Space-time organization of the electrical activity of the human brain in a state of calm wakefulness and during the solution of intellectual tasks

In a series of experiments it has been shown that during solution of mental tasks of various complexity, a marked desynchronization is observed of the cortical rhythmic activity characteristic of the state of calm wakefulness. In the range of main wakefulness frequencies (alpha and beta), a significant lowering is observed of the level of spatial biopotential synchronizations. Its increase in these conditions is connected with the range of slow EEG rhythms; there exist different opinions about their functional significance in wakefulness.     

Coherent-phase characteristics of the cortical potentials over a wide frequency range in dogs in a state of calm wakefulness

The spectra of coherence (Coh) and phasic shifts (PhS) of cortical potentials were studied by correlation-spectral analysis in a wide frequency range (1--100 Hz) in dogs in a state of quiet wakefulness. Estimation was made by parameters: significant Coh (above 0.5), high Coh (above 0.75), considered PhS (not above +/- 30 degrees), small PhS (not above +/- 15 degrees C). The presence is shown of individual features in coherent-phasic characteristics of neocortex potentials. High values of cross-correlation coefficients (Cc) between cortical potentials correspond in Coh spectra to a great part (90--100% peaks) of significant Coh, in which the great part (90--70% peaks) belongs to the high Coh with small PhS (in most cases). A certain correspondence, though expressed weaker, persisted also for lower values of Cc, Coh, and considered PhS. Coherent-phasic relations between potentials of certain cortical areas are characterized by stability in each animal; a tendency to it is manifest in all animals, despite individual differences of the brain electrical activity.     

The spectral correlation characteristics of the brain electrical activity in the rabbit during thirst]

Spectral-correlation analysis of the summate electrical activity of a number of subcortical structures of rabbit brain, having, by literature data, a relation to drinking behaviour showed that the increase of drinking excitability, induced by water deprivation was accompanied by definite reconstruction of biopotentials. In electrical activity of the studied structures, the spectrum power, as a rule, decreased (except in the paraventricular nucleus), and a definite structure of coherent connections between the subcortical and cortical potentials was established. Among the studied subcortical formations, structures (anterior hypothalamic area, lateral preoptic area, medial preoptic area, paraventricular nucleus) could be singled out where reconstructions of spectral characteristics of biopotentials took place most regularity, and the electrical processes in which were characterised by coherence index by an increase of spatial interconnection with the neocortex potentials, what allows to consider them as most significant for organization of drinking excitation.     

The spectral characteristics of the electrical activity in the rabbit brain during the hunger dominant]

By means of daily alimentary deprivation the dominant of hunger was created in rabbits. In response to acoustic stimuli summational swallowing and chewing movements appeared. Spectral analysis of the electrical brain activity showed the presence of primary dominant focus zone (lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus), characterized by an increase of spectrum power in delta-range while in the orbito-frontal, sensorimotor, parietal cerebral cortex, in the medial and lateral preoptic hypothalamic zones the power of biopotentials spectrum decreased within the whole analyzed frequency range.     

Neuronal impulse trains of the visual and sensorimotor areas of the rabbit neocortex in calm wakefulness and pseudoconditioning

The conjugation of unit activity in the neocortical visual and sensorimotor areas during calm wakefulness and in intersignal intervals, in two groups of rabbits at pseudoconditioning was studied. The first group was presented in a random order with flashes and electrocutaneous stimuli, the second one--with sounds and electrocutaneous stimuli. The number of neurones pairs working in correlation during calm wakefulness is significantly less (35%) than during pseudoconditioning (49 and 50% in the first and second rabbits groups, respectively). During calm wakefulness and in both groups during pseudoconditioning, the number of pairs with delays of discharges of the visual area neurones after the sensorimotor one, and of the sensorimotor after visual up to 120 ms was equal. Comparison of the data on delayed neuronal discharges during calm wakefulness and pseudoconditioning with those obtained earlier with conditioned reflexes testifies that forestalling of visual area neuronal discharges by sensorimotor discharges is characteristic only for the activity of cortical projections of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.     

Coherent analysis of the electrical activity of the rabbit brain during the formation of a motor polarization dominant

By the method of spectral-coherent analysis the dynamics was studied of successive changes in the structure the rabbit brain electrical activity coherent relations in the process of formation of motor polarization dominant created by DC anode action on the sensorimotor cortical region. It has been shown that at earlier stages, when the motor "dominant" reaction is absent, there appears an interhemispheric asymmetry in Coh spectra of electrical activity of the sensorimotor cortex and of the thalamus VPL. On the contrary, interhemispheric asymmetry in Coh spectra of electrical activity of the sensorimotor cortex and dorsal hippocampus CA3 field appears only at the stage when the motor "dominant" reaction is recorded. Asymmetry in alpha- and beta-frequencies ranges in biopotentials Coh spectra of the studied regions coinciding with the motor "dominant" reaction realization is connected with processes of movement organization.     

