Local Origin of Field Potentials in Visual Cortex

Katzner, Steffen ; Nauhaus, Ian; Benucci, Andrea; Bonin, Vincent; Ringach, Dario L. und Caradini, Matteo (2007): Local Origin of Field Potentials in Visual Cortex. In: Neuron, Vol. 61, No. 1: pp. 35-41

Abstract

The local field potential (LFP) is increasingly used to measure the combined activity of neurons within a region of tissue. Yet, available estimates of the size of this region are highly disparate, ranging from several hundred microns to a few millimeters. To measure the size of this region directly, we used a combination of multielectrode recordings and optical imaging. We determined the orientation selectivity of stimulus-evoked LFP signals in primary visual cortex and were able to predict it on the basis of the surrounding map of orientation preference. The results show that >95% of the LFP signal originates within 250 μm of the recording electrode. This quantitative estimate indicates that LFPs are more local than often recognized and provides a guide to the interpretation of the increasing number of studies that rest on LFP recordings.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Biology > Department Biology II > Neurobiology
• Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
• ISSN: 1097-4199
• Language: English