Activity-Dependent Changes in Ion Channel Voltage-Dependence Influence the Activity Patterns Targeted by Neurons

Neurons can maintain stable activity profiles over their lifetimes despite ion channel turnover over minutes to days. Neurons also exhibit flexibility in electrical activity by regulating the voltage-dependence of ion channels. This flexibility, combined with channel turnover can, in principle, work together to maintain a stable activity profile. We augment a classical model of activity-dependent ion channel density regulation with a mechanism that adjusts channel voltage-dependence based on activity. Our findings reveal that the timescale of these adjustments shapes the range of electrical patterns that meet an activity target. This work highlights a potentially distinct role for activity-dependent regulation of channel voltage-dependence in maintaining stable neuronal activity profiles.