FIGURE 2.

Model calibration. We calibrated the model’s predictions of the increase in action potential (AP) firing magnitude by fitting them to experimental data from rat spinal cord neurons in response to mechanical forces applied after the addition of an inflammatory mediator. Open bars (N = 6) show mean experimental data ± 1 standard error fold change in the magnitude of AP firing in response to innocuous (A) and noxious forces (B) after two subsequent exposures to inflammatory mediators (Bar et al., 2004). Solid bars show the results of model fitting to the experimental data. We used innocuous and noxious forces of 20 and 100 mN, respectively, to stimulate the neuron in the model. (C) Simulated time course trajectory of the membrane potential output in response to a 20 mN force applied before (at the 1-h time point) and after two subsequent inflammatory events (at the 47- and 95-h time points). The inset shows the shape and number of APs generated in each response.