Membrane characteristics of visual cortical neurons in in vitro slices

In in vitro slices prepared from the visual cortex of cats a total of 15 neurons were studied for their membrane properties by passing currents through an intracellular microelectrode and by electrical stimulation of the white matter. Passive membrane properties (mean +/- S.D.): resting membrane potential, 58 +/- 10 mV; input resistance, 42.1 +/- 34.0 M omega; time constant, 9.0 +/- 3.6 ms. Some neurons showed a linear relationship between intensity of injected DC current and frequency of thereby induced discharges.