The locked-in patient and the characteristics of the electrical activity of his brain

"Locked-in" state differs from the known states characterized by the motor activity blockade, preservation of conscience of speech contact, despite the fact that connection with outer world during this state is limited only by vertical movements of eyes and eyelids in response to speech signals. Three "locked-in" men were studied at different stages of development of this state. Spectral-coherent analysis of the EEG was conducted. The most typical for the developed state of the "locked-in" man is a uniform change of the intercentral EEG relations. In the motor areas of the cortex alpha-activity and its links are not formed (coherence in alpha-range is zero) while high and low frequencies are coherent. In the visual areas, in contrast, the alpha-rhythm is coherent. Distinct interhemispheric asymmetry of coherent connections appears. In the right hemisphere a decrease of coherence level is sharp and even, in the left one--in occipito-temporal parts the level remains close to norm, while in the frontal parts of the cortex it decreases.     

Steroids and electrical activity in the brain

Corticosteroid hormones can enter the brain and bind to two receptor subtypes: the high affinity mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with approximately 10-fold lower affinity. Under physiological conditions the degree of receptor occupation will range from a predominant MR occupation (at the beginning of the inactive period, under rest) to concurrent activation of MRs and GRs (at the circadian peak and after stress). With in vitro electrophysiological recording techniques we observed that neuronal excitability in the CA1 hippocampal field is under a long-term control of MR- and GR-mediated events. The predominant occupation of MRs is associated with a stable amino acid-carried synaptic transmission; calcium- and potassium-currents are small, as are the responses to biogenic amines. Occupation of GRs in addition to MRs results in a gradual failure of CA1 neurons to respond to repeated stimulation of amino acid-mediated input; ionic conductances and responses to biogenic amines are large. In general, electrical properties recorded when both MRs and GRs are unoccupied (i.e. after adrenalectomy) resemble the responses observed when both receptor types are activated. The corticosterone dependency of electrical properties is thus U-shaped. We conclude that MR occupation may be responsible for the maintenance of information processing in the CA1 field and the stability of the circuit. Additional activation of GRs will initially suppress synaptic activity, but may eventually result in an increased instability and even vulnerability of the neuronal networks.     

Reflection in the electrical activity of the brain of the activities of the mechanisms regulating the functional state

On the basis of analysis of the results of author's studies and literature data, theoretical notions are developed, according to which spatial-temporal organization of cortical biopotentials is a result of activity of nonspecific different level systems subtly regulating current alertness in conformity with needs of the actual and forthcoming activities. In the hierarchy of regulating systems, in conditions of alertness, nonspecific thalamic and midbrain system is leading. Activity of these regulation levels provides in alertness for formation and destruction of functional neuronal ensembles which realize elementary informational transformations. The role is emphasized of asynchronous processes in the central nervous system activity.     

The characteristics of the electrodermal activity during changes in the level of human wakefulness

The wake-drowsiness transition during the performance of a monotonous psychomotor test was studied using polygraphic recording, with particular emphasis on changes in the electrodermal activity (EDA) and occurrence of electrodermal reactions (EDR). It was found that decrease in wakefulness was accompanied by a drop of the EDA. The EDR gradually disappeared for several minutes and did not reappear without activation; their dependence on sex and individual features of a subject significantly increased. It is suggested that discrepancies in the experimental results of psychophysiological studies with EDA may be explained by an insufficient control of the subject's alertness throughout the experiment. Examples of such discrepancies are given: disagreement of sex differences in the EDA, differentiation between EDA-labile and EDA-stable persons, on a possibility of recording the "emotional" EDA from different parts of human body etc. The ways of reproducibility of the results are discussed including the recording of several wake-drowsiness transitions and better recognition of the EDR.     

Temporal structure of the spike trains of neuronal pairs in the neocortex during calm wakefulness in rabbits

For revealing the conjugation of impulse activity of simultaneously recorded neurones in the visual and sensorimotor areas of rabbits neocortex, histograms were built of cross- and autocorrelation (CCH and ACH) of their discharges sequences. From successions of discharges of the visual cortex neurones, forming pairs of cells acting in correlation, spikes were singled out conjugated with neuronal discharges in the sensorimotor area, and their ACHs were built. In 77% of cases a resemblance was observed of temporal structure of conjugated discharges and real spike sequences, in 23%--there was no such resemblance. Analysis of conjugated discharges ACHs showed that they appeared predominantly periodically (87% of cases). The number of fragments with periodic discharges frequency within delta-frequency range from 3 to 4 Hz prevailed.     

Nerve membrane electrical characteristics near the resting state

Summary An experimental analysis of the squid axon membrane impedance in the vicinity of the resting state and as a function of frequency is presented. Particular attention was devoted to the measurement of theresonance frequency, for which the absolute magnitude of the impedance attains its maximum value, in different, extracellular solutions, at various temperatures and in the presence of constant depolarizations or hyperpolarizations.The variations in the concentration of sodium, potassium and divalent ions and the addition of tetrodotoxin, changed markedly the maximum impedance but had little effect, at a fixed temperature, on the resonance frequency, whose temperature dependance is described by aQ₁₀ variable from 3.7 (around 4 °C) to 1.9 (around 15 °C). Substitution of heavy water decreased the resonance frequency by a factor 1.25, fairly independent of temperature. Steady depolarizations or hyperpolarizations produced large variations of the resonance frequency, with strong temperature dependance.The results indicate that the resonance frequency is directly related to the membrane permeability changes which take place quite independently of the composition of the extra cellular solution and are governed by the electric field existing within the membrane structure rather than by the total membrane potential, to which membrane-solution boundary potentials can give a large contribution.