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5-12Hz oscillations in the barrel cortex of awake rats – Sustained attention during behavioral idling?

5-12 Hz oscillations, observed in cortical local field potentials (LFP) of awake rats during quiet immobility, were proposed to be either (i) epileptic events or (ii) physiological alpha-like oscillations, manifesting an idling state of the cortex. In order to test this controversy we recorded LFP from the barrel cortex of awake rats, while applying weak tactile (whisker) and stronger arousing (electrical) stimuli. Tactile stimulation desynchronized the 5-12 Hz rhythm whereas arousal ...