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The Journal of Neuroscience, August 15, 1998, 18(16):6444-6465
Computational Models of Thalamocortical Augmenting Responses
Maxim
Bazhenov1,
Igor
Timofeev2,
Mircea
Steriade2, and
Terrence J.
Sejnowski1, 3
1 Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute,
Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, La Jolla, California 92037, 2 Laboratory of Neurophysiology, School of Medicine, Laval
University, Quebec, Canada G1K 7P4, and 3 Department of
Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
 |
ABSTRACT |
Repetitive stimulation of the dorsal thalamus at 7-14 Hz produces
an increasing number of spikes at an increasing frequency in
neocortical neurons during the first few stimuli. Possible mechanisms
underlying these cortical augmenting responses were analyzed with a
computer model that included populations of thalamocortical cells,
thalamic reticular neurons, up to two layers of cortical pyramidal
cells, and cortical inhibitory interneurons. Repetitive thalamic
stimulation produced a low-threshold intrathalamic augmentation in the
model based on the deinactivation of the low-threshold Ca2+ current in thalamocortical cells, which in turn
induced cortical augmenting responses. In the cortical model,
augmenting responses were more powerful in the "input" layer
compared with those in the "output" layer. Cortical stimulation of
the network model produced augmenting responses in cortical neurons in
distant cortical areas through corticothalamocortical loops and
low-threshold intrathalamic augmentation. Thalamic stimulation was more
effective in eliciting augmenting responses than cortical stimulation.
Intracortical inhibition had an important influence on the genesis of
augmenting responses in cortical neurons: A shift in the balance
between intracortical excitation and inhibition toward excitation
transformed an augmenting responses to long-lasting paroxysmal
discharge. The predictions of the model were compared with in
vivo recordings from neurons in cortical area 4 and thalamic
ventrolateral nucleus of anesthetized cats. The known intrinsic
properties of thalamic cells and thalamocortical interconnections can
account for the basic properties of cortical augmenting responses.
Key words:
augmenting responses; repetitive stimulation; thalamocortical network; low-threshold current; intracortical
inhibition; lateral excitation
 |
INTRODUCTION |
Repetitive 7-14 Hz stimulation of
the dorsal thalamic nuclei leads to the progressive enhancement of
thalamic and cortical responses (Morison and Dempsey, 1943
). Augmenting
cortical responses can also be obtained in animals with thalamic lesion
by stimulating white matter or callosal afferents (Morin and Steriade,
1981
; Ferster and Lindström, 1985
; Steriade et al., 1993b
), and
it has been assumed that intrinsic cortical mechanisms are sufficient for generating cortical augmenting responses. Recently, augmenting responses were described in slice preparations of neocortical layer V,
further strengthening the case for intrinsic mechanisms within the
cortex (Castro-Alamancos and Connors, 1996b
).
Despite the converging experimental evidence for the cortical origin of
augmenting responses (Morin and Steriade, 1981
; Ferster and
Lindström, 1985
; Metherate and Ashe, 1994
; Castro-Alamancos and
Connors, 1996b
), it is still possible that intrathalamic and intracortical mechanisms may contribute separately to the development of cortical augmenting responses during repetitive thalamic or cortical
stimulation. Intracellular recording in vivo have revealed that augmenting responses can be generated in the thalamus after decortication (Steriade and Timofeev, 1997
; Timofeev and Steriade, 1998
). Two types of the augmenting responses were described. The first,
low-threshold type of augmenting response depended on the progressive
growth of the low-threshold spikes (LTSs) in thalamocortical (TC)
cells. The hyperpolarization of TC cells produced by the previous
shock, through activation of the thalamic reticular (RE) neurons and
RE-evoked GABAA-GABAB IPSPs (Hirsch and
Burnod, 1987
; Crunelli et al., 1988
; Paré et al., 1991
), led to
the deinactivation of the low-threshold Ca2+ current
in TC cells (Jahnsen and Llinás, 1984a
,b
), and the next stimulus
in the train was followed by an LTS. A second, high-threshold type of
augmenting response was associated with decreases in the IPSPs and
depolarization of TC cells (Steriade and Timofeev, 1997
) leading to the
activation of the high-threshold Ca2+ current
(Hernández-Cruz and Pape, 1989
; Kammermeier and Jones, 1997
;
Pedroarena and Llinás, 1997
; Zhou et al., 1997
). The type of
augmenting response elicited may depend on the balance between synaptic
excitation and RE-evoked inhibition (Timofeev and Steriade, 1998
).
In a recent computer model of the low-threshold augmenting responses in
networks of RE and TC cells (Bazhenov et al., 1998
), the development of
simulated intrathalamic augmenting responses depended on the direct
stimulation of RE cells leading to the activation of GABAB
receptors in TC cells. The purpose of the present study is to analyze
the low-threshold mechanisms underlying cortical augmenting responses
in thalamocortical networks including thalamic RE and TC cells as well
as excitatory cortical (CX) neurons and inhibitory (IN) interneurons.
We found that repetitive thalamic stimulation leads to cortical EPSPs
with an increasing secondary depolarizing component that was preceded
by low-threshold spike bursts in TC cells, similar to data obtained
in vivo (Steriade et al., 1998
). Cortical sites remote from
the stimulation site are involved in the augmenting response through
corticothalamocortical loops. We also analyzed the role of synaptic
interconnections in the model and found that a critical balance was
needed between intracortical inhibition and excitation for cortical
augmenting responses to occur. We confirmed that similar augmenting
responses could be obtained in thalamocortical networks that included
two layers of cortical pyramidal cells and two-dimensional sheets of
cells.
 |
MATERIALS AND METHODS |
Intrinsic currents (RE and TC cells). Each TC and RE
cell was modeled by a single compartment that included voltage- and
Ca2+-dependent currents described by Hodgkin-Huxley
kinetics (Hodgkin and Huxley, 1952
):
|
(1)
|
where Cm is the membrane capacitance,
gL is the leakage conductance,
EL is the reversal potential,
Iint is a sum of active intrinsic
currents (Ijint), and
Isyn is a sum of synaptic currents
(Ijsyn).
The set of intrinsic currents used to model a TC cell included a fast
sodium current, INa (for review, see Traub and
Miles, 1991
), a fast potassium current, IK
(Traub and Miles, 1991
), a low-threshold Ca2+
current, IT (Huguenard and McCormick, 1992
), a
hyperpolarization-activated cation current, Ih
(McCormick and Pape, 1990
; Destexhe et al., 1996a
), a potassium A
current, IA (Huguenard et al., 1991
), and a
potassium leak current, IKL (McCormick and
Huguenard, 1992
). To model an RE cell, we included a fast sodium
current, INa (Traub and Miles, 1991
), a fast
potassium current, IK (Traub and Miles, 1991
), a
low-threshold Ca2+ current,
IT (Huguenard and Prince, 1992
), and a potassium
leak current, IKL.
All the voltage-dependent ionic currents,
Ijint(t), had the same general
form:
|
(2)
|
where gj is the maximal conductance,
m(t) is the activation variable, h(t) is the
inactivation variable, and (V
Ej)
is the difference between membrane potential and reversal
potential.
The model for Ih took into account both voltage
and Ca2+ dependencies (Bal and McCormick, 1996
;
Lüthi and McCormick, 1997
). The voltage dependence was described
by the first-order kinetics of transitions between closed C
and open O states of the channels without inactivation:
|
(3)
|
where
(V) and
(V) are the
voltage-dependent transition rates.
The Ca2+ dependence was based on higher-order
kinetics involving a regulation factor P (Destexhe et al.,
1996a
). The binding of the Ca2+ molecules with
unbound form of the regulation factor P0 leads to the bound form P1. In the next step,
P1 binds to the open state of the channel
O that produces the locked form
OL:
|
(4)
|
Both the open and locked states of the channels contribute to
Ih:
|
(5)
|
The expressions for voltage- and
Ca2+-dependent transition rates for all currents are
given by Bazhenov et al. (1998)
. The maximal conductances and passive
properties were Cm = 1 µF/cm2, gL = 0.05 mS/cm2, EL =
77 mV,
SRE = 1.43 × 10
4
cm2, gT = 2.0 mS/cm2, gNa = 100 mS/cm2, gK = 10 mS/cm2 and gKL = 0.003 mS/cm2 for RE cells, and
Cm = 1 µF/cm2,
gL = 0.01 mS/cm2,
EL =
70 mV, STC = 2.9 × 10
4 cm2,
gT = 2.2 mS/cm2,
gNa = 90 mS/cm2,
gK = 10 mS/cm2,
gKL = 0.01 mS/cm2,
gh = 0.02 mS/cm2, and
gA = 1 mS/cm2 for TC
cells.
