An overview of extracellular field potentials: Different potentiation and measurable components, interpretations, and hippocampal synaptic activity models

IF 4.2 3区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS

Methods Pub Date : 2025-03-25 DOI:10.1016/j.ymeth.2025.03.015

Maryam Radahmadi , Alireza Halabian , Arshia Halabian

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The hippocampus and some other brain regions are critically involved in synaptic plasticity. Electrophysiological recordings using extracellular field potentials (EFPs) reveal diverse synaptic activity within the hippocampus, including input/output functions (reflecting neural excitability), paired-pulse responses (reflecting short-term plasticity), and long-term potentiation (reflecting long-term plasticity). EFP techniques offer various measurable components for assessing multiple neural functions. These include fEPSP slope, amplitude, and area under curve (AUC), as well as latency (fEPSP onset or peak after stimulation), width at half amplitude, fiber volley, decay time, time-course (fEPSP rise and decay time constants; tau), initial slope/initial area and −/late area derived from a fEPSP waveform sample. Each of these parameters is separately evaluated and provides distinct electrophysiological interpretations. Despite the rich data offered by EFP techniques, many studies adopt a limited approach, focusing solely on fEPSP slope, amplitude, and occasionally AUC, thereby neglecting the potential insights provided by other parameters. Given the inherent variability of fEPSP components within a single recording and timeframe, a comprehensive analysis of synaptic activity within a specific hippocampal region is necessary for obtaining the full spectrum of fEPSP-related data. Researchers should consider the potential influence of additional factors contributing to the variability of synaptic activity magnitude. A detailed analysis considering different parts of extracellular fEPSP recordings and their properties is crucial for a deeper understanding of synaptic activity changes within the brain. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of diverse forms of hippocampal synaptic activity, measurable components of EFP recordings, and their corresponding interpretations.

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来源期刊

Methods 生物-生化研究方法

CiteScore

9.80

自引率

2.10%

发文量

222

审稿时长

11.3 weeks

期刊介绍： Methods focuses on rapidly developing techniques in the experimental biological and medical sciences. Each topical issue, organized by a guest editor who is an expert in the area covered, consists solely of invited quality articles by specialist authors, many of them reviews. Issues are devoted to specific technical approaches with emphasis on clear detailed descriptions of protocols that allow them to be reproduced easily. The background information provided enables researchers to understand the principles underlying the methods; other helpful sections include comparisons of alternative methods giving the advantages and disadvantages of particular methods, guidance on avoiding potential pitfalls, and suggestions for troubleshooting.