RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Natural scene movie responses are more precise, reliable & sparse in synchronized than desynchronized cat V1 JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 031765 DO 10.1101/031765 A1 Martin A. Spacek A1 Nicholas V. Swindale YR 2016 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2016/04/28/031765.abstract AB How does cortical state affect neural responses to naturalistic stimuli, and is it analogous between anesthetized and awake animals? We recorded spikes and local field potential (LFP) in isoflurane-anesthetized cat V1 while repeatedly presenting wide-field natural scene movie clips. Spiking responses were remarkably precise, reliable and sparse. Many units had distinct barcode-like firing patterns, with features as little as 10 ms wide. LFP-derived cortical state switched spontaneously between synchronized (1/f) and desynchronized (broadband). Surprisingly, responses were more precise, reliable and sparse during the synchronized than desynchronized state. Because the desynchronized state under anesthesia is thought to correspond to attending periods in awake animals, during which responses are enhanced, our results complicate the analogy between cortical states in anesthetized and awake animals. The presence of orientation maps in cat V1 may explain contrary reports in anesthetized rodents, and predicts a similar result in anesthetized ferret and primate V1.