Chaotic activity during iron-induced ´epileptiform´ discharge in rat hippocampal slices

Low-dimensional chaotic dynamics have been suggested in the rat hippocampal slice during iron-induced epileptiform activity. The dimensionality of this chaotic activity has been found to be similar in slices bathed in the same ionic extracellular medium. Some slices also displayed a drop in dimensionality prior to the onset of seizure-like activity. It is suggested that techniques of nonlinear dynamical analysis are a useful reverse-engineering tool for studying the in-vitro brain slice. The authors further conclude that neuronal circuits capable of displaying activity could exist at the level of the in vitro brain slice.