title: Stimulus-dependent modulation of spontaneous low-frequency oscillations in the rat visual cortex.
abstract: Research on spontaneous low-frequency oscillations is important to reveal underlying regulatory mechanisms in the brain. The mechanism for the stimulus modulation of low-frequency oscillations is not known. Here, we used the intrinsic optical imaging technique to examine stimulus-modulated low-frequency oscillation signals in the rat visual cortex. The stimulation was presented monocularly as a flashing light with different frequencies and intensities. The phases of low-frequency oscillations in different regions tended to be synchronized and the rhythms typically accelerated within a 30-s period after stimulation. These phenomena were confined to visual stimuli with specific flashing frequencies (12.5-17.5 Hz) and intensities (5-10 mA). The acceleration and synchronization induced by the flashing frequency were more marked than those induced by the intensity. These results show that spontaneous low-frequency oscillations can be modulated by parameter-dependent flashing lights and indicate the potential utility of the visual stimulus paradigm in exploring the origin and function of low-frequency oscillations.
authors.forename: Liangming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yadong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dewen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu