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Slow Potential Changes in the Human Brain pp 35–46Cite as

Slow Potential Shifts as Indicants of Glial Activation and Possible Neuromodulation

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Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 254))

Abstract

Slow potential shifts (SPSs) of 0.5 to 10 seconds duration have recently been shown to be largely glial in origin. They are associated with arousal and occur in all vertebrate species studied suggesting they reflect a fundamental glial function of regulation and perhaps modulation of the neuronal ecosystem. The most likely candidates for neuromodulation by glia are extracellular K+, Ca++ and glutamate. In both teleost fish and gerbils links have been found between behavioural arousal, seizures, glutamate or its metabolism and SPSs. Studies of neuronal-glial interactions and the expression of glial function in the SPS are likely to have profound importance for progress in behavioural and clinical neuroscience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biology and Biochemistry, The Queen’s University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland

    Peter R. Laming

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  1. Peter R. Laming
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Late of Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol, UK

    W. C. McCallum

  2. Burden Neurological Institute, Bristol, UK

    S. H. Curry

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Laming, P.R. (1993). Slow Potential Shifts as Indicants of Glial Activation and Possible Neuromodulation. In: McCallum, W.C., Curry, S.H. (eds) Slow Potential Changes in the Human Brain. NATO ASI Series, vol 254. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1597-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1597-9_3

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