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Neuronal activity in the substantia nigra in the anaesthetized rat has fractal characteristics. Evidence for firing-code patterns in the basal ganglia

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Abstract

Current models of the basal ganglia assume a firing-rate code for information processing. We have applied five complementary computing methods to assess firing patterns in 188 cells of the substantia nigra in the anaesthetized rat. Fractal firing activity was found in 100% of nigral cells projecting to the superior colliculus, in 51% of cells projecting to the thalamus and in 33% of cells projecting to the pedunculopontine nucleus, but was practically absent in dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons (3%). The finding of fractal firing patterns may lead to a better understanding of the normal operational mode and pathological manifestations of the basal ganglia.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Consejería de Educación del Gobierno de Canarias (PI2001/049), and the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología del Gobierno Español (SAF2002-03382 and FISP.I.020194), Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    M. Rodríguez, J. González & P. Abdala

  2. Department of Basic Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    E. Pereda

  3. Neuroscience Centre, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Clinica Universitaria and Medical School, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    J. A. Obeso

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  1. M. Rodríguez
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  2. E. Pereda
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  3. J. González
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  4. P. Abdala
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  5. J. A. Obeso
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Correspondence to M. Rodríguez.

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Rodríguez, M., Pereda, E., González, J. et al. Neuronal activity in the substantia nigra in the anaesthetized rat has fractal characteristics. Evidence for firing-code patterns in the basal ganglia. Exp Brain Res 151, 167–172 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-003-1442-4

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