Synchronized reverberatory bursting activity in cultured network of rat cortical neurons

We have investigated spatially distributed dynamics that arises in cultured networks of cortical neurons of rats over two weeks by using a home-built multi-electrode array (MEA) plate recording system. The spiking dynamics detected through the MEA electrodes is typically a mixed signal of random single firing events and reverberating bursting events. The bursting activities seem to arise only when some degree of networking is established. Our analysis also indicates that the bursting activity spreads out in space gradually over days and becomes globally synchronized by the time the culture reaches approximately 10 days in vitro.