Computational Analysis to Study Successive Development of Adaptable Protein Structure and Function during Evolution

Mammals and birds have developed remarkably larger brains as well as a constant and warm body temperature, in contrast to other vertebrates and invertebrates. What is the benefit of a constant and warm temperature on brain signaling and large size brain development? Our previous experimental and computational studies [1] demonstrated that cortical action potentials are remarkably more energy efficient in a warm temperature rather than in a cold temperature. This study revealed that a constant temperature is critical in ensuring the reliable and accurate neural coding to sensory signals based on computational studies of the classical Hodgkin-Huxley neuronal model. An increase of temperature variance during neural responses to a repeated signal is correlated with a gradual degeneration of neural response reliability. In addition, computer simulations also suggested that temperature around 36-40°C may be a special range for cortical neurons to firing spikes more reliably than other temperature conditions. These results suggest that a warm and constant temperature have been critical for the accurate neural coding and reliable intra-neuronal communication that may be necessary for development of large brain circuit for endothermic animals.