A Statistical Analysis of Spontaneous Activity of the Temperature-sensitive Neurone in Hypothalamus of Rats

Discharges of temperature- sensitive neurones were recorded in the preoptic region of urethanized rats, with simultaneous monitoring of brain temperature in region. Measurement of interspike intervals and calulation of statistical variables concerning the spike train were carried out. The results were as follows: 1) In all temperature-sensitive neurones, the standard deviation of interspike intervals increases in linear proportion to the value of the mean interval, but the changes of standard deviation with relation to mean interval is different in neurones with different distribution of interspike interval histograms. 2) Interspike interval histograms of temperature-sensitive neurones were classified into two forms. The intervals were then classifiled into about ten time bins