title: Characteristics of temporal fluctuations in the hyperpolarized state of the cortical slow oscillation.
abstract: We present evidence for the hypothesis that transitions between the low- and high-firing states of the cortical slow oscillation correspond to neuronal phase transitions. By analyzing intracellular recordings of the membrane potential during the cortical slow oscillation in rats, we quantify the temporal fluctuations in power and the frequency centroid of the power spectrum in the period of time before "down" to "up" transitions. By taking appropriate averages over such events, we present these statistics as a function of time before transition. The results demonstrate an increase in fluctuation power and time scale broadly consistent with the slowing of systems close to phase transitions. The analysis is complicated and limited by the difficulty in identifying when transitions begin, and removing dc trends in membrane potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand. m.wilson@waikato.ac.nz
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: J N J
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: E J W
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Steyn-Ross
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004566:Electrodes; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008959:Models, Neurological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors