Synchronization of Isolated Downstates (K-Complexes) May Be Caused by Cortically-Induced Disruption of Thalamic Spindling
Figure 5
Characteristics of 39 averaged spontaneous KCs.
KCs generated when 15 PY neurons projected to all RE neurons, as in Figure 4. For each of the populations, the membrane potential of the individual neurons (Vm), the average membrane potential (Avg Vm), and the average spiking rate (Avg Spikes/Sec) (averaged over the 39 KCs) are pictured. High gamma power is plotted for all PY neurons. In addition, the membrane potential (Vm) and the averaged spiking (Avg Vm) of the 15 PY neurons projecting to all RE neurons, averaged over the 39 KCs, are plotted separately. The red arrow indicates the 15 PY neurons that are connected to all RE neurons. The color scale of the PY membrane potential is the same for all PY neurons and these 15 PY neurons. The averaged KC exhibited the same characteristics as the individual KC shown in Figure 4: cessation of firing by all cell types, and a drop in all PY neurons in membrane potential (blue asterisks), and high gamma power (black asterisk). Spindling also dramatically decreased in the RE and TC neurons during the cortical KC (red asterisks). The 15 PY neurons showed a marked increase in spontaneous firing before the KC (yellow asterisk).