Correlation between Spike Potential and Field Potential in the Motor Cortex of Rats with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Correlation between the spike discharge and rhythm of local field potential (LFP) of neurons provides clues on the information coded by the nerves. In this study, spike and LFP in the motor cortex (M1) of rats with Parkinson’s diseases (PD) at the inattentive rest and during walking along a ladder were recorded using multi-channel neuronal recording system (Plexon). Neuronal classification was first performed for the nuclei of M1. Then for different types of neurons, the spike-LFP correlation was analyzed in the M1 using three indicators, namely, coherence value, phase locking and spike-field coherence (SFC). Results: 1. Based on electrophysiological characteristics, the nuclei neurons in M1 were classified into two types respectively; 2. There was no significant difference in spike-LFP correlation in PD rats compared with the controls when at the inattentive rest; 3. There were different changes in the spike-LFP relationship for the PD rats compared with the controls when walking the ladders. The intensity of spike-LFP correlation decreased for type A neurons in M1, while it increased for type B neurons in M1.