Large-scale simultaneous recordings from medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala in sleeping and freely-behaving rats.

The data set contains large-scale simultaneous recordings from medial
prefrontal cortex and amygdala in sleeping and freely-behaving rats. The data
were used to provide support for an alternative ('brain-based') theoretical
framework of brain function. Indeed, cell assemblies have generally been
studied in relation to specific stimuli or actions ('representational'
framework), but this approach does not readily extend to more abstract
constructs. The brain-based approach proposes to assess cell assemblies
without making reference to external variables, and instead focus on internal
brain processes — by defining assemblies by their endogenous ability to
effectively elicit specific responses in downstream (‘reader’) neurons. This
data set and the accompanying manuscript support cell assemblies as an
endogenous mechanism for brain function.