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Updated: Oct 31, 2025
Tuning in the Hippocampal Theta Band In Vitro: Methodologies for Recording from the Isolated Rodent Septohippocampal Circuit
Published on: August 2, 2017
Enhanced hippocampal theta rhythmicity and emergence of eta oscillation in virtual reality
Karen Safaryan1, Mayank R Mehta2,3,4,5
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. safaryan@ucla.edu.
Abstract:
Hippocampal theta rhythm is a therapeutic target because of its vital role in neuroplasticity, learning and memory. Curiously, theta differs across species. Here we show that theta rhythmicity is greatly amplified when rats run in virtual reality. A novel eta rhythm emerged in the CA1 cell layer, primarily in interneurons. Thus, multisensory experience governs hippocampal rhythms. Virtual reality can be used to boost or control brain rhythms and to alter neural dynamics, wiring and plasticity.
