Dual function of thalamic low-vigilance state oscillations: rhythm-regulation and plasticity
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 02:06authored byCrunelli, V, Lorincz, ML, William ConnellyWilliam Connelly, David, F, Hughes, SW, Lambert, RC, Leresche, N, Errington, AC
During inattentive wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, the neocortex and thalamus cooperatively engage in rhythmic activities that are exquisitely reflected in the electroencephalogram as distinctive rhythms spanning a range of frequencies from <1 Hz slow waves to 13 Hz alpha waves. In the thalamus, these diverse activities emerge through the interaction of cell-intrinsic mechanisms and local and long-range synaptic inputs. One crucial feature, however, unifies thalamic oscillations of different frequencies: repetitive burst firing driven by voltage-dependent Ca2+ spikes. Recent evidence reveals that thalamic Ca2+ spikes are inextricably linked to global somatodendritic Ca2+ transients and are essential for several forms of thalamic plasticity. Thus, we propose herein that alongside their rhythm-regulation function, thalamic oscillations of low-vigilance states have a plasticity function that, through modifications of synaptic strength and cellular excitability in local neuronal assemblies, can shape ongoing oscillations during inattention and NREM sleep and may potentially reconfigure thalamic networks for faithful information processing during attentive wakefulness.
History
Publication title
Nature reviews. Neuroscience
Volume
19
Pagination
107-118
ISSN
1471-003X
Department/School
Tasmanian School of Medicine
Publisher
Nature Pub. Group
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Rights statement
Copyright 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature