Entrained cortical delta-spindle activity, not periodic synchrony, prevents arousal by NREM thalamic bursts.

ABSTRACT: Thalamic neurons discharge tonically during wakefulness and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, but switch to burst firing during non-REM (NREM) sleep. It has been hypothesized that NREM thalamic bursts do not serve as a cortical "wake-up" signal due to their periodic and synchronized nature. Here, we analyze the simultaneously recorded polysomnographic signals, field potentials, and spiking activity of neurons in the ventral anterior and centromedian thalamic nuclei of two female non-human primates during naturally occurring vigilance states. These nuclei receive GABAergic output from the basal ganglia, with discharge rate decreasing during NREM sleep. Despite this reduction in inhibitory input, NREM bursting increases significantly as reported for glutamate-driven thalamic nuclei.  The NREM

SUBMITTER: Liu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12921025 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature