Dynamics of sleep oscillations is coupled to brain temperature on multiple scales.

Key Points: Sleep spindle frequency positively, duration negatively correlates with brain temperature. Local heating of the thalamus produces similar effects in the heated area. Thalamic network model corroborates temperature dependence of sleep spindle frequency.

Analysis of Propagation of Slow Rhythmic Activity Induced in Rat Brain Slices.

Slow wave oscillation is a synchronous oscillatory mechanism that is a characteristic wave type of the cerebral cortex during physiological deep sleep or anesthesia. It may play an important role in cortical analysis of sensory input. Our goal was (1) to develop optimal conditions for the induction of this slow rhythmic activity in adult rat cortical slices, (2) to identify connections through which the activity propagates between coupled cortical regions, and (3) to study the pattern of horizontal and vertical flow of activity developed spontaneously in cortical slices.