Figure 7.

Computer simulation of N3t firing frequency and preparation responsiveness. A constant depolarizing current was injected into the model N1M at different firing frequencies of the N3t. Whether the N1M (“preparation”) responded by generating a burst of action potentials to the depolarizing stimulus depended on the firing rate of the N3t. The preparations were more likely to respond when N3t is firing at its lowest rate (1 Hz) and responsiveness rapidly decreased as the firing rate is progressively increased to 5 Hz. Spike activity in the N1M in the biological network is a reliable indicator of activation of the whole CPG network and the feeding ingestive rhythm.