PhD Comprehensive Seminar | Maxwell Yue, Cholinergic Modulation of Hippocampal Theta Oscillations via Regulation of the h-Current

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Location

MC 6460

Candidate

Maxwell Yue | Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo

Title

Cholinergic Modulation of Hippocampal Theta Oscillations via Regulation of the h-Current

Abstract

Theta oscillations in the hippocampal CA1 region play a critical role in coordinating memory encoding and retrieval. Experimental evidence has shown that cholinergic modulation strongly influences both the amplitude and frequency of theta rhythms. However, the cellular and network-level mechanisms by which acetylcholine (ACh) regulates theta dynamics remain incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that ACh can shift the resonance properties of CA1 pyramidal neurons from integrator to resonator mode via upregulation of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current (h-current), which provides a potential mechanism through which ACh facilitates hippocampal theta oscillations. In this seminar, we will first discuss how h-current modulation can be incorporated into a single-neuron model. We will then examine the transition from integrator to resonator dynamics in single-neuron models. Finally, we will outline potential network modeling approaches to investigate how cholinergic modulation of the h-current affects hippocampal theta oscillations.