We should note that a typical feature of bursts in RE in
vivo is the accelerando-decelerando patterns of the sodium spikes (Steriade et al., 1986
; Contreras et al., 1993
; Huguenard and Prince,
1994
) as a result of the high density of IT
current in the distal dendrites (Destexhe et al., 1996b
). A
multicompartment model of an RE cell is required to model this effect.
The simplified one-compartment model of an RE cell used in the present
study displayed only the decelerating frequency at the end of the
burst.
Intrinsic currents (CX and IN cells). The cortical CX and IN
cells were two-compartment models with channels that were also modeled
by Hodgkin-Huxley kinetics (Mainen and Sejnowski, 1994
):
|
(6)
|
where Cm and gL
are the membrane capacitance and the leakage conductance of the
dendritic compartment, respectively, EL is the
reversal potential, VD and
VS are the membrane potentials of dendritic and
axosomatic compartments, respectively, IDint
and ISint are the sums of active intrinsic
currents in axosomatic and dendritic compartments, respectively,
Isyn is a sum of synaptic currents, and
g is the conductance between axosomatic and dendritic
compartments.
The model included a high density of the fast Na+
channels (INa) in axosomatic compartment
and a low density in the dendritic compartment. A fast potassium
K+ current
(IK) was present in the axosomatic
compartment. A slow voltage-dependent nonactivated
K+ current (IKm), slow
Ca2+-dependent K+ current
(IKCa), and a high-threshold
Ca2+ current (IHVA)
were included in dendritic compartment.
The currents were modeled by Equation 2. The expressions for the
voltage- and Ca2+-dependent transition rates for all
currents are given by Mainen and Sejnowski (1994)
. The maximal
conductances and passive properties were Ssoma = 1.0 × 10
6 cm2,
gNa = 3000 mS/cm2,
gK = 150 mS/cm2 for
axosomatic compartment and Cm = 0.75 µF/cm2, gL = 0.033 mS/cm2, EL =
70 mV,
Sdend = Ssomar,
gHVA = 0.03 mS/cm2,
gNa = 1.5 mS/cm2,
gKCa = 0.3 mS/cm2, and
gKm = 0.01 mS/cm2 for
dendritic compartment. The resistance between compartments was
R = 10 M
.
The firing properties of the model in Equation 1 depend on the coupling
conductance between compartments (g = 1/R) and the ratio of axosomatic area to dendritic area r (Mainen and
Sejnowski, 1994
). We used a model of a regular-spiking neuron for CX
cells (r = 165) and a model of a fast-spiking neuron
for IN cells (r = 50).
Synaptic currents. All synaptic currents were calculated
according to
|
(7)
|
where gsyn is the maximal conductivity,
Esyn is the reversal potential, and
[O](t) is the fraction of open channels.
GABAA and AMPA synaptic currents were modeled by
first-order activation schemes (for review, see Destexhe et al.,
1994b
). The transmitter T binds to the closed form of
receptors C and yields the open form O:
|
(8)
|
The release of transmitter [T] was modeled by a
square pulse [T](t) = A
(t0 + tmax
t)
(t
t0), with duration tmax = 0.3 msec and amplitude A = 0.5 triggered when the
presynaptic voltage crosses 0 mV.
GABAB receptors were modeled by a higher-order reaction
scheme that took into account activation of K+
channels by G-proteins (Dutar and Nicoll, 1988
; Destexhe et al., 1994b
,
1996a
):
|
(9)
|
In this reaction scheme, the binding of transmitter T
to the receptors R0 leads to its activated form
R1. The inactive form of the G-protein,
G0, which is assumed to be in excess, can transform to the active form catalyzed by R1. Finally when
the active form of the G-protein binds to the closed form of the
channel at four binding sites, the channel opens, O. The
assumption of quasistationarity for the last reaction leads to the
expression [O] = [G]4/([G]4 + K).
This model of a GABAB synapse yields a strong response for
a prolonged burst of spikes in the presynaptic cell. In contrast, a
burst with only a few spikes evokes a weak GABAB IPSP in
the postsynaptic cell.
The rate constants for all synaptic kinetic equations are given by
Bazhenov et al. (1998)
. The reversal potentials were
EAMPA = 0 mV for AMPA receptors,
EGABAA =
70 mV for
GABAA receptors in RE cells, and
EGABAA =
80 mV for
GABAA receptors in TC cells (Ulrich and Huguenard, 1997
);
EK =
95 mV is the potassium reversal potential
for GABAB receptors.
We should emphasize that NMDA receptors were not included in our model,
because the related experimental data were obtained under ketamine
anesthesia, which blocks NMDA receptors.
Network geometry. The models discussed in the paper included
two layers of thalamic cells (RE-TC) and two or three layers of
cortical cells (IN-CX or IN-CX1-CX2). We simulated five network models:
(1) a circuit with 1 × 4 reciprocally connected RE-TC-CX-IN cells
(Fig. 1A); (2) a circuit with
1 × 2 RE-TC and 2 × 2 CX-IN cells (Fig. 1B); (3)
a one-dimensional four-layer chain of 27 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells
(Fig. 1C); (4) a one-dimensional five-layer chain of 27 × 5 RE-TC-CX1-CX2-IN cells; and (5) a two-dimensional network of
729 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells. In the latter three networks, "dense
proximal connections" (Destexhe et al., 1994a
) were used where each
cell made connections with all other cells within a fixed radius. The
diameters of the connection fan out were 9 cells for RE
RE
(GABAA), RE
TC (GABAA + GABAB), TC
RE (AMPA), CX
CX (AMPA), CX
IN
(AMPA), and IN
CX (GABAA) connections and 17 cells for TC
CX (AMPA), TC
IN (AMPA), CX
TC (AMPA), and CX
RE (AMPA) connections. The maximal conductance for each synapse was scaled to
keep the total maximal conductance from all synapses onto a cell fixed
(Destexhe et al., 1994a
). The connections were identical and were
described by Equations 7-9. Reflective boundary conditions were used.
Thalamic cells were stimulated by AMPA synapses, which had a maximal
conductance gext = 0.75 µS at the center of
stimulation and decayed exponentially (ratio k = 0.1)
with distance from the center (Fig. 1C). Cortical cells were
also stimulated by AMPA synapses with a maximal conductance of
gext = 0.5 µS at the center of stimulation and
the same exponential dropoff as for the thalamic cells.

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Figure 1.
The structure of synaptic interconnections in the
thalamocortical network. A, Minimal model of 1 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells. The open circles denote the excitatory
(AMPA) synapses, and the filled circles denote the
inhibitory (GABAA and GABAB) synapses.
B, Model of 1 × 2 RE-TC and 2 × 2 CX-IN cells
with lateral intracortical connections. C, Structure of the
four-layer chain of RE, TC, CX, and IN cells. Diameter of connections
is nine cells for intrathalamic RE TC, RE RE, TC RE and
intracortical CX IN, CX CX, IN CX projections and 17 cells for
thalamocortical CX TC, CX RE, TC CX, TC IN projections. The
intensity of stimulation is maximal in the center of the chain and
decays exponentially with distance from the center.
|
|
Some of the intrinsic parameters of the neurons in the network
(gKL and gh for TC cells
and gKL for RE cells) were initialized with some
random variability (variance
~ 20% for
gKL and
~ 10% for
gh) to diminish the effect of lateral
inhibition between reticular neurons and to ensure the robustness of
the results.
Average depolarization of the neuron. To characterize the
augmenting responses in the two-dimensional network of RE-TC-CX-IN cells, the average depolarization
i,j was
calculated for each neuron in the network:
|
(10)
|
where Vi,j(t) is the membrane
potential of the cell (i, j)
at the time instant
t; Vmin(t) = min(i,j)
Vi,j(t);
is an N × N two-dimensional network; and
tk, k = 1, 2, ... are the stimulation times. Thus,
i,j(k) gives the average
depolarization of the membrane potential for neuron (i, j)
during the time interval between two stimuli k and
k + 1 relative to the minimum membrane potential of all
cells at time tk.
Computational methods. All simulations described in the
paper were performed using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta [RK(4)]
integration method and in some cases an embedded Runge-Kutta
[RK6(5)] method (Enright et al., 1995
). The time step was 0.04 msec.
Source C++ code was compiled on an Alpha Server 2100A (5/300) using a
GNU compiler (version 2.7.2.2). A simulation of 1 sec of real time for
the circuit of 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells took 9 sec and for a network with
108 RE-TC-CX-IN cells took 13.8 minutes. A two-dimensional network
(2916 cells) took ~72 hr of computer time to simulate 1 sec of real
time.
