Peripheral sensory stimulation elicits global slow waves by recruiting somatosensory cortex bilaterally

Significance Slow waves are the predominant feature of brain activity during sleep and anesthesia. associated with plasticity, memory consolidation, other functions. However, much remains unknown about circuits that coordinate slow wave propagation. Here, we demonstrate somatosensory stimulation evokes bilateral activation primary cortices (S1). Under anesthesia, S1 is followed by a global, front-to-back cortical wave. Using focal lesion model, show evoked global depend on activation, whereas spontaneous initiation does not S1. These results existence mechanisms which injury may disrupt network dynamics.