Sleep and Sleep States: Thalamic Regulation

The thalamus is a pacemaker for several types of brain oscillations. We review here the physiological basis for spindle oscillations, which are the best-documented type of sleep oscillation, from in vivo, in vitro, and modeling studies. Although spindle oscillations are generated within thalamic circuits, their triggering and large-scale synchrony in the brain depend on the cerebral cortex, and particularly on bidirectional interactions between the cortex and thalamus. This cortical control of thalamic pacemakers may also help to explain pathological states such as some types of epileptic seizures.

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