In vivo recordings. In vivo experiments were performed
on cats anesthetized with ketamine-xylazine or with barbiturate
anesthesia. Field potentials and intracellular recordings were obtained
from the precruciate gyrus (area 4), the suprasylvian gyrus (areas 5, 7, and 21) as well as the ventrolateral (VL) thalamic nucleus. Simultaneous double intracellular recordings were obtained from cortical area 4 neurons and thalamic VL neurons. Augmenting responses were elicited by thalamic pulse trains at 10 Hz applied to the VL,
centrolateral or lateroposterior nuclei of the thalamus. The details of
experimental methods are described in a companion paper (Steriade et
al., 1998
). Additionally, to investigate the possibility of eliciting
augmenting responses by stimulation of cerebellothalamic pathways, we
stimulated the brachium conjunctivum rhythmically (10 Hz) while
recording in VL and in motor cortex (area 4). The details of
experimental methods are the same as those of Timofeev et al.
(1996)
.
 |
RESULTS |
Thalamocortical augmenting responses in vivo
Intracellular recordings were obtained from 189 TC cells and 320 cortical cells, including 37 double intracellular impalements.
Cerebellothalamic stimulation
To investigate whether the site of stimulation affects the
augmenting responses, we recorded intracellular activities in the VL
nucleus of thalamus simultaneously with neurons from motor cortical
area 4, while stimulating cerebellothalamic projection pathways
(brachium conjunctivum) at 10 Hz. Under these conditions, no augmenting
response were observed either in the cortex or in the thalamus.
Examples of recordings are shown in Fig.
2 (also see Timofeev et al., 1996
, their
Fig. 3). Stimulation of the brachium conjunctivum at a frequency of 10 Hz evoked EPSP-spike sequences in the VL neuron. A high-amplitude EPSP
occurred in the cortical neuron 1.2 msec after a spike in the VL
neuron. The responsiveness of both TC and cortical cells was correlated
with slow oscillations in the cortex, but no augmentation was detected.
Thus, the stimulation of the cerebellothalamic afferents does not
produce an augmenting response either in thalamus or in the cortex. The
differences between stimulation of the thalamus directly and
stimulation of prethalamic (e.g., retinal, lemniscal, and
cerebellothalamic) pathways are discussed elsewhere (Steriade and
Timofeev, 1997
; Bazhenov et al., 1998
).

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Figure 2.
Stimulation of cerebellothalamic projection
pathways (brachium conjunctivum) does not elicit an augmenting
response. Simultaneous recording of depth EEG and a cortical cell from
area 4 and a TC cell from the VL nucleus. Stimulus pulse train at 10 Hz
indicated by dots. Expansion of the early parts of responses
to the first 5 stimuli of VL cell (bottom left) and cortical
cell (bottom right) is shown. Stimulation of brachium
conjunctivum reveals a monosynaptic EPSPs in the TC cell leading to
spikes. When hyperpolarization during depth positivity in the EEG
prevents the TC cell from firing, the cortical cell has a
smaller-amplitude EPSP. The responsiveness of thalamic and cortical
cells is affected by the slow oscillation but does not increment during
the train of stimuli.
|
|
Intrathalamic stimulation
Local thalamic stimulation with trains of stimuli at 10 Hz
consistently produced augmenting responses in thalamic and cortical neurons. The first thalamic stimulus evoked an EPSP followed by an IPSP
in thalamic cells. The second stimulus, 100 msec later, arrived during
the course of GABAB IPSPs in the TC cells. Under these
conditions, the EPSP invariably triggered an LTS. Progressive hyperpolarization of TC cells during the first three to five stimuli resulted in progressive growth in the size of the LTS and the number of
action potentials generated by TC cells. The main feature of augmenting
responses in cortex recorded intracellularly was the appearance and
growth in size of secondary excitation in response to the second and
subsequent stimuli. This secondary excitation was time-locked with
thalamic spike bursts. Figure 3,
top panel, shows the augmenting responses in simultaneously
recorded cortical and TC cells. After the second stimulus, a spike
burst appeared in the TC cell, and a secondary EPSP appeared in the
cortical cells. The TC cell reached its maximum hyperpolarization
before the third and fourth stimuli, which evoked a strong LTS with
five spikes in the burst. These spike bursts in the TC cells led to strong secondary excitation in the cortical cell. The depression of the
IPSP and the activation of the Ih current
slightly repolarized the TC cell, and the response to fifth stimulus
was a burst of only four spikes, which did not affect the shape of
secondary depolarization in the cortical cell. The relationship of
spike bursts in the TC cell and secondary excitation in the cortical cell is clearly seen in spike-triggered averages (Fig. 3, bottom panel).

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Figure 3.
Thalamic rebound spike bursts deinactivated by
hyperpolarization during augmenting responses precede the depolarizing
augmented responses in cortical neuron. Ketamine-xylazine anesthesia.
Dual intracellular recording from VL and area 4 neurons. VL stimulated
at 10 Hz. Averages (n = 5) triggered by the first
action potentials (asterisks) of the first, second, and
fifth responses of VL neuron show that they precede the late, augmented
depolarization (dotted line) in area 4.
|
|
Augmenting responses in the basic RE-TC-CX-IN network
The simplest thalamic network model that can generate a
low-threshold augmenting response during repetitive stimulation is a
reciprocal pair of RE-TC cells (Bazhenov et al., 1998
). Here we show
that an RE-TC-CX-IN model (Fig. 1A) displays the main features of augmenting responses observed in the cortex in
vivo. Thalamic stimulation was modeled by AMPA EPSPs delivered to
both RE and TC cells. Thalamic stimulation also produced monosynaptic excitation in cortical (CX and IN) neurons. This was modeled by cortical responses to stimuli that were only 10% of the intensity of
RE-TC stimulation.
The external stimulus evoked EPSPs in RE, TC, CX, and IN cells. The
response of the TC cell in turn produced secondary EPSPs in CX and IN
cells with a disynaptic latency (Fig. 4).
Feedback RE-evoked GABAA-GABAB IPSP partially
deinactivated the low-threshold Ca2+ current in the
TC cell, and the next stimulus evoked an LTS leading to the augmented
burst of spikes in the TC cell, which enhanced the secondary EPSP in
the CX cell. Continued stimulation augmented the TC responses and,
consequently, the secondary EPSPs in CX and IN cells. Thus, a simple
network of four RE-TC-CX-IN cells could reproduce the main features of
the augmenting responses
a two-component response with an augmenting
second component
observed in cortical pyramidal cells during
repetitive thalamic stimulation in vivo (Steriade et al.,
1998
).

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Figure 4.
Augmenting responses in the minimal model of
RE-TC-CX-IN cells during repetitive 10 Hz stimulation. Both the RE and
TC cells were stimulated with 100% of maximal intensity, and the CX
and IN cells were stimulated with 10% of maximal intensity.
A, Monosynaptic stimulation of the CX cell elicited a
nonaugmenting component in the cortical EPSPs that occurred
simultaneously with EPSPs in the RE and TC cells. Augmenting spike
bursts in TC cells lead to a growing secondary EPSPs in the CX cell.
B, Same response shown on a shorter time scale.
C, Superimposed traces of the first four EPSPs in a CX cell.
Open circles indicate the time of thalamic stimulation
(gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to IN,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.035 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.02 µS from TC to IN).
|
|
Cortical augmentation occurred in the model because of the growth of
TC-evoked EPSPs in CX and IN cells. Strengthening the afferent TC
CX
synaptic connections should result in even stronger cortical augmenting
responses during repetitive thalamic stimulation. This was confirmed in
simulations in which the maximal conductance of the TC
CX connection
was increased to almost twice its standard value (Fig.
5A). In this case, stimulation
elicited action potentials in the CX cell starting with the second
stimulus in the train, and the spike latency was much shorter compared
with the experiment shown in Figure 4.

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Figure 5.
Influence of afferent (TC CX) and lateral
(CX CX) connections on cortical augmenting responses. A,
The same circuit of RE-TC-CX-IN cells as shown in Figure 1A
during repetitive RE-TC (100% maximal intensity) and CX-IN (10%
maximal intensity) stimulation for gAMPA = 0.06 µS from TC to CX cells. The other parameters are the same as for
Figure 4. Increasing the maximal conductance of TC CX synaptic
connections produced a stronger augmentation of CX responses (compare
A, Fig. 4A). B, Augmenting responses in a chain
of six RE-TC-CX-IN cells shown in Figure 1B. The lateral
AMPA excitation between CX cells (gAMPA = 0.1 µS) increases the number of spikes in the augmenting responses. Note
that both CX and IN cells have stronger augmenting responses.
