Instantaneous correlation of excitation and inhibition during ongoing and sensory-evoked activities

Nat Neurosci. 2008 May;11(5):535-7. doi: 10.1038/nn.2105. Epub 2008 Mar 30.

Abstract

Temporal and quantitative relations between excitatory and inhibitory inputs in the cortex are central to its activity, yet they remain poorly understood. In particular, a controversy exists regarding the extent of correlation between cortical excitation and inhibition. Using simultaneous intracellular recordings in pairs of nearby neurons in vivo, we found that excitatory and inhibitory inputs are continuously synchronized and correlated in strength during spontaneous and sensory-evoked activities in the rat somatosensory cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Afferent Pathways / physiology
  • Animals
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
  • Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neural Inhibition / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Rats
  • Sensation / physiology*
  • Somatosensory Cortex / cytology
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*