Non-random functional connectivity during unconsciousness is a defining feature of supraspinal networks. However, its generalizability to intrinsic spinal networks remains incompletely understood. Previously, Barry et al. (2014) used fMRI to reveal bilateral resting state functional connectivity within sensory-dominant and, separately, motor-dominant regions of the spinal cord. Here, we record spike trains from large populations of spinal interneurons in vivo in rats and demonstrate that spontaneous functional connectivity also links sensory- and motor-dominant regions during unconsciousness. The spatiotemporal patterns of connectivity could not be explained by latent afferent activity or by populations of interconnected neurons spiking randomly. We also document connection latencies compatible with mono- and di-synaptic interactions and putative excitatory and inhibitory connections. The observed activity is consistent with the hypothesis that salient, experience-dependent patterns of neural transmission introduced during behavior or by injury/disease are reactivated during unconsciousness. Such a spinal replay mechanism could shape circuit-level connectivity and ultimately behavior.

中文翻译：

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在昏迷状态下自发性神经同步将内在的脊柱感觉和运动网络联系起来

意识丧失期间的非随机功能连接是棘上神经网络的定义特征。然而，其对内在的脊柱网络的普遍性仍未完全理解。此前，Barry等人。（2014年）使用功能磁共振成像揭示了在脊髓的感觉主导区域和运动主导区域内的双侧静息状态功能连接。在这里，我们记录了大剂量的大鼠体内脊髓中枢神经元的尖峰序列，并证明了自觉的功能连接在意识丧失时也将感觉和运动为主的区域联系在一起。连通性的时空模式不能用潜在的传入活动或随机尖峰互连的神经元群体来解释。我们还记录了与单突触和双突触相互作用以及推定的兴奋性和抑制性连接兼容的连接潜伏期。观察到的活动与以下假设相一致：在行为或伤害/疾病期间引入的突出的，依赖于经验的神经传递模式会在无意识中重新激活。这种脊柱重播机制可能会影响电路级的连接性并最终影响行为。