Open circles indicate the time of thalamic
stimulation.
|
|
Additional mechanisms affecting the strength of the cortical augmenting
response were uncovered in a more complex RE-TC-CX-IN network as shown
in Figure 1B. Figure 5B shows the responses of CX-IN cells
during trains of stimuli. The lateral CX
CX excitation led to the
summation of TC and CX-evoked EPSPs in CX cells, which also gave
stronger augmenting responses (two spikes after the second stimulus).
This strengthening of CX augmenting responses was observed despite the
increased IN-evoked IPSPs in CX cells. This simulation shows that
although the strength of the afferent TC
CX synaptic connections is
important, it is not the only parameter controlling the properties of
augmenting responses in CX cells. Further evidence for the critical
role of intracortical connections for controlling the cortical
augmenting responses is presented below.
Augmenting responses in a chain of RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response to
thalamic stimulation
A network with four one-dimensional chains of RE, TC, CX, and IN
cells (Fig. 1C) was analyzed to determine the influence of geometry on the augmenting responses in the cortical CX and IN cells.
Repetitive 10 Hz stimulation of RE-TC cells at 100% intensity and
CX-IN cells at 10% intensity led to the augmentation of the responses
in the TC, CX, and IN layers during the first three or four stimuli
(Fig. 6). The number of spikes per burst
and the number of cells firing action potentials increased. Nearly all of the cells fired after the second stimulus. In a larger network, the
size of the active region increased gradually during a long train of
stimuli, leading to more gradual growth of the secondary EPSPs in CX
cells.

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Figure 6.
Thalamocortical augmenting responses in a chain
with 27 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response to thalamic
stimulation. A, 10 Hz train of stimuli for 1 sec. Both RE
and TC cells were stimulated at 100% maximal intensity, and CX-IN
cells were stimulated with 10% of maximal intensity. The intensity of
stimulation was maximal at the center of the network and decayed
exponentially with distance from the center. B, Expanded
traces from A between t = 50 msec and
t = 500 msec. The first four shocks in the train of
nine shocks evoked a low-threshold augmenting response in the TC cells
and an increasing number of spikes in CX cells (from 0 or 1 spike to
1-3 spikes) and IN cells (from 1-3 spikes to 3 or 4 spikes). Slow
(~3 Hz) post-stimulus oscillations in the RE-TC network are echoed in
the CX-IN cells. These oscillations terminated after four or five
cycles as the spiking of the neurons in the network desynchronized
(gAMPA = 0.1 µS between CX cells,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to IN,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.08 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to IN).
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It is worth noting that three layers of the network (TC, CX, and IN)
displayed a similar augmentation during the train of stimuli, although
with quite different patterns of spiking. However, the spikes in TC
cells preceded the action potentials in CX-IN cells. In contrast, RE
cells displayed a powerful response to the first stimulus that
decremented in response to the second stimulus. The partial
inactivation of the low-threshold Ca2+ current in RE
cells reduced LTSs (for details, see Bazhenov et al., 1998
). Starting
from the second stimulus, the RE cells responded with a slowly
augmenting response evoked by increasing TC-evoked EPSPs.
Figure 7, A and B,
shows expanded traces of two TC-CX pairs with different locations in
the network. The first pair was located near the boundary of
thalamocortical network. The intensity of stimulation was low for these
cells, and the TC cells displayed almost stereotyped single spike
responses for the first three stimuli in the train. However, the fourth
EPSP was followed by an LTS leading to additional
Na+ spike. The CX cells displayed a two-component
EPSP for the first shock, in which the second component was a result of
the spike bursts in the TC cells. During a train of stimuli, the growth of the secondary EPSPs in the CX cells led to a progressively increasing number of spikes per burst (up to two spikes).

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Figure 7.
Comparison of augmenting responses in the
thalamocortical (RE-TC-CX-IN) network evoked by intrathalamic (RE-TC)
and prethalamic (TC only) stimulation. The responses to the first five
stimuli are shown on the right on an expanded time scale.
A, B, Two CX and two TC cells from an intact thalamocortical
network during 10 Hz intrathalamic stimulation. CX cell responses have
two components: the first EPSP is stereotyped, and the augmentation of
the second EPSP depends on the position of the cell in the network.
A, Far from the center of the network, the TC cell receives
low-intensity stimulation and displays a weak augmenting response. The
secondary EPSPs in the corresponding cortical cells were smaller, and
the augmenting response was delayed. B, TC cells near the
center of stimulation had strong augmenting responses that induced fast
augmentation of CX responses during a train of stimuli. C,
Two TC and two CX cells during weak prethalamic stimulation
(gext = 0.145 µS). The stereotyped
single-spike responses of TC cells elicited nonaugmenting EPSPs in CX
cells. Open circles indicate the time of thalamic
stimulation.
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The second pair of TC-CX cells was located closer to the center of the
network. More powerful stimulation led to action potentials starting
from the first stimulus. Both CX and TC cells from this pair displayed
stronger augmenting responses (up to four spikes in TC and up to three
spikes in CX cells) compared with the cells from the first pair (up to
three spikes in TC and up to two spikes in CX cells).
The train of stimuli was followed by a few cycles of slow oscillations
at ~3 Hz. These oscillations were of thalamic origin (for details,
see Bazhenov et al., 1998
) and terminated as a result of
desynchronization in the network.
Comparison of the low-threshold augmenting responses displayed by TC
cells in an intact thalamocortical (RE-TC-CX-IN) network and after
removal of the cortical (CX-IN) population revealed that the augmenting
responses were weaker after "decortication" (Bazhenov et al.,
1998
). During intrathalamic stimulation the activation of the
thalamocorticothalamic loop reinforced burst discharges in RE cells and
could shift the balance between synaptic excitation and RE-evoked
inhibition in TC cells toward inhibition. This could favor the
low-threshold type of augmenting response over the high-threshold type.
Therefore, in some circumstances the cortical network may contribute to
developing augmenting responses during repetitive stimulation.
Stereotyped responses in a chain of RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response
to prethalamic stimulation of the projection pathways
The responses of the RE-TC-CX-IN network to intrathalamic
stimulation are shown in Figures 6 and 7, A, and
B. To model a stimulus, AMPA receptors were activated
simultaneously on RE and TC cells at 100% intensity and CX-IN cells at
10% intensity. A train of stimuli produced augmenting responses in TC
and CX cells in good agreement with the in vivo data (Fig.
3).
In contrast, after 10 Hz prethalamic brachium conjunctivum stimulation
in vivo, VL cells displayed monosynaptic responses and only
an occasional fast spikes (Fig. 2). Simultaneous recording from CX
cells in area 4 revealed EPSPs with variable amplitude and no
augmentation during the entire train of stimuli.
The effects of prethalamic stimulation on a chain of RE-TC-CX-IN cells
were modeled by low-intensity stimulation of TC cells alone. Figure
7C shows the responses of two TC-CX pairs from the chain.
The TC cells displayed stereotyped single-spike responses during the
entire train of stimuli. The lack of augmentation can be explained by
weak one- or two-spike responses in the RE cells, which were unable to
elicit the GABAB IPSPs in TC cells. The nonaugmented responses of TC cells evoked almost stereotyped EPSPs in the CX. In
comparison, AMPA stimuli delivered simultaneously to TC and RE cells
with the same low amplitude led to weak but augmenting responses in TC
and CX cells (data not shown). Thus, the absence of RE stimulation at
low intensities could explain the absence of augmenting responses both
in TC and CX cells (Bazhenov et al., 1998
).
Augmenting responses in a chain of RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response to
cortical stimulation
Repetitive thalamic stimulation results in augmenting
responses of CX and IN cells because of the enhancement of TC-evoked EPSPs in these cells. Based on these results, repetitive cortical stimulation in the presence of a CX
TC
CX loop should lead to augmenting responses in CX cells. The simulations in Figure
8 confirm this suggestion. The stimuli
were delivered simultaneously to the CX and IN cells. The first four
shocks in the train led to growing responses in the CX (from one to
three to one to four spikes), IN (from three to five to four to eight
spikes) and TC cells (from zero to one or two spikes). Figure
9, A and B, shows expanded traces of two TC-CX pairs from the network presented in Figure
8. The same CX cells after removing of RE-TC network are shown in
Figure 9C.

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Figure 8.
Thalamocortical augmenting responses in a chain of
24 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response to cortical stimulation of
both the CX and IN cells. A, 10 Hz train of stimuli for 1 sec. The intensity of stimulation was maximal at the center of the
network and decayed exponentially with distance from the center.
B, Expanded traces from A between t = 50 msec and t = 500 msec. The RE-TC network
elicited low-threshold augmenting responses (up to two spikes in TC
cells). Action potentials of TC cells produced increasing secondary
EPSPs in CX cells. The train of stimuli was followed by prolonged (up
to 9 cycles) oscillations at ~3 Hz (gAMPA = 0.1 µS between CX cells, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from
CX to IN, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.08 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to IN).
