmic activity in brain and noise-induced oscillations enhances performance of the weak signal processing, especially when frequency of the signal is around that of the noise-induced rhythmic oscillation. This behavior in biological neural systems is explained by the notion of “stochastic resonance”. Another factor that plays a key role in regulating neuronal behaviors, including motor and cognitive tasks by maintaining signaling between cells, is characteristics of synapses different in structure and functioning. Here, we study stochastic resonance in Hodgkin–Huxley neuron that has a peculiar synaptic connection called autapse, known as a biophysical feedback mechanism, under presynaptic noise originating from superposition of inhibitory and excitatory Poisson bombardment. Our results show that, under certain conditions, autapse dynamics are able to improve the weak signal detection performance of Hodgkin–Huxley neuron via stochastic resonance. This study provides novel insights into functional role of autapse in neural information processing by revealing a biophysical aspect of stochastic resonance with numerical computations.