The Sharp Wave Ripple (SWR) is a distinctive pattern of neural activity observed in the hippocampus, particularly during periods of rest and slow-wave sleep. SWRs are characterized by a sharp wave component, which is a large amplitude deflection in the local field potential, followed by a high-frequency oscillation known as the ripple.
Memory Consolidation
A particularly interesting phenomena arrises when comparing the firing rates of the individual neurons during awake behavior in Place Cells and during SWRs in sleep. During awake behavior, place cells fire in a sequential manner that corresponds to the animal’s movement through its environment. However, during SWRs, these same place cells can exhibit a phenomenon known as “replay,” where they fire in a sequence that reflects previous experiences, often at a much faster timescale.