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Figure 9.
Comparison of augmenting responses in the
thalamocortical network (RE-TC-CX-IN) in response to cortical
stimulation and comparison with an isolated cortical network (CX-IN).
The responses to the first five stimuli are shown on the
right on an expanded time scale. Two CX and two TC cells
from intact an thalamocortical network during 10 Hz stimulation are
shown. A, Direct cortical stimulation evoked single-spike
responses in the CX cells far from the center of the network.
B, Responses of a CX cell near the center of the network.
Augmentation of the TC responses produced a growing secondary EPSP in
the cortical cell and additional fast spike. C, Stereotyped
responses of the same CX cells after removing the thalamic (RE-TC)
network. Filled circles indicate the time of cortical
stimulation.
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The stimulation of cortical AMPA responses in CX and IN cells resulted
first in one to three spike responses in the CX cells. Activation of
CX
RE and CX
TC synapses evoked monosynaptic EPSPs followed by
disynaptic IPSPs in TC cells. After the first shock, the CX-evoked
EPSPs did not lead to action potentials in the TC network (Fig. 8).
However, RE-evoked hyperpolarization of TC cells deinactivated the
low-threshold Ca2+ current in TC cells, and after a
second stimulus, the CX-evoked EPSPs were followed by LTSs and
single-spike responses in some of TC cells. These responses evoked
secondary EPSPs in CX cells that grew during the train of stimuli. The
secondary EPSPs in the CX cells arrived when the CX cells still were
depolarized after stimulus-evoked monosynaptic EPSPs (Fig.
9A,B, expanded traces). This explains the robust effects of
these relatively weak TC-evoked EPSPs. The same CX cells displayed only
stereotyped responses when "thalamic-lesioned" networks were
stimulated (Fig. 9C).
The strength of the cortical augmenting responses depends on the
position of the cells relative to the center of stimulation. The CX
cells near the center (Fig. 9B) displayed powerful
(three-spike) responses to the stimulus-evoked EPSPs and augmentation
up to four spikes during the train of stimuli. Another CX cell located near the boundary (Fig. 9A) obtained weaker stimulation from
both the external electrode and TC cells and displayed weak augmenting responses (one or two spikes).
Mechanisms underlying augmenting responses in cortical neurons
distant from the site of stimulation
Repetitive 10 Hz stimulation of the cortical cells (CX, IN)
induced augmenting responses in these cells through
corticothalamocortical (CX
TC
CX) feedback. In the intact brain the
intralaminar thalamic nuclei send widespread projections to cerebral
cortex (Jones, 1985
). This suggests that the corticothalamocortical
loop could also induce augmenting responses in cortical areas remote
from the site of stimulation. To test this hypothesis, we stimulated only half of a cortical network. Figure
10, A-C, shows the
responses of the three cortical cells from the nonstimulated half of a
cortical network. Figure 10D shows the average response of
the TC cells contributing to the secondary EPSPs in these CX cells. Two
models were examined: one with intact lateral connections between the two halves of the cortical network and the same model with the lateral
connections lesioned (Fig. 10). In the former case, the CX cells
displayed strong monosynaptic EPSPs starting with the first stimulus in
the train. The fast response arose from lateral AMPA connections from
the CX cells in the directly stimulated half of the cortical network.
These EPSPs disappeared after the lateral interconnections were
lesioned between CX cells in the two halves of the network.

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Figure 10.
The influence of the CX-TC-CX loop on the
augmenting responses in cortical neurons distant from the site of
stimulation. Repetitive 10 Hz stimulation of half of the cortical
network (CX-IN cells from 1-13) produced augmenting responses of the
CX cells from the second half of the cortical network: A, CX
cell 15; B, CX cell 16; C, CX cell 17. Responses
from an intact thalamocortical model shown on the left.
Secondary EPSPs in CX cells were from activation of the lateral
(CX CX) and corticothalamocortical (CX TC CX) connections. Lesion
of the lateral connections between the two halves of the cortical
network eliminated the initial EPSPs in CX cells as shown on the
right. D, The averaged responses of the TC cells
contributing to the EPSPs in the CX cells shown in A-C (TC
cells 7-25). Filled circles indicate the time of cortical
stimulation (gAMPA = 0.1 µS between CX cells,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to IN,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to IN).
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In both networks, the CX cells displayed secondary EPSPs starting from
the second stimulus in the train. These EPSPs arose from the
CX
TC
CX loop that was activated when some of TC cells responded
with action potentials for CX-evoked stimulation (Fig. 10D).
The growth of the secondary EPSPs in the nonstimulated half of the
cortical network occurred because there were more spikes per burst in
the TC cells and more TC cells were recruited to fire action
potentials. The second effect was more prominent in this experiment
because the weak CX-evoked EPSPs in TC cells limited the number of
spikes in TC responses to only one or two.
These results show how the thalamic network, through the activation of
TC cells, could produce augmenting responses in spatially distant
cortical areas.
The impact of progressive disfacilitation on cortical
augmenting responses
TC cells recorded in vivo in anesthetized animals are
hyperpolarized in comparison with the awake state, which reduces their tonic firing, but they nonetheless fire action potentials (Contreras and Steriade, 1995
; Timofeev and Steriade, 1996
, 1997
). The summation of excitatory inputs from spontaneously firing TC cells depolarizes cortical neurons. To model this effect, a constant current was applied
to depolarize 50% of the TC cells chosen randomly, enough to evoke
spontaneous firing. This depolarized the CX cells on average ~4 mV.
Because of the limited size of the thalamic network in our model, a
relatively high frequency of spontaneous firing was required to produce
the depolarizing input to the cortex. During in vivo
experiments, the same level of cortical depolarization could be
achieved by lower-frequency firing in a larger population of TC
cells.
Figure 11 shows the responses of three
CX and three related TC cells drawn from a thalamocortical network. The
first TC cell (Fig. 11A) was depolarized and fired
spontaneously before the stimulation began. The membrane potential of
the CX cells before stimulation was approximately
67 mV, and the
fluctuations evoked by the nonsynchronous TC-evoked EPSPs is apparent.
The first stimulus in the train evoked a small EPSP in some TC cells
and action potentials in others. Synchronous TC-evoked EPSPs also
elicited spike bursts in RE cells and
GABAA-GABAB feedback inhibition, which
hyperpolarized the TC cells. The inhibition spread to TC cells that
were firing spontaneously, which reduced their contribution to the
depolarizing input to the cortex, a form of disfacilitation (Fig.
11A, right panel). As a result, CX cells displayed a
hyperpolarization immediately after the first shock attributable both
to disfacilitation and to GABAA IPSPs (Fig. 11, left
column). The disfacilitation mechanism is corroborated by
experimental data in vivo (Contreras et al., 1996
; Timofeev
et al., 1996
).

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Figure 11.
Thalamocortical augmenting responses during a
train of 10 Hz stimuli in the presence of spontaneous TC-evoked
depolarization of the cortical network. Both RE and TC cells were
stimulated. A, CX and TC cells far from the center of
stimulation. B, CX and TC cells at an intermediate distance.
C, CX and TC cells close to the center of stimulation. The
EPSPs is the CX cells augmented despite hyperpolarization from
disfacilitation of the spontaneous TC-evoked depolarization that began
before the train of stimuli. Open circles indicate the time
of thalamic stimulation (gAMPA = 0.1 µS
between CX cells, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to
IN, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.05 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to IN).
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The second thalamic stimulus evoked an even larger RE-evoked
hyperpolarization in the TC cells, which produced low-threshold augmenting responses in some cells (Fig. 11C). The growth of
TC-evoked EPSPs was sufficiently rapid to elicit an augmenting response in CX cells despite the tonic hyperpolarization. This effect was larger
in CX cells near the center of the network (Fig. 11C) than in cells near the boundary (Fig. 11A). As a consequence of
the progressive hyperpolarization of all of the TC cells during the train of stimuli, spontaneous firing ceased after the train, and the
membrane potentials of the CX cells were lower than before the
stimulation.
Influence of intracortical synaptic conductances on
augmenting responses
The previous results from the simple circuit of four RE-TC-CX-IN
cells demonstrated that the cortical network affects the development of
cortical augmenting responses through intrinsic mechanisms. These
results need to be confirmed in the chain of coupled RE-TC-CX-IN cells,
and the influence of intracortical and thalamocortical synaptic
conductances needs to be more closely examined.
