Thalamic bursting mechanism: an inward slow current revealed by membrane hyperpolarization.
Hyperpolarization of the ventrolateral thalamic cell membrane reveals a slow inward current which is not normally observed at the resting membrane potential. The response evoked by depolarizing synaptic potentials or depolarizing current pulses from a hyperpolarized potential consists of a burst of action potentials superimposed upon a slow voltage response, in contrast to the single active response evoked without the background polarization. We propose that such behavior is caused by a slow inward current that is activated at subthreshold potentials and inactivated or masked at resting potential.
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013788:Thalamus / Q000502:physiology*