Spontaneous slow wave oscillations in extracellular field potential recordings reflect the alternating dominance of excitation and inhibition.

In the resting state, cortical neurons can fire action potentials spontaneously but synchronously (Up state), followed by a quiescent period (Down state) before the cycle repeats. Extracellular recordings in the infragranular layer of cortex with a micro-electrode display a negative deflection (depth-negative) during Up states and a positive deflection (depth-positive) during Down states. The resulting slow wave oscillation (SWO) has been studied extensively during sleep and under anaesthesia. However, recent research on the balanced nature of synaptic excitation and inhibition has highlighted our limited understanding of its genesis. Specifically, are excitation and inhibition balanced during SWOs? We analyse spontaneous local field potentials (LFPs) during SWOs recorded from anaesthetised rats via a multi-channel laminar micro-electrode and show that the Down state consists of two distinct synaptic states: a Dynamic Down state associated with depth-positive LFPs and a prominent dipole in the extracellular field, and a Static Down state with negligible ( ≈ 0 mV $ \approx 0{\mathrm{\;mV}}$ ) LFPs and a lack of dipoles extracellularly. We demonstrate that depth-negative and -positive LFPs are generated by a shift in the balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition from excitation dominance (depth-negative) to inhibition dominance (depth-positive) in the infragranular layer neurons. Thus, although excitation and inhibition co-tune overall, differences in their timing lead to an alternation of dominance, manifesting as SWOs. We further show that Up state initiation is significantly faster if the preceding Down state is dynamic rather than static. Our findings provide a coherent picture of the dependence of SWOs on synaptic activity. KEY POINTS: Cortical neurons can exhibit repeated cycles of spontaneous activity interleaved with periods of relative silence, a phenomenon known as 'slow wave oscillation' (SWO). During SWOs, recordings of local field potentials (LFPs) in the neocortex show depth-negative deflection during the active period (Up state) and depth-positive deflection during the silent period (Down state). Here we further classified the Down state into a dynamic phase and a static phase based on a novel method of classification and revealed non-random, stereotypical sequences of the three states occurring with significantly different transitional kinetics. Our results suggest that the positive and negative deflections in the LFP reflect the shift of the instantaneous balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity of the local cortical neurons. The differences in transitional kinetics may imply distinct synaptic mechanisms for Up state initiation. The study may provide a new approach for investigating spontaneous brain rhythms.

Propagating population activity patterns during spontaneous slow waves in the thalamus of rodents.

Slow waves (SWs) represent the most prominent electrophysiological events in the thalamocortical system under anesthesia and during deep sleep. Recent studies have revealed that SWs have complex spatiotemporal dynamics and propagate across neocortical regions. However, it is still unclear whether neuronal activity in the thalamus exhibits similar propagation properties during SWs. Here, we report propagating population activity in the thalamus of ketamine/xylazine-anesthetized rats and mice visualized by high-density silicon probe recordings. In both rodent species, propagation of spontaneous thalamic activity during up-states was most frequently observed in dorsal thalamic nuclei such as the higher order posterior (Po), lateral posterior (LP) or laterodorsal (LD) nuclei. The preferred direction of thalamic activity spreading was along the dorsoventral axis, with over half of the up-states exhibiting a gradual propagation in the ventral-to-dorsal direction. Furthermore, simultaneous neocortical and thalamic recordings collected under anesthesia demonstrated that there is a weak but noticeable interrelation between propagation patterns observed during cortical up-states and those displayed by thalamic population activity. In addition, using chronically implanted silicon probes, we detected propagating activity patterns in the thalamus of naturally sleeping rats during slow-wave sleep. However, in comparison to propagating up-states observed under anesthesia, these propagating patterns were characterized by a reduced rate of occurrence and a faster propagation speed. Our findings suggest that the propagation of spontaneous population activity is an intrinsic property of the thalamocortical network during synchronized brain states such as deep sleep or anesthesia. Additionally, our data implies that the neocortex may have partial control over the formation of propagation patterns within the dorsal thalamus under anesthesia.

Amphetamine promotes cortical Up state: Role of adrenergic receptors.