Figure 12 shows the response of one
arbitrarily selected pair of CX-IN cells during repetitive 10 Hz
stimulation of RE-TC cells at 100% intensity and CX-IN cells at 10%
intensity. The augmenting responses of the CX cell with "standard"
values of synaptic conductances are shown in Figure 7A. In
the four-cell RE-TC-CX-IN network, increase of the maximal conductance
for the afferent TC
CX connections reinforced the augmenting
responses (Fig. 5A). In the four-layer chain (Fig.
12A), increase of the TC-evoked secondary EPSPs in CX and IN
cells produced exaltation of the augmenting responses of up to four
additional spikes in CX cells and six spikes in IN cells. The duration
of poststimulus oscillations accompanied by Na+
spikes in CX and IN cells was also prolonged (compare Figs.
12A, 7A).

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Figure 12.
Effect of the intracortical synaptic connections
on the augmenting responses in cortical cells. One CX-IN pair from a
network of 27 × 4 cells is shown during repetitive 10 Hz
stimulation. Parameters are the same as in Figure 7A except
as noted below. A, Increase of TC-evoked EPSPs in CX and IN
cells produced enhancement of the cortical augmenting responses
(compare A, Fig. 7A) (gAMPA = 0.15 µS from TC to CX cells). B, Enhancement of the lateral
excitation evoked strong depolarization in the CX cell after the fifth
stimulus and transformed the CX responses to tonic firing
(gAMPA = 0.15 between CX cells).
C, Increase of CX evoked EPSPs in IN cells enhanced
responses in these cells and reduce augmenting responses in CX cells
(gAMPA = 0.15 µS from CX to IN cells).
D, Weak GABAB inhibition progressively
hyperpolarized the CX cells after four or five shocks. This weakened
the augmenting responses in CX cells (compare D, Fig.
7A) (gGABAB = 0.01 µS from IN to
CX cells). Open circles indicate the time of thalamic
stimulation.
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The influence of lateral AMPA excitation between CX cells is shown in
Figure 12B. Increasing the maximal conductance of AMPA CX
CX synapses had only a small effect on the augmenting responses during the first four stimuli but had a major effect during second half
of the train. Starting with the fifth stimulus, the CX cells became
strongly depolarized and produced tonic firing. The strong excitatory
input from CX cells to IN cells also evoked tonic firing in IN cells
during last five stimuli in the train. The frequency of sodium spikes
in CX and IN responses was, however, much less than when the TC
CX
conductances were increased (Fig. 12, compare A, B).
The influence of synaptic interconnections between CX and IN cells on
augmenting responses is shown in Figs. 12, C and
D, and 13. The strong
increase in the CX
IN AMPA conductance (Fig. 12C) intensified IN-evoked IPSPs in CX cells and reduced the augmenting responses in CX cells by at most one less spike (compare Figs. 12C, 7A). An increase of IN responses might be expected to
reduce CX activity even more, but because of the delay in the arrival of the IN-evoked GABAA IPSPs on CX cells, the inhibition
was not fast enough to reduce the single-spike responses of CX cells
(data not shown).

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Figure 13.
Influence of intracortical IN CX inhibition on
thalamocortical augmenting responses. A, B, CX-IN pair
responding to a repetitive 10 Hz stimulation (Fig. 7A).
Parameters are the same as in Fig. 7A, except as noted
below. A, Decreasing the IN-evoked inhibition produced
strong augmentation of CX responses (from 1 to 3-5 spikes) accompanied
by progressive depolarization of the membrane potential
(gGABAA = 0.01 µS from IN to CX
cells). B, Weak inhibition produced strong depolarization
during a train of stimuli and elicited tonic firing in CX cells that
terminated after the train (gGABAA = 0.005 µS from IN to CX cells). C, Shift in the balance
between excitation and inhibition in CX cells toward excitation
accompanied by strengthening of the afferent TC CX synaptic
connections prolonged the slow poststimulus oscillations (compare
C, Fig. 7A) (gGABAA = 0.01 µS from IN to CX cells, and gAMPA = 0.014 µS from TC to CX cells). Open circles indicate the time of
thalamic stimulation.
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Although GABAB IPSPs are prominent in neocortical slice
preparations (Avoli, 1986
; Connors et al., 1988
), GABAB is
only a minor component in vivo (Contreras et al., 1996
) and
was not included in the "standard" model of the CX-IN network. Here
we examine the influence of weak IN-evoked GABAB inhibition
on augmenting responses in CX cells. Figure 12D shows the
responses of a pair of CX-IN cells during repetitive stimulation in the
presence of a weak IN
CX GABAB conductance. Relatively
weak burst discharges in IN cells produced slow activation of the
GABAB responses whose influence became apparent only after
the fourth or fifth stimulus. After several shocks the
GABAB hyperpolarization of the CX cell was strong enough to
eliminate one spike per burst in comparison with the "control"
model (compare Figs. 12D, 7A). The decrease in the number of
spikes per response was accompanied by growth of the secondary
(TC-evoked) EPSPs in CX cells.
Altering the synaptic conductances of most cortical synapses affected
the augmenting responses in the cortical cells by adding or removing a
few spikes from CX-IN responses. The only exception so far has been the
depolarization and tonic firing of CX cells caused by an increase in
the excitatory lateral CX
CX connections. Figure 13 shows a strong
enhancement of CX responses of up to four or five spikes during a train
of stimuli when the IN
CX GABAA inhibition was decreased.
This enhancement was accompanied by the progressive depolarization of
the membrane potential in CX cells (Fig. 13A). Further
reduction of IN
CX GABAA conductances transformed the
well separated spike bursts in the CX cells to almost continuous
prolonged burst discharges (Fig. 13B).
The strong enhancement of the augmenting response of CX neurons in this
simulation was a consequence of the lateral CX
CX AMPA excitation
unrestrained by GABAA inhibition from IN cells. This
explains why the response patterns after reducing IN
CX inhibition (Fig. 13) and after increasing CX
CX excitation were so similar (Fig.
12B). This enhancement is a network effect that was not
observed in the model having only a single CX cell. Note that these
paroxysmal responses in CX cells occurred despite strong augmentation
of the high-frequency spike bursts in IN cells.
The shift of the balance between IN-evoked inhibition and CX-evoked
excitation toward excitation changed the character of the poststimulus
slow oscillations. The duration of the oscillations doubled from <1
sec in the original model (Fig. 7A) to nearly 2 sec (Figs.
12A, 13), whereas the TC-evoked EPSPs in CX cells became
crowned with Na+ spikes. When the afferent TC
CX
connection strengths were increased and the intracortical IN
CX were
decreased simultaneously, a train of stimuli evoked fast augmentation
of CX responses that were quickly transformed to tonic firing, and the
duration of poststimulus oscillations was increased up to 5 sec (Fig.
13C). Thus, for some combinations of these parameters,
augmenting responses may be transformed to long-lasting paroxysmal
responses involving both CX-IN and RE-TC networks.
Augmenting responses in a thalamocortical model with three types of
cortical cells
In the standard cortical model there are only two layers of
cortical cells: excitatory regular-spiking cells and inhibitory fast-spiking cells in which the cortical CX cells receive inputs from
TC cells and project back to both the RE and TC cells. Repetitive thalamic stimulation resulted in a gradual increase in the number of
spikes per burst in the CX and IN cells. Consider now a cortical network with two layers of cortical excitatory cells and one layer of
inhibitory cells. The cortical cells in the first excitatory layer
(CX1), which corresponded with layer 4 of cortex, received inputs from
TC cells and had AMPA synapses on IN cells and on the excitatory cells
of the second layer (CX2), which projected back to RE and TC cells and
corresponded to corticofugal cells in layer 6. The IN cells provide
GABAA feedback inhibition to the CX1 ("input") cells
and feedforward inhibition for the CX2 ("output") cells.
Figure 14 shows the responses of two
cortical cells from different excitatory layers of a chain of coupled
RE-TC-CX1-CX2-IN cells during repetitive 10 Hz thalamic stimulation.
Both CX1 and CX2 cells displayed gradual augmenting responses. However,
augmentation was much stronger for the CX1 cell in the input layer
(from zero to three spikes) than for the CX2 cell of the output layer
(from zero to one spike) because the feedforward IN-evoked inhibition reduced the CX1-evoked EPSPs in output layer. The burst discharges in
TC cells evoked simultaneous AMPA EPSPs in CX1 and IN cells. IN-evoked
GABAA IPSPs arrived at the CX1 cells with one synaptic delay and reduced the length of the spike bursts in these cells (see
previous section). However, the same IPSPs arrived at the deep layer
simultaneously with CX1-evoked EPSPs and had a much stronger inhibitory
effect on CX2 cells than on CX1 cells. This model predicts a rapid
buildup of powerful augmenting responses in deep layers of the cortex
compared with superficial layers (Castro-Alamancos and Connors, 1996a
;
Kandel and Buzsáki, 1997
).

