“School of Cognitive Sciences”
Back to Papers HomeBack to Papers of School of Cognitive Sciences
| Paper IPM / Cognitive Sciences / 14330 |
|
||||||
| Abstract: | |||||||
|
Background: Locus Coeruleus (LC) modulates neuronal activity and affects sensory processing in various modalities. The effect of LC activation on spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity in sensory cortex is well documented. However, the temporal profile of LC modulation of sensory cortex is not established. Here we investigate the effect of LC micro-stimulation on sensory processing in rat barrel cortex (BC) at various time lags. Methods: We recorded neuronal activity from rat barrel cortex under urethane anesthesia and coupled LC micro-stimulation with mechanical stimulation of whiskers. LC stimulation preceded a brief whisker deflection at 10 different time lags (50-500 ms). Three levels of currents were used for micro-stimulation; 30 uA, 50 uA, 100 uA.
Results: LC stimulation exhibited a biphasic effect on BC spontaneous activity: a period of suppression ( 100 ms) followed by a period of excitation ( 200 ms).
Download TeX format |
|||||||
| back to top | |||||||
