Abstract
The notion of large scale synchronized neuronal activity advancing at slow speeds through neural tissue in the form of a traveling wave does not resonate with current concepts of how activity spreads through the nervous system during its normal mode of operation. Such a notion, however, is not new and has often been discussed in the context of various disorders of the nervous system. More recently, slow waves of synchronous activity have been described in the developing retina in vitro1.2 and in a “sleeping” lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) slice preparation,’ all of which suggests that large-scale synchronization of neurons occurring in the form of traveling waves may play important roles in normal, as well as abnormal, brain function. How ubiquitous traveling waves actually are in the nervous system is not known, but the more widespread use of assorted multisite electrophysiological recording and imaging techniques will make it possible in the future to uncover other examples where they may exist.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Meister M, Wong ROL, Baylor DA, Shatz CJ. Synchronous bursts of action potentials in ganglion cells of the developing retina. Science 1991; 252: 939–943.
Wong ROL, Meister M, Shatz CJ. Transient period of correlated bursting activity during development of the mammalian retina. Neuron 1993; 11: 923–938.
Kim U, Bal T, McCormick DA. Spindle waves are propagating synchronized oscillations in the ferret LGNd in vitro. J Neurophysiol 1995; 74: 1301–23.
Lashley KS. Patterns of cerebral integration indicated by the scotomas of migraine. Arch Neurol Psychiatr 1941; 46: 331–339.
Leao AAP. Spreading depression of activity in the cerebral cortex. J Neurophysiol 1944; 7: 359–390.
Laurintzen M. Cortical spreading depression as a putative migraine mechanism. Trends Neurosci 1987; 10: 8–12.
Milner PM. A note on the possible correspondence between the scotoma of migraine and spreading depression of Leao. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1958; 10: 705.
Herreras O, Largo C, Ibarz JM et al. Role of neuronal synchronizing mechanisms in the propagation of spreading depression in the in vivo hippocampus. J Neurosci 1994; 14: 7087–7098.
Gutnick MJ, Prince DA. Dye coupling and possible electrotonic coupling in the guinea pig neocortical slice. Science 1981; 211: 67–70.
Connors BW, Bernardo LS, Prince DA. Coupling between neurons of the developing rat neocortex. J Neurosci 1983; 4: 1324–1330.
Peinado A, Yuste R, Katz LC. Extensive dye coupling between rat neocortical neurons during the period of circuit formation. Neuron 1993; 10: 103–114.
Yuste R, Katz LC. Control of postsynaptic Ca2+ influx in developing neocortex by excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Neuron 1991; 6: 333–344.
Yuste R, Peinado A, Katz LC. Neuronal domains in developing neocortex. Science 1992; 257: 665–668.
Herreras O, Somjen GG. Propagation of spreading depression among dendrites and somata of the same cell population. Brain Res 1993; 610: 276–282.
Peinado A. Waves of synchronous neuronal activity in neonatal rat cortical slices. Soc Neurosci Abs 1995.
Sugaya E, Takato M, Noda Y. Neuronal and glial activity during spreading depression in cerebral cortex of cat. J Neurophysiol 1975; 38: 822–841.
Jones RSG, Heinnemann U. Spontaneous and evoked NMDA-receptor mediated potentials in the entohrinal cortex of the neonate rat in vitro. In: Excitatory Amino Acids and Neuronal Plasticity; Y. Ben-Ari (ed.), 1990. New York: Plenum Press.
Rayport SG, Kandel ER. Epileptogenic agents enhance transmission at an identified weak electrical synapse in Aplysia. Science 1981; 213: 462–464.
Christie MJ, Williams JT, North RA. Electrical coupling synchronizes subthreshold activity in locus coeruleus neurons in vitro from neonatal rats. J Neurosci 1989; 9: 3584–3 589.
Michelson HB, Wong RKS. Synchronization of inhibitory neurons in the guinea-pig hippocampus in vitro. J Physiol 1994; 477: 35–45.
Parnavelas JG, Nadarajah B. Gap junctions are prevalent in the developing cerebral cortex. Soc Neurosci Abs 1994; 20: 1672.
Parnavelas JG, Nadarajah B. Gap junctions may provide an important means of communication between cells in the cerebral cortex. Soc Neurosci Abs 1995; 21: 1507.
Enkvist MOK, McCarthy KD. Astroglial gap junction communication is increased by treatment with either glutamate or high K. concentration. J Neurochem 1994; 62: 489–495.
Pereda A, Faber DS. NMDA-mediated activity-dependent short-term plasticity of electrotonic coupling. Soc Neurosci Abs 1995; 21: 2006.
Peinado A, Yuste R, Katz LC. Gap junctional communication and the development of local circuits in neocortex. Cereb Cortex 1993; 3: 488–498.
Roerig B, Klausa G, Sutor B. Modulatory neurotransmitters reduce dye-coupling between developing lamina II/III pyramidal neurons in rat neocortex. Soc Neurosci Abs 1995; 21: 1509.
Perez-Velazquez JL, Valiante TA, Carlen PL. Modulation of gap junctional mechanisms during calcium-free induced field burst activity: A possible role for electrotonic coupling in epileptogenesis. J Neurosci 1994; 14: 4308–4317.
Aram JA, Michelson HB, Wong RKS. Synchronized gabaergic IPSPs recorded in the neocortex after blockade of synaptic transmission mediated by excitatory amino acids. J Neurophysiol 1991; 65: 1034–1041.
Avoli M, Mattia D, Siniscalchi A, Perreault P, Tomaiuolo F. Pharmacology and electrophysiology of a synchronous gaba-mediated potential in the human neocortex. Neuroscience 1994; 62: 655–666.
Konnerth A, Heinnemann U, Yaari Y. Non-synaptic epileptogenesis in the mammalian hippocampus in vitro. I. Development of seizurelike activity in low extracellular calcium. J Neurophysiol 1986; 56: 409–423.
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Peinado, A. (1996). Dendritic Gap Junctions in Developing Neocortex: A Possible Route for Wave-Like Propagation of Neuronal Activity. In: Gap Junctions in the Nervous System. Neuroscience Intelligence Unit. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-21935-5_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-21935-5_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-21937-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-21935-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive