[Depth contours of the electrocorticogram]

Distribution of extracellular fields generated by partly synchronized activity of cells was studied. The cells were located in the basic generator layers of the cortex, i.e. the first, fifth and sixth ones. An increased intercellular correlation among the neighbouring neurons was taken into account. The neurons were located within vertical columns. The curves were obtained for depth distributions of standard deviation of ECoG and correlation coefficient between the depth and surface ECoG. The activity of the upper generator layer was shown to affect the potential recorded only within the limits of this layer and directly under it. The fields generated by subcortical structures essentially affect the potentials of the sixth layer and of the white substance. Conditions are studied which determine the initiation or absence of phase inversion of the depth integrated potential in relation to the surface one.