Blocking of weak signal propagation via autaptic transmission in scale-free neuronal networks

In this paper, the effects of autapse (a kind of synapse formed between the axon or soma of a neuron and its own dendrite) on the transmission of weak signal are investigated in scale-free neuronal networks. In the study, we consider that each neuron in the network has an autapse modelled as chemical synapse. Besides, a subthreshold signal are injected to all neurons in the network. When obtained results are analyzed, it is seen that the autaptic conductance has a threshold value. According to this threshold, the effects of autapse on the transmission of weak signal are evaluated within two categories. When conductance of autapse is less than this threshold value, autapses with proper autaptic time delay values slightly increase the transmission of weak signal. When autaptic conductance is bigger than the threshold value, autapses with proper autaptic time deley values prominently block the transmission of weak signal.