European Conference on Mathematical and Theoretical Biology (ECMTB 2026)

Slow–fast dynamics in a neurotransmitter release model: Delayed response to a time-dependent input signal

MS101-04

15 Jul 2026, 12:10

20m

15.12 - HS (University of Graz)

Minisymposium Talk Neuroscience and Neural Systems Advances in multiple timescale dynamics in neurons and related excitable systems

Speakers

Mathieu Desroches (MathNeuro Team, Inria Branch at the University of Montpellier, Université de Montpellier) Mattia Sensi (Università di Trento) Serafim Rodrigues (Basque Center for Applied Mathematics)

Description

We provide a short introduction to the SNARE-SM model proposed in \cite{rodrigues2016time} to describe the release of neurotransmitters in synapses. We highlight the use of slow-fast dynamics to recreate experimental data exhibiting delay between an input stimulus and the corresponding (asynchronous) neurotransmitter release. In particular, we analyse the possible scenarios in a 2D singularly perturbed system of ODEs in standard form, which serves as a building block for the full 6D system. Then, we introduce a generalization \cite{sensi2023slow} of the aforementioned model, which manages to realize more complex transient behaviours. This is achieved by increasing the complexity of the critical manifold of the planar system of singularly perturbed ODEs. We showcase the corresponding entry-exit phenomenon and a variety of canard orbits.

Bibliography

@article{rodrigues2016time,
title={Time-coded neurotransmitter release at excitatory and inhibitory synapses},
author={Rodrigues, S. and Desroches, M. and Krupa, M. and Cortes, J. M. and Sejnowski, T. J. and Ali, A. B.},
journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
volume={113},
number={8},
pages={E1108--E1115},
year={2016},
publisher={National Academy of Sciences}
}

@article{sensi2023slow,
title={{Slow--fast dynamics in a neurotransmitter release model: Delayed response to a time-dependent input signal}},
author={Sensi, M. and Desroches, M. and Rodrigues, S.},
journal={Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena},
volume={455},
pages={133887},
year={2023},
publisher={Elsevier}
}