Abstract
The neocortex is a layered sheet across which a basic organization is thought to widely apply. The variety of spontaneous activity patterns is similar throughout the cortex, consistent with the notion of a basic cortical organization. However, the basic organization is only an outline which needs adjustments and additions to account for the structural and functional diversity across cortical layers and areas. Such diversity suggests that spontaneous activity is spatially diverse in any particular behavioral state. Accordingly, this review summarizes the laminar and areal diversity in cortical activity during fixation and slow oscillations, and the effects of attention, anesthesia and plasticity on the cortical distribution of spontaneous activity. Among questions that remain open, characterizing the spatial diversity in spontaneous membrane potential may help elucidate how differences in circuitry among cortical regions supports their varied functions. More work is also needed to understand whether cortical spontaneous activity not only reflects cortical circuitry, but also contributes to determining the outcome of plasticity, so that it is itself a factor shaping the functional diversity of the cortex.
Highlights
The neocortex is a layered sheet across which a basic organization is thought to widely apply (Douglas et al, 2003)
More work is needed to understand whether cortical spontaneous activity reflects cortical circuitry, and contributes to determining the outcome of plasticity, so that it is itself a factor shaping the functional diversity of the cortex
We have seen that cortical spontaneous activity is spatially diverse even within a behavioral state, a reflection of structural and functional diversity across the cortex
Summary
The basic organization is only an outline which needs adjustments and additions to account for the structural and functional diversity across cortical layers and areas. Such diversity suggests that spontaneous activity is spatially diverse in any particular behavioral state. This review summarizes the laminar and areal diversity in cortical activity during fixation and slow oscillations, and the effects of attention, anesthesia and plasticity on the cortical distribution of spontaneous activity. More work is needed to understand whether cortical spontaneous activity reflects cortical circuitry, and contributes to determining the outcome of plasticity, so that it is itself a factor shaping the functional diversity of the cortex
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