Integration of low-frequency sleep oscillations in corticothalamic networks

The corticothalamic system acts as a complex network in promoting the Vario us oscillatory patterns (slow oscillation, spindles, delta) that characteri ze the state of quiet sleep. Local synchronizing mechanisms of any of the a bove-mentioned oscillations occur at the site of their genesis, thalamic or cortical. These mechanisms are assisted by the wide-range, synchronized oc currence of the cortical slow oscillation, which finally produces the coale sced picture of slow-wave sleep EEG. Multisite, simultaneous intracellular and field potential recordings in cat, as well as EEG recordings in human w ere performed in order to assess the slate of synchrony and the propagation of Various sleep rhythms in the corticothalamic network.