Vestibular Nuclei: Activity of Single Neurons during Natural Sleep and Wakefulness

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Abstract
The rate of spontaneous discharge of second-order vestibular neurons is higher during wakefulness than during drowsiness and synchronized sleep. The activity of units recorded from the lateral (and superior) vestibular nucleus remains unmodified or is slightly increased during desynchronized sleep, in spite of the complete disappearance of the postural tonus. Units in medial and descending vestibular nuclei show bursts of rapid discharge associated with the eye movements characteristic of desynchronized sleep.