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

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.