Abstract
The processes that develop and maintain the intrinsic electrical properties of neurons are modeled by allowing the maximal strength of membrane conductances to be slowly varying functions of the intracellular calcium concentration. The resulting dynamic regulation of conductances allows model neurons to self-assemble their membrane currents. In a spatially extended model neuron, the dynamic regulatory mechanism causes a non-uniform distribution of currents to develop in response to both the morphology and the activity of the neuron.