Neural mechanisms of the ultrafast activities

A brief review of previous studies is presented on ultra-fast activities > 300 Hz (high frequency oscillations, HFOs) overlying the cortical response in the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) or magnetic field (SEF). The characteristics of somatosensory HFOs are described in terms of reproducibility and origin (area 3b and 1) of the HFOs, changes during a wake-sleep cycle, effects of higher stimulus rate or tactile interference, etc. Also, several hypotheses on the neural mechanisms of the HFOs are introduced; the early HFO burst is probably generated from action potentials of thalamocortical fibers at the time when they arrive at the area 3b (and 1), since this component is resistant to higher stimulus rate > 10Hz or general anesthesia: by contrast, the late HFO burst is sensitive to higher stimulus rate, reflecting activities of a postsynaptic neural network in the somatosensory cortices, area 3b and 1. As to possible mechanisms of the late HFO burst genesis, an interneuron hypothesis, a fast inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) hypothesis of the pyramidal cell and a chattering cell hypothesis will be discussed on the basis of physiological and pathological features of the somatosensory HFOs.