Neocortical gap junction-coupled interneuron systems may induce chaotic behavior itinerant among quasi-attractors exhibiting transient synchrony

Recent discovery of the massive presence of gap junction couplings among neocortical FS (and LTS) interneurons poses serious questions about their collective dynamical behavior, and their possible cognitive roles. We present here the theoretical possibility that a class of neurons coupled by gap junctions may emerge spatio-temporal chaos itinerant among attractors in Milnor's sense, which in turn organizes synchronous cell groups transiently. Some physiological observations from the neocortex, e.g., local field potential data exhibiting transient synchrony may provide evidence. We also suggest possible role in the so-called binding problem. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.