Sound-induced hyperpolarization of hippocampal neurons

Neuroreport. 2014 Sep 10;25(13):1013-7. doi: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000000206.

Abstract

The hippocampus is involved in episodic memory, which is composed of subjective experiences in the multisensory world; however, little is known about the subthreshold membrane potential responses of individual hippocampal neurons to sensory stimuli. Using in-vivo whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from hippocampal CA1 neurons in awake mice, we found that almost all hippocampal neurons exhibited a hyperpolarization of 1-2 mV immediately after the onset of a sound. This large-scale hyperpolarization was unaffected by the duration or pitch of the tone. The response was abolished by general anesthesia and a surgical fimbria-fornix lesion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation / methods
  • Animals
  • CA1 Region, Hippocampal / physiology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Potentials / physiology*
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Sound*
  • Time Factors