Slow-wave oscillations in a corticothalamic model of sleep and wake

X Zhao; J W Kim; P A Robinson

doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.01.028

Slow-wave oscillations in a corticothalamic model of sleep and wake

J Theor Biol. 2015 Apr 7:370:93-102. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.01.028. Epub 2015 Feb 4.

Authors

X Zhao¹, J W Kim², P A Robinson³

Affiliations

¹ School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Center of Research Excellence, Neurosleep, 431 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, New South Wales 2037, Australia; Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Cooperative Research Center for Alertness, Safety, and Productivity, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Electronic address: xzha6112@uni.sydney.edu.au.
² School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Center of Research Excellence, Neurosleep, 431 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, New South Wales 2037, Australia.
³ School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Center of Research Excellence, Neurosleep, 431 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, New South Wales 2037, Australia; Center for Integrative Brain Function, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; Cooperative Research Center for Alertness, Safety, and Productivity, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.

PMID: 25659479
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.01.028

Abstract

A physiologically-based corticothalamic neural field model is used to study slow wave oscillations including cortical UP and DOWN states in deep sleep by extending it to incorporate bursting dynamics of neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus. The interplay of local bursting dynamics and network interactions produces the cortical UP and DOWN states of slow wave sleep while preserving previously verified model predictions in the wake state. Results show that EEG spectral features in wake and sleep are reproduced. The bursting is subthreshold but acts to intensify the amplitude of oscillations in slow wave sleep with deep UP/DOWN oscillations on the cortex emerging naturally. Furthermore, there is a continuous cycle between the two regimes, rather than a flip-flop between discrete states.

Keywords: Cortex; Neural field theory; Slow wave sleep; Thalamus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Action Potentials / physiology
Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
Dendrites / physiology
Electroencephalography*
Humans
Models, Neurological*
Sleep / physiology*
Thalamus / physiology*
Time Factors
Wakefulness / physiology*