The two states of activity of thalamic neurons

NonREM sleep:

Due to the tonic hyperpolarization, neurons fire in bursts which are followed by a prolonged hyperpolarization leading to another burst. In the EEG this appears as slow waves.

REM sleep and waking:

In the partly depolarized state, neurons fire in the single spike mode. The EEG shows a low-amplitude, high-frequency pattern.

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Adapted with the author's permission from Steriade (1997)

 

 

 

©1998 BITS OF SLEEP (Demo) : The brain in sleep: Thalamocortical system.