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A beta2-frequency (20–30 Hz) oscillation in nonsynaptic networks of somatosensory cortex

  1. Roger D. Traub†‡§
  1. *Medical School, University of Newcastle, Newcastle NE2 4HH, United Kingdom; and
  2. Departments of †Physiology and Pharmacology and
  3. ‡Neurology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11203

  1. Communicated by Nancy J. Kopell, Boston University, Boston, MA, August 25, 2006 (received for review June 26, 2006)

Abstract

Beta2 frequency (20–30 Hz) oscillations appear over somatosensory and motor cortices in vivo during motor preparation and can be coherent with muscle electrical activity. We describe a beta2 frequency oscillation occurring in vitro in networks of layer V pyramidal cells, the cells of origin of the corticospinal tract. This beta2 oscillation depends on gap junctional coupling, but it survives a cut through layer 4 and, hence, does not depend on apical dendritic electrogenesis. It also survives a blockade of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors or a blockade of GABAA receptors that is sufficient to suppress gamma (30–70 Hz) oscillations in superficial cortical layers. The oscillation period is determined by the M type of K+ current.

Footnotes

  • ↵§To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: roger.traub{at}downstate.edu

  • Author contributions: A.K.R., M.O.C., F.E.N.L., M.A.W., and R.D.T. designed research; A.K.R., S.J.M., M.O.C., F.E.N.L., M.A.W., and R.D.T. performed research; A.K.R., S.J.M., M.O.C., F.E.N.L., A.B., M.A.W., and R.D.T. analyzed data; and M.A.W. and R.D.T. wrote the paper.

  • The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • Abbreviations

    AMPA,
    α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid;
    IB,
    intrinsically bursting;
    RS,
    regular spiking
    • Received June 26, 2006.

    Freely available online through the PNAS open access option.

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