Cortical neurons oscillate synchronously between the Up and Down state during slow-wave sleep and general anesthesia. Using local-field-potential recording in the rat prefrontal cortex (PFC), we have shown that systemic administration of methylphenidate promotes PFC Up states and reduces PFC slow oscillation, suggesting a depolarizing effect of the drug on PFC neurons. Here, we report that systemic injection of d-amphetamine produced similar effects. Our evidence further suggests that norepinephrine (NE) plays a major role in the effects of d-amphetamine since they were mimicked by the NE reuptake inhibitors tomoxetine and nisoxetine and completely blocked by the α1 receptor antagonist prazosin. The effects of d-amphetamine persisted, however, in the presence of α2 or ß receptor blockade. Experiments with α1 subtype-selective antagonists further suggest that d-amphetamine's effects depend on activation of central, but not peripheral, α1A receptors. Unexpectedly, the putative α1 receptor agonist cirazoline failed to mimic the effects of d-amphetamine. Previous studies suggest that cirazoline is also an antagonist at α2 receptors. Furthermore, it is a partial, not full, agonist at α1B and α1D receptors. Whether or not these properties of cirazoline contribute to its failure to mimic d-amphetamine's effects remains to be determined. Methylphenidate and d-amphetamine are two most common medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Both, however, are associated with adverse effects including abuse potential and psychotomimetic effects. Further understanding of their mechanisms of action will help develop safer treatments for ADHD and offer new insights into drug addiction and psychosis.

Electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area evokes sleep-like state transitions under urethane anaesthesia in the rat medial prefrontal cortex via dopamine D1 -like receptors.

The role of dopamine in regulating sleep-state transitions during, both natural sleep and under anaesthesia, is still unclear. Recording in vivo in the rat mPFC under urethane anaesthesia, we observed predominantly slow wave activity (SWA) of <1 Hz in the local field potential interrupted by occasional spontaneous transitions to a low-amplitude-fast (LAF) pattern of activity. During periods of SWA, transitions to LAF activity could be rapidly and consistently evoked by electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Spontaneous LAF activity, and that evoked by stimulation of the VTA, consisted of fast oscillations similar to those seen in the rapid eye movement (REM)-like sleep state. Spontaneous and VTA stimulation-evoked LAF activity occurred simultaneously along the dorsoventral extent of all mPFC subregions. Evoked LAF activity depended on VTA stimulation current and could be elicited using either regular (25-50 Hz) or burst stimulation patterns and was reproducible upon repeated stimulation. Simultaneous extracellular single-unit recordings showed that during SWA, presumed pyramidal cells fired phasically and almost exclusively on the Up state, while during both spontaneous and VTA-evoked LAF activity, they fired tonically. The transition to LAF activity evoked by VTA stimulation depended on dopamine D1 -like receptor activation as it was almost completely blocked by systemic administration of the D1 -like receptor antagonist SCH23390. Overall, our data demonstrate that activation of dopamine D1 -like receptors in the mPFC is important for regulating sleep-like state transitions.

Embedded ensemble encoding hypothesis: The role of the "Prepared" cell.

We here reconsider current theories of neural ensembles in the context of recent discoveries about neuronal dendritic physiology. The key physiological observation is that the dendritic plateau potential produces sustained depolarization of the cell body (amplitude 10-20 mV, duration 200-500 ms). Our central hypothesis is that synaptically-evoked dendritic plateau potentials lead to a prepared state of a neuron that favors spike generation. The plateau both depolarizes the cell toward spike threshold, and provides faster response to inputs through a shortened membrane time constant. As a result, the speed of synaptic-to-action potential (AP) transfer is faster during the plateau phase. Our hypothesis relates the changes from "resting" to "depolarized" neuronal state to changes in ensemble dynamics and in network information flow. The plateau provides the Prepared state (sustained depolarization of the cell body) with a time window of 200-500 ms. During this time, a neuron can tune into ongoing network activity and synchronize spiking with other neurons to provide a coordinated Active state (robust firing of somatic APs), which would permit "binding" of signals through coordination of neural activity across a population. The transient Active ensemble of neurons is embedded in the longer-lasting Prepared ensemble of neurons. We hypothesize that "embedded ensemble encoding" may be an important organizing principle in networks of neurons.

