Unified thalamic model generates multiple distinct oscillations with state-dependent entrainment by stimulation
Abstract
The thalamus plays a critical role in the genesis of thalamocortical oscillations, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. To understand whether the isolated thalamus can generate multiple distinct oscillations, we developed a biophysical thalamic model to test the hypothesis that generation of and transition between distinct thalamic oscillations can be explained as a function of neuromodulation by acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine (NE) and afferent synaptic excitation. Indeed, the model exhibited four distinct thalamic rhythms (delta, sleep spindle, alpha and gamma oscillations) that span the physiological states corresponding to different arousal levels from deep sleep to focused attention. Our simulation results indicate that generation of these distinct thalamic oscillations is a result of both intrinsic oscillatory cellular properties and specific network connectivity patterns. We then systematically varied the ACh/NE and input levels to generate a complete map of the different oscillatory states and their transitions. Lastly, we applied periodic stimulation to the thalamic network and found that entrainment of thalamic oscillations is highly state-dependent. Our results support the hypothesis that ACh/NE modul...Continue Reading
References
Electrophysiology of a slow (0.5-4 Hz) intrinsic oscillation of cat thalamocortical neurones in vivo
Synaptic distribution of afferents from reticular nucleus in ventroposterior nucleus of cat thalamus
Spindle oscillation in cats: the role of corticothalamic feedback in a thalamically generated rhythm
Novel modes of rhythmic burst firing at cognitively-relevant frequencies in thalamocortical neurons.
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