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A model of the spatial-temporal characteristics of the alpha rhythm

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Abstract

A linear spatially distributed model of a chain of neurons and interneurons was investigated in relation to the generation of propagated alpha rhythmic activity. It was assumed that the elements of the chain were interconnected by means of recurrent collaterals and inhibitory fibres in such a way that the connectivity functions were assumed to be homogeneous and their strength was an exponentially decreasing function of distance. It was found that such a neuronal chain shows propagation properties for frequencies in the alpha band. The results obtained with the model are in agreement with the phase velocities encountered experimentally. In this way, it was possible to estimate the length of the neural fibres responsible for the phenomenon of propagated activity. The estimates obtained are in good agreement with recent quantitative neuroanatomical data on the circuitry of the neocortex.

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van Rotterdam, A., Lopes da Silva, F.H., van den Ende, J. et al. A model of the spatial-temporal characteristics of the alpha rhythm. Bltn Mathcal Biology 44, 283–305 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463252

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02463252

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