Field Potentials In Rats Research Articles

Topographic analysis of field potentials in rat vibrissa/barrel cortex

An 8 x 8 multichannel microelectrode array was used to simultaneously record epicortical field potentials, evoked by displacement of contralateral vibrissae, from a 4 x 4 mm 2 area of vibrissa/barrel cortex in 4 rats. The epicortical responses began with early positive (p1) and negative (N1) sharp waves, followed by slower positive (P2) and negative (N2) waves. The potential complex systematically shifted location with vibrissa stimulated, in accordance with the known somatotopic anatomy of vibrissa/barrel cortex. Topographical distributions of potentials at the P1, N1, P2 and N2 peaks were approximately concentric, but had distinct spatial extents, suggesting that they were generated by different but overlapping neuronal subpopulations. We propose that the SEP in the vibrissa/barrel cortex is produced by both sequential and parallel processing of somatosensory information, and that all components of the epicortical SEP are generated only in primary somatosensory cortex of the rat. Applications and weaknesses of topographic analysis methods are discussed.

Laminar analysis of extracellular field potentials in rat vibrissa/barrel cortex

1. A 16-channel electrode array was used to record simultaneously extracellular laminar field potentials evoked by displacement of contralateral vibrissa from vibrissa/barrel cortex in five rats. Current source-density (CSD) analysis combined with principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine the time course of laminar-specific transmembrane currents during the evoked response. 2. The potential complex consisted of biphasic fast components followed by long-lasting slow waves. It began with activity in supragranular cells consisting of a source in layers I-II and a sink in layers IV-V; this was followed by activation of the infragranular cells with a paired sink and source in layers I-IV and V-VI, respectively. The slow-wave sequences also began in the supragranular cells followed by infragranular neurons. 3. We propose that the fast components reflect sequential intralaminar depolarization processes, and the slow waves, hyper- or repolarization processes. These results suggest that a basic neuronal circuit, consisting of sequential activation of the supragranular and then the infragranular pyramidal cells, gives rise to the field potentials evoked by physiological stimulation. This is consistent with our previous studies of direct cortical responses (DCR) and pathological discharges of the penicillin focus.

Enhancement of hippocampal field potentials in rats exposed to a novel, complex environment

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in place learning in rodents and also exhibits a long-term enhancement of synaptic strength and postsynaptic excitability following electrical stimulation of its principal afferents. In the present report we suggest that these two observations may be related, by demonstrating an increase in synaptic and postsynaptic field potential amplitudes resulting from exposure to a spatially complex environment.

Δ 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and the hippocampus: Effects on CA1 field potentials in rats

The effects of Δ 9-tetiahydrocannabinol (THC) on ortho- and antidromically elicited CA1 field potentials were observed in locally anesthetized rats and in rats anesthetized with urethane. THC augmented amplitudes of population EPSP's as well as orthodromic and antidromic population spikes from pyramidal cells in locally anesthetized animals. Latencies to peak amplitude of these responses were increased. Conditioning-test shock experiments revealed that THC also depressed recurrent inhibition probably mediated by basket cells. In animals under urethane anesthesia THC enhanced test responses, but failed to augment population responses to the conditioning stimulus. It was concluded that THC enhanced postsynaptic excitatory processes but attenuated recurrent inhibition. Urethane anesthesia completely blocked the postsynaptic excitatory effect of THC but had little apparent influence on THC's disinhibitory action.

Spatio-temporal distribution of auditory-evoked far field potentials in rat and cat

Short latency (less than 5 msec) auditory-evoked 'far field' potentials were mapped over the head of anesthetized rats and cats using a monaural 'click' stimulus. Significant activity was found over most of the head and, in the rat, on other parts of the body. Different components of the observed waveforms have different spatial distributions, supporting earlier evidence that they come from different generators. No area was found on the head which could be considered as an electrically neutral reference point for all the waves. There was considerable asymmetry in the spatial distribution of the early waves, with the area near the contralateral ear showing larger magnitudes than the area near the ipsilateral ear. It was found that most of the head of the rat is not in the far field, as previously defined. Significant activity was found on the tongue in the cat, which tended to increase the apparent magnitude of waves I and II at the vertex when the tongue was used as a reference. The area near the ear canal was also found to show significant activity, raising questions as to the use of the ear lobe as a reference point in human studies. We conclude that the placement of the electrodes can markedly influence the waveforms obtained, in some cases enhancing detection of early components.

Organization of auditory, somatic sensory, and visual projection to association fields of cerebral cortex in the cat.

Organization of auditory, somatic sensory, and visual projection to association fields of cerebral cortex in the cat.