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Figure 14.
Augmenting responses in a thalamocortical network
model that included two layers of cortical cells. One pair of cortical
cells from the two layers and one TC cell are shown during 10 Hz
cortical stimulations. CX1 is an input cell receiving direct
TC connections, and CX2 is an output cell sending
connections to the thalamus. The CX2 cell had a reduced augmenting
response compared with the CX1 cells because of the feedforward
IN-evoked inhibition. Open circles indicate the time of
thalamic stimulation (gAMPA = 0.1 µS between
CX1 cells and CX2 cells, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from
CX1 to CX2 and from CX2 to CX1, gAMPA = 0.03 µS from CX1 to IN and from CX2 to IN,
gGABAA = 0.06 µS from IN to CX1
and IN to CX2, gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX2 to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX2 to RE,
gAMPA = 0.11 µS from TC to CX1, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to IN).
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Augmenting responses in a two-dimensional
thalamocortical network
The one-dimensional chain of RE-TC-CX-IN cells used in previous
simulations may not capture the dynamics of neurons arranged in
two-dimensional sheets, as found in the cortex. Here we study a
two-dimensional four-layer network consisting of 27 × 27 arrays of RE, TC, CX, and IN cells.
Repetitive 10 Hz intrathalamic stimulation produced augmenting
responses in the two-dimensional model. The average membrane potential
between two consequent stimuli
(
i,j, see Materials and Methods)
is shown for the CX cells in Figure
15A and for the TC cells in
Figure 15B. Repetitive thalamic stimulation produced progressive augmentation of both the TC and CX responses during first
four stimuli in the train. The number of spikes was increased from zero
or one spike to one to three spikes for CX cells and to three or four
spikes for TC cells; by the fourth stimulus almost the entire network
was generating spikes.

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Figure 15.
Thalamocortical augmenting responses in a
two-dimensional thalamocortical network with 27 × 27 × 4 RE-TC-CX-IN cells in response to thalamic stimulation. Both RE and TC
cells were stimulated at 100% of maximal intensity, and the CX-IN
cells were stimulated with 10% of maximal intensity by the train of
eight shocks (gAMPA = 0.1 µS between CX
cells). The intensity of stimulation was maximal at the center of the
network and decayed exponentially with distance from the center. Each
panel displays the average depolarization
i,j(k) (see Materials and
Methods) (i, j = 1, ... , 27) in the CX or TC
networks after a stimulus in the train (k = 1, ... ,
8). The values of i,j(k)
are coded by color, ranging from 2 mV (blue) to 25 mV
(red) for TC cells (A) and from 2 mV
(blue) to 12.5 mV (red) for CX cells (B)
(gAMPA = 0.1 µS between CX cells,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to IN,
gAMPA = 0.1 µS from CX to TC,
gAMPA = 0.2 µS from CX to RE,
gGABAA = 0.03 µS from IN to CX,
gAMPA = 0.07 µS from TC to CX, and
gAMPA = 0.03 µS from TC to
IN).
|
|
Secondary EPSPs in the CX cells were preceded by spike bursts in the TC
cells (data not shown), which displayed a low-threshold intrathalamic
augmenting response that accounted for the enhancement of the CX
responses. There was a direct link between the strengths of the
augmenting responses in the CX and TC cells. The variability in the
parameters of the TC and RE cells accounted for the heterogeneity of
the observed TC activity, which was the source of heterogeneity for the
CX responses.
In both the TC and CX cells the strength of the augmenting responses
depended on the distance of a cell from the center of stimulation. The
cells located close to the center of stimulation displayed faster
augmentation during repetitive stimulation compared with the delayed
augmenting responses at the boundary cells. Note that the action
potentials made only a small contribution to the values of
i,j. The growth of
i,j was caused primarily by the enhancement of the secondary EPSPs in the CX cells or by a combination of the increasing EPSPs and LTSs for TC cells rather than by the increase in the number of spikes per response. This may explain why the
i,j values for central and boundary cells
were so similar (Fig. 15). The train of stimuli was followed by a few
cycles of slow (~3 Hz) poststimulus oscillation (data not shown).
Thus, the two-dimensional model displayed augmenting responses during
repetitive stimulation that were qualitatively similar to the
one-dimensional model, suggesting that augmenting responses occur
independently of the detailed patterns of connectivity.
 |
DISCUSSION |
Cortical augmenting responses during repetitive
thalamic stimulation
In vivo recordings from the sensory and motor cortices
of cats under barbiturate or ketamine-xylazine anesthetic have
revealed that cortical augmenting responses during repetitive
stimulation of the dorsal thalamus were preceded by low-threshold
augmenting spike bursts in TC cells (Steriade et al., 1998
). The
secondary EPSP components in cortical cells increased, whereas the
primary component of the cortical EPSPs diminished during a train of
stimuli. The thalamocortical network model analyzed in this paper shows that the main source of cortical augmenting responses may be thalamic (Bazhenov et al., 1998
; Timofeev and Steriade, 1998
).
The low-threshold intrathalamic augmenting response in the model
during repetitive RE-TC stimulation depended on the hyperpolarization of the TC cells by RE-evoked IPSPs, which deinactivated the
low-threshold Ca2+ current in TC cells and enhanced
the LTSs. Burst discharges in TC cells activated the TC
CX AMPA
receptors, and as these secondary EPSPs grew during intrathalamic
augmentation, cortical spike bursts were elicited. The primary cortical
EPSPs in the model were elicited by a weak monosynaptic activation of
the TC
CX connections. The amplitude of primary EPSP components in
the model did not decrease as observed in vivo. The
reduction of the primary EPSP component could reflect a decrease in the
CX input resistance, in part through partial activation of GABA
receptors, consistent with the hyperpolarization observed in cortical
cells after the first stimulus.
Although the intrathalamic mechanism that generated the cortical
augmenting responses was highly robust to the parameters governing
intracortical interactions, the pattern of augmenting responses
depended strongly on the balance between IN-evoked inhibition and
CX-evoked excitation in the CX cells. A shift toward excitation transformed the spike bursts in CX neurons from well separated bursts
to more powerful burst discharges riding on a slow wave of
depolarization and to tonic firing after several shocks (Figs. 12,
13).
Intracellular recordings from cortical cells during augmenting
responses evoked by thalamic or cortical stimuli in vivo
often show a hyperpolarization starting from the first stimulus in the train, which is the result of GABAA IPSPs and
disfacilitation (Contreras et al., 1996
; Timofeev et al., 1996
;
Steriade et al., 1998
). The activation of the GABAB
synaptic connections from IN to CX cells can contribute to such a
hyperpolarization. However, in simulations GABAB-mediated
hyperpolarization started from the third or fourth stimulus (Fig. 12).
Another possible mechanism contributing to the hyperpolarization of CX
cells is removal of tonic depolarizing input from the thalamus. Ongoing
firing of TC cells in the model activated AMPA receptors on CX cells
and produced an average depolarization of 4-6 mV. The burst discharges in RE neurons after the first thalamic stimulus elicited
GABAA-GABAB IPSPs in TC cells, which
immediately terminated the spontaneous firing in TC cells and
hyperpolarized the cortical CX-IN network as observed during the slow
(<1 Hz) oscillations (Steriade et al., 1993a
-c
). The low-threshold
augmentation of TC responses after the next stimulus led to increased
EPSPs in CX cells (Fig. 11).
Prethalamic stimulation of the projection pathways
Consistent with the absence of spindles when prethalamic
stimuli are used, compared with the powerful spindle oscillations evoked by corticothalamic stimulation (Steriade et al., 1972
; Steriade,
1984
), augmenting responses were not observed during 10 Hz prethalamic
stimulation of the brachium conjunctivum in simultaneous intracellular
recordings from TC cells in VL thalamus and CX cells in area 4. This
form of stimulation produced an exclusively monosynaptic input to TC
cells, which may account for the absence of an augmenting response
(Bazhenov et al., 1998
). In the model, low-intensity stimulation of TC
cells without RE activation led to monosynaptic single-spike responses
in TC cells and disynaptic two- or three-spike responses in RE cells
that failed to activate low-threshold intrathalamic augmentation. The
cortical CX and IN cells displayed stereotyped EPSPs without
Na+ spikes. Increasing the maximal conductance of
thalamocortical connections enough to produce spikes in CX cells
resulted in weak augmentation of TC and CX responses. This occurred
because the thalamocortical feedback increased the burst discharges in
RE cells, which enhanced the RE-evoked IPSPs in TC cells and led to
stronger deinactivation of the low-threshold Ca2+
current.
