Potassium channel blockade induces rhythmic activity in a conditional burster neuron.

In the lobster stomatogastric ganglion the Anterior Burster (AB) neuron loses its rhythmic bursting capabilities when isolated from all synaptic input. Here we report that compounds which reduce the current through several different types of potassium channels induce bursting in isolated AB neurons. These results suggest that when quiescent, this neuron has all the conductances necessary to support bursting, but bursting is actively inhibited by tonic potassium conductances.