Biophysically inspired mean-field model of neuronal populations driven by ion-exchange mechanisms.

A new mean-field model of neuronal populations driven by ion-exchange mechanisms can reproduce diverse activity patterns and modulate neuroelectric activity through extracellular ion fluctuations.

• Why it matters: Understanding how extracellular ion concentration fluctuations influence brain activity is crucial for identifying biomarkers and developing therapies for brain disorders like epilepsy, yet current models lack this biophysical detail.
• What they did: The authors developed a biophysically interpretable mean-field model of Hodgkin-Huxley-type neurons that incorporates ion-exchange mechanisms, validated through in vitro experiments, capturing both micro- and macro-scale dynamics.
• The result: This model enables exploration of how extracellular ionic changes affect whole-brain activity, providing a foundation for biomarker discovery and potential therapeutic targets for brain dysfunctions.