[Neuronal activity in an epileptic focus formed as a result of the effect of tetanus toxin on the motor area of the cat cerebral cortex].

Activity of single neurons was recorded intracellularly in the cortical epileptic focus produced by tetanus toxin. The activity of all studied neurons correlated positively with ECoG during the interictal period. A group of neurons was found with continuous background activity. The membrane potential of these neurons gradually decreased and the frequency of discharges increased during the interictal intervals. The neurons with continuous background activity during the interictal intervals revealed paroxismal depolarization without the following hyperpolarization. In some neurons with random background spikes hyperpolarizing shifts after paroxismal depolarization were observed. The mechanisms of the organization of the neuronal "epileptic aggregates" as well as of inhibition of these functional structures are considered.