Con preghiera di diffusione tra tutti i possibili interessati, scusandomi per invii multipli. Cordialmente, Giacomo Aletti -------------- Nell'ambito dei Reading Group Seminars e del Seminario di Matematica Applicata, in collaborazione col centro ADAMSS e il CIMAB, il giorno lunedì 25 Maggio 2015, alle ore 14.30, nell'Aula C del Dipartimento di Matematica dell'Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Via C. Saldini, 50, Milano, "Information coding in vestibular hair cells" Paola PERIN University of Pavia Abstract: Hair cells are the mechanoreceptors in our auditory and vestibular systems. Vestibular afferent neurons are classified on the basis of their motion selectivity (direction, response to linear vs. angular motion), discharge regularity, gain and dynamics (tonic vs. phasic). The properties of vestibular hair cells and afferent fibers are optimized for the transduction for low frequency stimuli (head motion, mostly below 50 Hz). Moreover, vestibular hair cells display a resting transmitter release rate which is used to set a baseline: increases above resting discharge signal movements in one direction, decreases signal movements in the opposite direction. Whereas discharge regularity appears to be a postsynaptic property, afferent dynamics is determined presynaptically, but the mechanisms involved are still unclear. In our work we have recorded currents, voltages and release from vestibular hair cells from the frog utricle and built a model of a hair cell connected to an afferent fiber upon mechanical stimulation. Our results suggest that dynamics is affected by ion currents (especially BK and IA) whereas presynaptic release properties affect resting discharge but not postsynaptic dynamics. ================ Per chi volesse seguire il seminario in remoto ricordo inoltre che sarà possibile dopo aver segnalato il proprio interessamento entro le 12 del giorno del seminario. ================= Reading Group Seminars: The Reading Group Seminars (RGS) are organized within an open community of researchers interested in applying up to date mathematical modeling and data analysis approaches to the study of biological systems. The RGS take place at the Math. Department in Milan (via Saldini). Initiatives and updates are published on the website: http:// rgs.mat.unimi.it/.