Dorsal vs. ventral differences in fast Up-state-associated oscillations in the medial prefrontal cortex of the urethane-anesthetized rat.

Cortical slow oscillations (0.1-1 Hz), which may play a role in memory consolidation, are a hallmark of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and also occur under anesthesia. During slow oscillations the neuronal network generates faster oscillations on the active Up-states and these nested oscillations are particularly prominent in the PFC. In rodents the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) consists of several subregions: anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), prelimbic (PrL), infralimbic (IL), and dorsal peduncular cortices (DP). Although each region has a distinct anatomy and function, it is not known whether slow or fast network oscillations differ between subregions in vivo. We have simultaneously recorded slow and fast network oscillations in all four subregions of the rodent mPFC under urethane anesthesia. Slow oscillations were synchronous between the mPFC subregions, and across the hemispheres, with no consistent amplitude difference between subregions. Delta (2-4 Hz) activity showed only small differences between subregions. However, oscillations in the spindle (6-15 Hz)-, beta (20-30 Hz), gamma (30-80 Hz)-, and high-gamma (80-150 Hz)-frequency bands were consistently larger in the dorsal regions (ACC and PrL) compared with ventral regions (IL and DP). In dorsal regions the peak power of spindle, beta, and gamma activity occurred early after onset of the Up-state. In the ventral regions, especially the DP, the oscillatory power in the spindle-, beta-, and gamma-frequency ranges peaked later in the Up-state. These results suggest variations in fast network oscillations within the mPFC that may reflect the different functions and connectivity of these subregions.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate, in the urethane-anesthetized rat, that within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) there are clear subregional differences in the fast network oscillations associated with the slow oscillation Up-state. These differences, particularly between the dorsal and ventral subregions of the mPFC, may reflect the different functions and connectivity of these subregions.

Astroglial Connexin 43 Hemichannels Modulate Olfactory Bulb Slow Oscillations.

An emergent concept in neurosciences consists in considering brain functions as the product of dynamic interactions between neurons and glial cells, particularly astrocytes. Although the role played by astrocytes in synaptic transmission and plasticity is now largely documented, their contribution to neuronal network activity is only beginning to be appreciated. In mouse olfactory bulb slices, we observed that the membrane potential of mitral cells oscillates between UP and DOWN states at a low frequency (<1 Hz). Such slow oscillations are correlated with glomerular local field potentials, indicating spontaneous local network activity. Using a combination of genetic and pharmacological tools, we showed that the activity of astroglial connexin 43 hemichannels, opened in an activity-dependent manner, increases UP state amplitude and impacts mitral cell firing rate. This effect requires functional adenosine A1 receptors, in line with the observation that ATP is released via connexin 43 hemichannels. These results highlight a new mechanism of neuroglial interaction in the olfactory bulb, where astrocyte connexin hemichannels are both targets and modulators of neuronal circuit function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: An emergent concept in neuroscience consists in considering brain function as the product of dynamic interactions between neurons and glial cells, particularly astrocytes. A typical feature of astrocytes is their high expression level of connexins, the molecular constituents of gap junction channels and hemichannels. Although hemichannels represent a powerful medium for intercellular communication between astrocytes and neurons, their function in physiological conditions remains largely unexplored. Our results show that in the olfactory bulb, connexin 43 hemichannel function is promoted by neuronal activity and, in turn, modulates neuronal network slow oscillations. This novel mechanism of neuroglial interaction could influence olfactory information processing by directly impacting the output of the olfactory bulb.

Contributions of diverse excitatory and inhibitory neurons to recurrent network activity in cerebral cortex.

