Accelerated synaptic transmission in nucleus ventralis-postero-lateralis during deep sleep

Conclusion

It is clear that during deep sleep the response evoked in the somatosensory cortex of the cat by shocks to the cutaneous nerve or medial lemniscus is not only higher² but has a shorter latency as well. Our experiments demonstrate that this decrease in latency occurs during transmission through the nucleus VPL. No change in synaptic transmission time was observed in nuclei gracilis and cuneatus or in the cortex itself.

Riassunto

La latenza delle risposte evocate nella corteccia somatica sia da stimolazione cutanea che del lemnisco mediale diminuisce significativamente con 1'aumentare della profondità del sonno. Tale fenomeno è dovuto ad una accelerata trasmissione degli impulsi ascendenti a livello del nucleo ventro-postero-laterale del talamo.