Synchronized oscillations at α and θ frequencies in the lateral geniculate nucleus

Stuart W. Hughes, Magor Lörincz, David W. Cope, Kate L. Blethyn, Katalin A. Kékesi, H. Rheinallt Parri, Gábor Juhász, Vincenzo Crunelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In relaxed wakefulness, the EEG exhibits robust rhythms in the alpha band (8-13 Hz), which decelerate to theta (approximately 2-7 Hz) frequencies during early sleep. In animal models, these rhythms occur coherently with synchronized activity in the thalamus. However, the mechanisms of this thalamic activity are unknown. Here we show that, in slices of the lateral geniculate nucleus maintained in vitro, activation of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) mGluR1a induces synchronized oscillations at alpha and theta frequencies that share similarities with thalamic alpha and theta rhythms recorded in vivo. These in vitro oscillations are driven by an unusual form of burst firing that is present in a subset of thalamocortical neurons and are synchronized by gap junctions. We propose that mGluR1a-induced oscillations are a potential mechanism whereby the thalamus promotes EEG alpha and theta rhythms in the intact brain.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)253-268
Number of pages16
JournalNeuron
Volume42
Issue number2
Early online date21 Apr 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Apr 2004

Keywords

  • action potentials
  • alpha rhythm
  • animals
  • cats
  • cortical synchronization
  • geniculate bodies
  • theta rhythm

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