We developed the MEGA (Memory Episode Gaze Anticipation) paradigm to study human memory, moving beyond traditional reliance on verbal reports. By using eye-tracking technology, we measure anticipatory gaze, revealing memory retrieval independent of report. The MEGA paradigm utilizes tailored short film clips featuring surprising events. Upon repeated viewing movie clips, eye gaze patterns anticipating salient […]
The neural processes associated with the transition into sleep remain poorly understood, and it is unclear whether they develop abruptly or gradually. By examining spontaneous and sound-evoked neuronal activity in the auditory cortex of rats during thousands of sleep-wake transitions, we found that stimulus-induced neuronal silence (OFF periods) emerged abruptly within seconds of sleep onset, […]
The locus coeruleus norepinephrine (LC-NE) system regulates arousal and awakening; however, it remains unclear whether the LC does this in a global or circuit specific manner. We found partial anatomical segregation between the LC to pontine reticular nucleus (PRN) and LC to basal forebrain (BF) circuits. Extracellular NE dynamics in BF and PRN exhibited distinct […]
For years we have been eager to better monitor dynamics in arousal and brain noradrenaline in closed eye conditions such as sleep and anesthesia. In this study we introduce a novel technology towards this goal, which combines short wave infrared (SWIR) imaging with deep learning algorithms to perform touchless pupillometry and eye tracking behind closed […]
This paper focuses on Claustrum, attention and sleep. We observed a consistent and robust increase in the prevalence of NREM sleep in the hours following chemogenetic activation of ACCp claustrum neurons. Next, our contribution was not only the association between elevated ACCp claustrum activity and unresponsive NREM sleep, but also a significant decrease in sound-evoked […]
We examined which aspects of cortical processing are affected by sleep deprivation (SD), and whether they can already be identified in early sensory regions. We recorded spiking activity in rat auditory cortex along with polysomnography while presenting sounds during SD followed by recovery sleep. We found that certain aspects of auditory processing (frequency tuning, onset […]
We reconsider sleep/wake brain states as being highly dynamic and regionally complex, rather than stationary and global. We review recent evidence for spatiotemporal complexity and advances in understanding the systems that regulate vigilance state, such as neuromodulatory systems – which may be more heterogenous than originally assumed. A modular and dynamic perspective highlights novel avenues […]
We recorded single-unit spiking (713 clusters), microwire LFPs and iEEG from 13 patients implanted with depth electrodes while playing sounds (click-trains, words, music) during wakefulness and sleep, studying auditory responses (observed mainly in lateral temporal lobe). Amplitude of spike and gamma responses was similar in wake and NREM sleep, with modest or no attenuation in […]
Loss of consciousness happens abruptly, but does the neuronal activity in our brains also change suddenly? Here we gradually deepen anaesthesia in rats whilst playing aounds and recording how their neurons fire in the auditory cortex. We found a range of different changes with anaesthesia, but all of them changed gradually with increased anaesthesia, and […]
One of the most obvious affects of anaesthesia is that our patients are disconnected from their sensory environment: they don’t respond to questions, they don’t see the operation and they don’t feel the pain of surgery. However it is far from obvious where in the sensory hierarchy this disconnection occures. In this project we used […]
