Reticular formation of the lower brainstem. A common system for cardio-respiratory and somatomotor functions. Cross-correlation analysis of discharge patterns of neighbouring neurones.

Temporal relations of discharges of 73 pairs of neurones located in the medial parts of the reticular formation of the lower brainstem were studied by cross correlation analyses in chloralose-urethane anaesthetized dogs. The action potentials of 2 or 3 neighbouring neurones were recorded with one electrode simultaneously. Uncorrelated discharges of neurones and 4 different types of correlated discharges were observed in cross correlation histograms: they were: (1) rhythmic couplings with frequencies between 2 and 5 Hz related to the same rhythm in the EEG; (2) strong, non-rhythmic couplings with short latencies up to 5 ms; (3) a combination of strong and rhythmic couplings, and (4) high-frequency oscillation couplings. Most pairs of neurones showed different types of correlation during the recordings. The different forms of correlated discharge behaviour could be related to different types of functional organization of the neuronal network in the reticular formation.