Neural Dynamics in Primate Cortex during Exposure to Subanesthetic Concentrations of Nitrous Oxide.
eNeuro January 1, 2021 Matthew S Willsey, Chrono S Nu, Samuel R Nason et al.
Inhaling 70% nitrous oxide (N2O) increases spiking rates and beta- and gamma-band power in the primary motor cortex of macaques while degrading the representation of somatosensory information. The proportion of correctly classified finger touches dropped from 0.50 to 0.34 during N2O inhalation, indicating impaired information transfer. The increased firing rate was not correlated with changes in neuronal tuning, suggesting a dissociation between overall activity and sensory processing.