Gamma oscillations are a particularly prominent form of rhythmic activity occurring during wakefulness and attentive behaviour that result from synchronous activity of cortical neurons at frequencies ranging between 20 and 80 Hz. Abnormalities in these oscillations might underlie neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia (Uhlhaas et al. 2006). Therefore understanding the precise mechanisms underlying gamma oscillations - in particular the respective role of synaptic and intrinsic currents -represents a major goal in fundamental and clinical neuroscience. Gamma oscillations are prevalent in the hippocampus in vivo and they can be induced in the isolated CA3 region of the hippocampus in vitro with bath application of carbachol (Fisahn et al. 1998).
展开▼
