A multi-unit spike train analysis for quantifying phase relationships of near-synchrony firings

A multiple single-unit spike train analysis technique is introduced to quan tify the phase relationships of spike firings in a subset of three neurons within a neural network. Synchronized firings in neurons had been implicate d in neural processing, yet the phase relationships between firing of neuro ns may also be important for processing. A phase-plane plot is used to dete rmine the phase-locking and phase-shifting characteristics of neural firing s among this set of three simultaneously recorded neurons. The trajectories of points in the three-neuron phase-plane provide a signature of the phase -shift characteristics in these neurons participating in synchronized firin g. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.