The recurrent synaptic architecture of neocortex allows for self-generated network activity. One form of such activity is the Up state, in which neurons transiently receive barrages of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs that depolarize many neurons to spike threshold before returning to a relatively quiescent Down state. The extent to which different cell types participate in Up states is still unclear. Inhibitory interneurons have particularly diverse intrinsic properties and synaptic connections with the local network, suggesting that different interneurons might play different roles in activated network states. We have studied the firing, subthreshold behavior, and synaptic conductances of identified cell types during Up and Down states in layers 5 and 2/3 in mouse barrel cortex in vitro. We recorded from pyramidal cells and interneurons expressing parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SOM), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), or neuropeptide Y. PV cells were the most active interneuron subtype during the Up state, yet the other subtypes also received substantial synaptic conductances and often generated spikes. In all cell types except PV cells, the beginning of the Up state was dominated by synaptic inhibition, which decreased thereafter; excitation was more persistent, suggesting that inhibition is not the dominant force in terminating Up states. Compared with barrel cortex, SOM and VIP cells were much less active in entorhinal cortex during Up states. Our results provide a measure of functional connectivity of various neuron types in barrel cortex and suggest differential roles for interneuron types in the generation and control of persistent network activity.

NMDA receptors are the basis for persistent network activity in neocortex slices.

During behavioral quiescence the neocortex generates spontaneous slow oscillations that consist of Up and Down states. Up states are short epochs of persistent activity, but their underlying source is unclear. In neocortex slices of adult mice, we monitored several cellular and network variables during the transition between a traditional buffer, which does not cause Up states, and a lower-divalent cation buffer, which leads to the generation of Up states. We found that the resting membrane potential and input resistance of cortical cells did not change with the development of Up states. The synaptic efficacy of excitatory postsynaptic potentials mediated by non-NMDA receptors was slightly reduced, but this is unlikely to facilitate the generation of Up states. On the other hand, we identified two variables that are associated with the generation of Up states: an enhancement of the intrinsic firing excitability of cortical cells and an enhancement of NMDA-mediated responses evoked by electrical or optogenetic stimulation. The fact that blocking NMDA receptors abolishes Up states indicates that the enhancement in intrinsic firing excitability alone is insufficient to generate Up states. NMDA receptors have a crucial role in the generation of Up states in neocortex slices.

Female-specific dysfunction of sensory neocortical circuits in a mouse model of autism mediated by mGluR5 and estrogen receptor α.

Little is known of the brain mechanisms that mediate sex-specific autism symptoms. Here, we demonstrate that deletion of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-risk gene, Pten, in neocortical pyramidal neurons (NSEPten knockout [KO]) results in robust cortical circuit hyperexcitability selectively in female mice observed as prolonged spontaneous persistent activity states. Circuit hyperexcitability in females is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling to mitogen-activated protein kinases (Erk1/2) and de novo protein synthesis. Pten KO layer 5 neurons have a female-specific increase in mGluR5 and mGluR5-dependent protein synthesis. Furthermore, mGluR5-ERα complexes are generally elevated in female cortices, and genetic reduction of ERα rescues enhanced circuit excitability, protein synthesis, and neuron size selectively in NSEPten KO females. Female NSEPten KO mice display deficits in sensory processing and social behaviors as well as mGluR5-dependent seizures. These results reveal mechanisms by which sex and a high-confidence ASD-risk gene interact to affect brain function and behavior.

Amphetamine Promotes Cortical Up State in Part Via Dopamine Receptors.

Cortical neurons oscillate between Up and Down states during slow wave sleep and general anesthesia. Recent studies show that Up/Down oscillations also occur during quiet wakefulness. Arousal eliminates Down states and transforms Up/Down oscillations to a persistent Up state. Further evidence suggests that Up/Down oscillations are crucial to memory consolidation, whereas their transition to a persistent Up state is essential for arousal and attention. We have shown that D-amphetamine promotes cortical Up state, and the effect depends on activation of central α1A adrenergic receptors. Here, we report that dopamine also plays a role in D-amphetamine's effect. Thus, using local-field-potential recording in the prefrontal cortex in chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats, we showed that the Up-state promoting effect of D-amphetamine was attenuated by antagonists at either D1 or D2-like dopamine receptors. The effect was also partially mimicked by co-activation of D1 and D2-like receptors. These results are consistent with the fact that D-amphetamine increases the release of both norepinephrine and dopamine. They are also in agreement with studies showing that dopamine promotes wakefulness and mediates D-amphetamine-induced emergence from general anesthesia. The effect of D-amphetamine was not mimicked, however, by activation of either D1 or D2-like receptors alone, indicating an interdependence between D1 and D2-like receptors. The dopamine/norepinephrine precursor L-DOPA also failed to promote the Up state. While more studies are needed to understand the difference between L-DOPA and D-amphetamine, our finding may provide an explanation for why L-DOPA lacks significant psychostimulant properties and is ineffective in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Dopamine Oppositely Modulates State Transitions in Striosome and Matrix Direct Pathway Striatal Spiny Neurons.

