Abstract
The thalamic nuclei lie in the center of the brain and are thought to be functionally central to a variety of brain processes. In particular, the primary nuclei play two, possibly complementary, roles in brain function. The first role is that of a relay nucleus. In the relay mode a thalamic nucleus receives information from the sensory periphery and sends it on to the cortex. In this chapter, we will not be much concerned with this aspect of thalamic function. The second role involves the thalamus’ involvement in slow oscillations. These are reflected in the cortex during various stages of sleep as well as in pathological processes associated with certain types of epilepsy. In this context the thalamus appears to be a sort of central pattern generator for the vertebrate brain. It is the slow oscillations associated with these rhythms that have been most intensively studied using modeling techniques.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Andersen, P., and Andersson, S. A., 1968, Physiological Basis of the Alpha Rliythm, Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York. Andersen, P., and Rudjord, T., 1964, Simulation of a neuronal network operating rhythmically through recurrent inhibition, Nature 204:289–290.
Andersen, P., and Sears, T., 1964, The role of inhibition in the phasing of spontaneous thalamo-cortical discharge, J. Physiol. 173:459–480.
Andersen, P., Gillow, M., and Rudjord, T., 1966, Rhythmic activity in a simulated neuronal network, J. Physiol. 185:418–428.
Bal, T., von Krosigk, M., and Mccormick, D. A., 1995a, Synaptic and membrane mechanisms underlying synchronized oscillation in the ferret LGNd in vitro, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 483:641–663.
Bal, T., Von Krosigk, M., and Mccormick, D. A., 1995b, Role of the ferret perigeniculate nucleus in the generation of synchronized oscillation in vitro, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 483:665–685.
Bloomfield, S., and Sherman, S., 1989, Dendritic current flow in relay cells and interneurons of the cat’s lateral geniculate nucleus, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:3911–3914.
Coulter, D. A., Huguenard, J. R., and Prince, D. A., 1989a, Characterization of ethosuximide reduction of low-threshold calcium current in thalamic neurons, Ann. Neurol. 25:582–593.
Coulter, D. A., Huguenard, J. R., and Prince, D. A., 1989b, Calcium currents in rat thalamocortical relay neurones: Kinetic properties of the transient low-threshold current, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 414:587–604.
Crunelli, V., Lightowler, S., and Polland, C. E., 1989, A T-type Ca2+ current underlies low-threshold Ca2+ potentials in cells of the cat and rat lateral geniculate nucleus, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 413:543–561.
Destexhe, A., McCormick, D. A., and Sejnowski, T. J., 1993, A model for 8-10 Hz spindling in interconnected thalamic relay and reticularis neurons, Biophys. J. 65:2473–2477.
Destexhe, A., Contreras, D., Sejnowski, T. J., and Steriade, M., 1994a, Modeling the control of reticular thalamic oscillations by neuromodulators, Neuroreport 5:2217–2220.
Destexhe, A., Contreras, D., Sejnowski, T.J., and Steriade, M., 1994b, A model of spindle rhythmicity in the isolated thalamic reticular nucleus, J. Neurophysiol. 72:803–818.
Destexhe, A., Contreras, D., Steriade, M., Sejnowski, T.J., and Huguenard.J. R., 1996, In vivo, in vitro and computational analysis of dendritic calcium currents in thalamic reticular neurons, J. Neurosci. 16:169–185.
Gola, M., and Niel, J. P., 1993, Electrical and integrative properties of rabbit sympathetic neurones re-evaluated by patch clamping non-dissociated cells, J. Physiol. 460:327–349.
Golomb, D., Wang, X. J., and Rinzel, J., 1994, Synchronization properties of spindle oscillations in a thalamic reticular nucleus model, J. Neurophysiol. 72:1109–1126.
Golomb, D., Wang, X. J., and Rinzel, J., 1996, Propagation of spindle waves in in a thalamic slice model, J. Neurophysiol. 75:750–769.
Hagiwara, N., and Irisawa, H., 1989, Modulation by intracellular Ca2+ of the hyperpolarization-activated inward current in rabbit single sino-atrial node cells, J. Physiol. 409:121–141.
Hernandez-Cruz, A., and Pape, H. C., 1989, Identification of two calcium currents in acutely dissociated neurons from the rat lateral geniculate nucleus, J. Neurophysiol. 61:1270–1283.
Hille, B., 1984, Ionic Channels of Excitable Membranes, 2nd ed., Sinauer, Sunderland, MA.
Huguenard, J. R., and McCormick, D. A., 1992, Simulation of the currents involved in rhythmic oscillations in thalamic relay neurons, J. Neurophysiol. 68:1373–1383.
Jahnsen, H., and Llinás, R., 1984a, Electrophysiological properties of guinea pig thalamic neurones: An in vitro study, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 349:205–226.
Jahnsen, H., and Llinás, R., 1984b, Ionic basis for the electroresponsiveness and oscillatory properties of guinea-pig thalamic neurons in vitro, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 349:227–247.
