Spontaneous forebrain neuronal activity in developmentally protein malnourished rats

The characteristics of the spontaneous discharges of populations of single neurons in the neocortex and thalamus of rats reared under chronic protein malnutrition (8% casein) or a normal diet (25% casein) were evaluated. Results from 700 neurons showed the malnourished rats had fewer fast firing cells, an overall lower discharge rate and an altered firing pattern (fewer cells which exhibited bursting activity). These findings are the first demonstration of altered neuronal discharges in the forebrains of adult malnourished rats.