Corticostriatal synaptic integration is partitioned among striosome (patch) and matrix compartments of the dorsal striatum, allowing compartmentalized control of discrete aspects of behavior. Despite the significance of such organization, it's unclear how compartment-specific striatal output is dynamically achieved, particularly considering new evidence that overlap of afferents is substantial. We show that dopamine oppositely shapes responses to convergent excitatory inputs in mouse striosome and matrix striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs). Activation of postsynaptic D1 dopamine receptors promoted the generation of long-lasting synaptically evoked "up-states" in matrix SPNs but opposed it in striosomes, which were more excitable under basal conditions. Differences in dopaminergic modulation were mediated, in part, by dendritic voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs): pharmacological manipulation of L-type VGCCs reversed compartment-specific responses to D1 receptor activation. These results support a novel mechanism for the selection of striatal circuit components, where fluctuating levels of dopamine shift the balance of compartment-specific striatal output.

Dopaminergic Transmission Rapidly and Persistently Enhances Excitability of D1 Receptor-Expressing Striatal Projection Neurons.

Substantia nigra dopamine neurons have been implicated in the initiation and invigoration of movement, presumably through their modulation of striatal projection neuron (SPN) activity. However, the impact of native dopaminergic transmission on SPN excitability has not been directly demonstrated. Using perforated patch-clamp recording, we found that optogenetic stimulation of nigrostriatal dopamine axons rapidly and persistently elevated the excitability of D1 receptor-expressing SPNs (D1-SPNs). The evoked firing of D1-SPNs increased within hundreds of milliseconds of stimulation and remained elevated for ≥ 10 min. Consistent with the negative modulation of depolarization- and Ca2+-activated K+ currents, dopaminergic transmission accelerated subthreshold depolarization in response to current injection, reduced the latency to fire, and transiently diminished action potential afterhyperpolarization. Persistent modulation was protein kinase A dependent and associated with a reduction in action potential threshold. Together, these data demonstrate that dopaminergic transmission potently increases D1-SPN excitability with a time course that could support subsecond and sustained behavioral control.

Cortical Dynamics in Presence of Assemblies of Densely Connected Weight-Hub Neurons.

Experimental measurements of pairwise connection probability of pyramidal neurons together with the distribution of synaptic weights have been used to construct randomly connected model networks. However, several experimental studies suggest that both wiring and synaptic weight structure between neurons show statistics that differ from random networks. Here we study a network containing a subset of neurons which we call weight-hub neurons, that are characterized by strong inward synapses. We propose a connectivity structure for excitatory neurons that contain assemblies of densely connected weight-hub neurons, while the pairwise connection probability and synaptic weight distribution remain consistent with experimental data. Simulations of such a network with generalized integrate-and-fire neurons display regular and irregular slow oscillations akin to experimentally observed up/down state transitions in the activity of cortical neurons with a broad distribution of pairwise spike correlations. Moreover, stimulation of a model network in the presence or absence of assembly structure exhibits responses similar to light-evoked responses of cortical layers in optogenetically modified animals. We conclude that a high connection probability into and within assemblies of excitatory weight-hub neurons, as it likely is present in some but not all cortical layers, changes the dynamics of a layer of cortical microcircuitry significantly.

Distinct mechanisms of Up state maintenance in the medial entorhinal cortex and neocortex.

