Synaptic currents recorded from the dendritic field of an insect giant interneurone

A method is described enabling the recording of synaptic currents from an isolated interganglionic interneurone in the central nervous system of the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, using an oil-gap recording system. The circuitry contains a Wheatstone bridge in which the preparation is the unknown resistance. Using a voltage-clamp technique, both excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents together with currents induced by metabolic changes can be detected.