Cortical augmenting responses during repetitive
cortical stimulation
In vivo recordings from cortical neurons of
anesthetized cats have revealed augmenting responses during
repetitive cortical stimulation (Steriade et al., 1998
). Our model
shows how this type of augmentation could be generated by the
low-threshold intrathalamic augmenting responses and
corticothalamocortical (CX
TC
CX) loop. Repetitive cortical
stimulation led to the spike bursts in cortical cells followed by EPSPs
in RE and TC cells. Spike bursts in TC cells activated afferent TC
CX
AMPA connections in CX and IN cells. These secondary EPSPs arrived when
CX and IN cells were still depolarized after monosynaptic stimulation
and therefore had a significant effect. After lesion of the
corticothalamocortical connections that interrupt the loop, the
cortical cells showed only stereotyped responses to a train of stimuli.
In contrast, deleting the direct intracortical connections affected the
monosynaptic EPSPs but did not affect the gradual augmenting
responses.
There are other purely intracortical mechanisms that may contribute to
the augmenting responses of CX cells in the intact cortical network.
Our recent intracellular recordings from intact cortex and isolated
cortical slabs in cats under ketamine-xylazine or barbiturate
anesthesia demonstrate a slight increase of the secondary, slow
depolarization and associated spikes during rhythmic stimuli at 10 Hz
(M. Steriade, I. Timofeev, and F. Grenier, unpublished data)
(Dürmüller et al., 1998
). One of the possible intracortical mechanisms of augmentation is based on the short-term depression of
intracortical synapses (A. R. Houweling, M. Bazhenov, I. Timofeev, M. Steriade, and T. J. Sejnowski, unpublished data)
(Houweling et al., 1998
). In in vivo experiments the
contributions of intrathalamic and intracortical mechanisms during
intracortical stimulation may be studied separately by the lesion of
lateral intracortical connections or thalamocortical afferents.
Post-stimulus oscillations
The network model had a tendency to continue with a few cycles of
the slow (~3 Hz) oscillations after a train of stimuli (Bazhenov et
al., 1998
; Timofeev and Steriade, 1998
). These oscillations originated
in the thalamus from the interaction of intrinsic and synaptic currents
in TC cells and were similar to the delta oscillations that can be
generated in isolated TC cells because of the interplay between
Ih and IT currents
(McCormick and Pape, 1990
; Soltesz et al., 1991
; Leresche et al., 1991
;
Steriade et al., 1991
). In the network model, however, the activation
of Ih current was elicited mostly by RE-evoked
IPSPs. The poststimulus oscillations were terminated by
desynchronization of the RE-evoked IPSPs in TC cells. An additional
mechanism contributing to the termination of the poststimulus
oscillations was Ca2+ regulation of
Ih current in TC cells (Bal and McCormick, 1996
; Lüthi and McCormick, 1997
). As the intracellular
Ca2+ concentration increased, the persistent
activation of the Ih current depolarized the TC
cells.
Although the origin of the slow poststimulus oscillation in the cortex
is intrathalamic, the cortex enhances them through mechanisms similar
to those that are involved in the generation of spindles (Contreras and
Steriade, 1996
; Contreras et al., 1997
). TC-evoked EPSPs evoke burst
discharges in cortical CX and IN cells, which, in turn, reinforce the
burst discharges in TC cells by direct activation of the CX
TC AMPA
receptors and by reinforcing the burst discharges in RE neurons. The
latter effect was dominant in our model, because the CX
RE
connections were stronger than the CX
TC connections.
The balance between intracortical IN-evoked inhibition and CX-evoked
excitation controls not only the augmenting responses during repetitive
stimulation but also the slow poststimulus oscillations. A shift toward
excitation by either increased excitatory inputs or disinhibition may
transform the oscillations to long-lasting paroxysmal responses. The
prolonged duration of the poststimulus oscillations shows that the
cortex can contribute to the maintenance of synchronized epileptic-like
slow oscillations in the thalamocortical network.
Predictions of the models
The thalamocortical network model of augmenting responses analyzed
here makes several predictions that can be experimentally tested.
First, if the intrathalamic low-threshold mechanism for cortical
augmenting responses is correct, then augmentation in cortical
pyramidal cells and inhibitory interneurons should occur simultaneously. Second, repetitive cortical stimulation in the model
resulted in augmenting responses both locally and in remote areas of
the cortical network because of the CX
TC
CX loop and low-threshold
intrathalamic augmentation. This suggest that the thalamus may
contribute essentially to the augmenting responses of cortical cells
during intracortical stimulation, and the long-range augmenting
responses should be observed even after lesion of the lateral
intracortical connections between stimulated and recorded cortical
areas. Third, during intrathalamic stimulation the spike bursts in CX
cells could enhance the low-threshold intrathalamic augmenting
responses attributable to the activation of the corticothalamical CX
RE connections reinforcing RE-evoked IPSPs in TC cells. If this
occurs, then the low-threshold type of augmenting responses should
predominate over the high-threshold type when the cortex is intact.
This seems indeed to be the case, because in in vivo experiments the high-threshold type of augmenting response was rarely
observed in animals with an intact cortex (Steriade et al., 1998
)
compared with decorticated animals (Steriade and Timofeev, 1997
).
Fourth, during intrathalamic stimulation the augmenting responses
should arise first and be stronger in cortical layers innervated by
thalamocortical inputs. This agrees with previous data
(Castro-Alamancos and Connors, 1996a
; Kandel and Buzsáki, 1997
)
and with our recent experimental results (Steriade et al., 1998
).
Fifth, a shift in the balance between CX-evoked AMPA excitation and
IN-evoked GABAA inhibition in the CX cells toward
excitation should enhance the responses of cortical cells to thalamic
stimulation sufficiently to transform an augmenting response to a
longer-lasting paroxysmal discharge. Experiments are under way to test
these predictions.
 |
FOOTNOTES |
Received Feb. 18, 1998; revised May 11, 1998; accepted May 29, 1998.
This research was supported by Human Frontier Science Program, The
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Sloan Center for Theoretical Neurobiology, The Medical Research Council of Canada, and the Savoy
Foundation.
Correspondence should be addressed to Maxim Bazhenov, The Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, The Salk Institute, Computational Neurobiology
Laboratory, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA
92037.
 |
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D. J. Uhlrich, K. A. Manning, M. L. O'Laughlin, and W. W. Lytton
Photic-Induced Sensitization: Acquisition of an Augmenting Spike-Wave Response in the Adult Rat Through Repeated Strobe Exposure
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M. Rosanova and D. Ulrich
Pattern-Specific Associative Long-Term Potentiation Induced by a Sleep Spindle-Related Spike Train
J. Neurosci.,
October 12, 2005;
25(41):
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M. Rosanova and I. Timofeev
Neuronal mechanisms mediating the variability of somatosensory evoked potentials during sleep oscillations in cats
J. Physiol.,
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Y. Cisse, S. Crochet, I. Timofeev, and M. Steriade
Synaptic Enhancement Induced Through Callosal Pathways in Cat Association Cortex
J Neurophysiol,
December 1, 2004;
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P. Fuentealba, S. Crochet, I. Timofeev, and M. Steriade
Synaptic Interactions Between Thalamic and Cortical Inputs Onto Cortical Neurons In Vivo
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 2004;
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1990 - 1998.
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A. R Houweling, M. Bazhenov, I. Timofeev, F. Grenier, M. Steriade, and T. J Sejnowski
Frequency-selective augmenting responses by short-term synaptic depression in cat neocortex
J. Physiol.,
July 15, 2002;
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I. Timofeev, M. Bazhenov, T. Sejnowski, and M. Steriade
Cortical hyperpolarization-activated depolarizing current takes part in the generation of focal paroxysmal activities
PNAS,
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M. Steriade
Impact of Network Activities on Neuronal Properties in Corticothalamic Systems
J Neurophysiol,
July 1, 2001;
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M. Steriade, I. Timofeev, and F. Grenier
Natural Waking and Sleep States: A View From Inside Neocortical Neurons
J Neurophysiol,
May 1, 2001;
85(5):
1969 - 1985.
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I. Timofeev, F. Grenier, M. Bazhenov, T.J. Sejnowski, and M. Steriade
Origin of Slow Cortical Oscillations in Deafferented Cortical Slabs
Cereb Cortex,
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V. S. Sohal, M. M. Huntsman, and J. R. Huguenard
Reciprocal Inhibitory Connections Regulate the Spatiotemporal Properties of Intrathalamic Oscillations
J. Neurosci.,
March 1, 2000;
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M. Steriade, I. Timofeev, F. Grenier, and N. Durmuller
Role of Thalamic and Cortical Neurons in Augmenting Responses and Self-Sustained Activity: Dual Intracellular Recordings In Vivo
J. Neurosci.,
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