The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) is a key structure which controls the communication between the hippocampus and the neocortex. During slow-wave sleep, it stands out from other cortical regions by exhibiting persistent activity that outlasts neocortical Up states, decoupling the entorhinal cortex-hippocampal interaction from the neocortex. Here, we compared the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of the Up state in the barrel cortex (BC) and mEC using whole cell recordings in acute mouse brain slices. Bath application of an NMDA receptor antagonist abolished Up states in the BC, and reduced the incidence but not the duration of Up states in the mEC. Conversely, blockade of kainate receptors decreased Up state duration in the mEC, but not in the BC. Voltage clamp recordings demonstrated the presence of a non-NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated slow excitatory postsynaptic current, sensitive to the selective kainate receptor antagonist UBP-302, in layer III neurons of the mEC, which was not observed in the BC. Moreover, we found that kainate receptor-mediated currents assist in recovery back to the Up state membrane potential following a current-induced hyperpolarisation of individual cells in the mEC. Finally, we were able to generate Up state activity in a network model of exponential integrate-and-fire neurons only supported by AMPA and kainate receptor-mediated currents. We propose that synaptic kainate receptors are responsible for the unique properties of mEC Up states.

Distinct Roles of SOM and VIP Interneurons during Cortical Up States.

During cortical network activity, recurrent synaptic excitation among pyramidal neurons is approximately balanced by synaptic inhibition, which is provided by a vast diversity of inhibitory interneurons. The relative contributions of different interneuron subtypes to inhibitory tone during cortical network activity is not well-understood. We previously showed that many of the major interneuron subtypes in mouse barrel cortex are highly active during Up states (Neske et al., 2015); while fast-spiking (FS), parvalbumin (PV)-positive cells were the most active interneuron subtype, many non-fast-spiking (NFS), PV-negative interneurons were as active or more active than neighboring pyramidal cells. This suggests that the NFS cells could play a role in maintaining or modulating Up states. Here, using optogenetic techniques, we further dissected the functional roles during Up states of two major NFS, PV-negative interneuron subtypes: somatostatin (SOM)-positive cells and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-positive cells. We found that while pyramidal cell excitability during Up states significantly increased when SOM cells were optogenetically silenced, VIP cells did not influence pyramidal cell excitability either upon optogenetic silencing or activation. VIP cells failed to contribute to Up states despite their ability to inhibit SOM cells strongly. We suggest that the contribution of VIP cells to the excitability of pyramidal cells may vary with cortical state.

The Slow Oscillation in Cortical and Thalamic Networks: Mechanisms and Functions.

During even the most quiescent behavioral periods, the cortex and thalamus express rich spontaneous activity in the form of slow (<1 Hz), synchronous network state transitions. Throughout this so-called slow oscillation, cortical and thalamic neurons fluctuate between periods of intense synaptic activity (Up states) and almost complete silence (Down states). The two decades since the original characterization of the slow oscillation in the cortex and thalamus have seen considerable advances in deciphering the cellular and network mechanisms associated with this pervasive phenomenon. There are, nevertheless, many questions regarding the slow oscillation that await more thorough illumination, particularly the mechanisms by which Up states initiate and terminate, the functional role of the rhythmic activity cycles in unconscious or minimally conscious states, and the precise relation between Up states and the activated states associated with waking behavior. Given the substantial advances in multineuronal recording and imaging methods in both in vivo and in vitro preparations, the time is ripe to take stock of our current understanding of the slow oscillation and pave the way for future investigations of its mechanisms and functions. My aim in this Review is to provide a comprehensive account of the mechanisms and functions of the slow oscillation, and to suggest avenues for further exploration.

Amyloid-ß alters ongoing neuronal activity and excitability in the frontal cortex.

The effects of amyloid-ß on the activity and excitability of individual neurons in the early and advanced stages of the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease remain unknown. We used in vivo intracellular recordings to measure the ongoing and evoked activity of pyramidal neurons in the frontal cortex of APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice and age-matched nontransgenic littermate controls. Evoked excitability was altered in both transgenic groups: neurons in young transgenic mice displayed hypoexcitability, whereas those in older transgenic mice displayed hyperexcitability, suggesting changes in intrinsic electrical properties of the neurons. However, the ongoing activity of neurons in both young and old transgenic groups showed signs of hyperexcitability in the depolarized state of the membrane potential. The membrane potential of neurons in old transgenic mice had an increased tendency to fail to transition to the depolarized state, and the depolarized states had shorter durations on average than did controls. This suggests a combination of both intrinsic electrical and synaptic dysfunctions as mechanisms for activity changes at later stages of the neuropathological progression.