Lemasson, G., Marder, E., and Abbott, L. F., 1993, Activity-dependent regulation of conductances in model neurons, Science 259:1915–1917.
Leresche, N., Lightowler, S., Soltesz, I., Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D., and Crunelli, V., 1991, Low-frequency oscillatory activities intrinsic to rat and cat thalomocortical cells, J. Physiol. 441:155–174.
Lytton, W. W., and Sejnowski, T. J., 1992, Computer model of ethosuximide’s effect on a thalamic neuron, Ann. Neurol. 32:131–139.
Magee.J. C., and Johnston, D., 1995, Synaptic activation of voltage-gated channels in the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal neurons, Science 268:301–304.
McCormick, D. A., 1992, Neurotransmitter actions in the thalamus and cerebral cortex and their role in neuromodulation of thalamocortical activity, Prog. Neurobiol. 39:337–388.
McCormick, D. A., and Huguenard, J. R., 1992, A model of the electrophysiological properties of thalamocortical relay neurons, J. Neurophysiol. 68:1384–1400.
McCormick, D. A., and Pape, H. C., 1990, Properties of a hyperpolarization-activated cation current and its role in rhythmic oscillations in thalamic relay neurones, J. Physiol. (Lond.) 431:291–318.
Pare, D., Dossi, R. C., and Steriade, M., 1991, Three types of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials generated by interneurons in the anterior thalamic complex of cat, J. Neurophysiol. 66:1190–1204.
Perkel, D. H., and Mulloney, B., 1974, Motor pattern production in reciprocally inhibitory neurons exhibiting postinhibitory rebound, Science 185:181–183.
Segev, I., Rinzel, J., and Shepherd, G. M., eds., 1995, The Theoretical Foundation of Dendritic Function: Selected Papers of Wilfrid Rall with Commentaries, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Soltesz, I., Lightowler, S., Leresche, N., Jassik-Gerschenfeld, D., Pollard, C. E., and Crunelli, V., 1991, Two inward currents and the transformation of low-frequency oscillations of rat and cat thalamocortical cells, J. Physiol. 44:175–197.
Spruston, N., Schiller, Y., Stuart, G., and Sakmann, B., 1995, Activity-dependent action potential invasion and calcium influx into hippocampal CA1 dendrite, Science 8:297–300.
Steriade, M., and Contreras, D., 1995, Relations between cortical and thalamic cellular events during transition from sleep patterns to paroxysmal activity, J. Neurosci. 15:623–642.
Steriade, M., Domich, L., Oakson, G., and Deschenes, M., 1987, The deafferented reticular thalamic nucleus generates spindle rhythmicity, J. Neurophysiol. 57:260–273.
Steriade, M., Jones, E. G., and Llinas, R. R., 1990, Thalamic Oscillalions and Signaling, Wiley, New York.
Steriade, M., Curró Dossi, R., and Nunez, A., 1991, Network modulation of a slow intrinsic oscillation of cat thalamocortical neurons implicated in sleep delta waves: Cortically induced synchronization and brainstem cholinergic suppression, J. Neurosci. 11:3200–3217.
Storm, J. F., 1990, Why is the input conductance of hippocampal neurones impaled with microelectrodes so much higher than when giga-seal patch pipettes are used? Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 16:506.
Suzuki, S., and Rogawski, M. A., 1989, T-type calcium channels mediate the transition between tonic and phasic firing in thalamic neurons, Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA 86:7228–7232.
Toth, T., and Crunelli, V., 1992, Computer simulation of the pacemaker oscillations of thalamocortical cells, Neuroreport 3:65–68.
Traub, R. D., Miles, R., and Wong, R. K. S., 1987, Models of synchronized hippocampal bursts in the presence of inhibition. II. Ongoing spontaneous population events, J. Neurophysiol. 58:752–764.
von Krosigk, M., Bal, T., and McCormick, D., 1993, Cellular mechanisms of a synchronized oscillation in the thalamus, Science 261:361–364.
Wang, X. J., and Rinzel, J., 1993, Spindle rhythmicity in the reticularis-thalami nucleus—Synchronization among mutually inhibitory neurons, Neuroscience 53:899–904.
Wang, X. J., Rinzel, J., and Rogawski, M. A., 1991, A model of the T-type calcium current and the low-threshold spike in thalamic neurons, J. Neurophysiol. 66:839–850.
Wang, X. J., Golomb, D., and Rinzel, J., 1995, Emergent spindle oscillations and intermittent burst firing in a thalamic model: Specific neuronal mechanisms, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:5577–5581.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lytton, W.W., Thomas, E. (1999). Modeling Thalamocortical Oscillations. In: Ulinski, P.S., Jones, E.G., Peters, A. (eds) Models of Cortical Circuits. Cerebral Cortex, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4903-1_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4903-1_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7223-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4903-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive