Alterations of Interhippocampal Impulses in Man during Natural Sleep and Distraction

Abstract

Interhippocampal evoked responses (IHR) were studied in two fully conscious men during wakefulness (w), natural sleep associated with slow wave electroencephalographic (EEG) activity (SS), sleep associated with rapid EEG activity (RS) and with rapid eye movements (REM), or both, and during distraction or attention. Striking incremental changes in amplitude of pre- and postsynaptic components of the IHR appeared during SS, whereas there was marked diminution in the amplitude of all components of the IHR during RS and REM, and while Ss solved a mathematics problem. It was suggested that hippocampal pre- and postsynaptic inhibition during attention and dreaming is dependent upon inhibitory influences from mesencephalic reticular formation.

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