Eur. Phys. J. B 30, 581-585 (2002)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2002-00417-1

Self-averaging in complex brain neuron signals

¹ ICAR, PO Box 31155, Jerusalem 91000, Israel and Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-4030, USA
² Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
³ Information and Mathematical Science Laboratory Inc. 2-43-1, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0014, Japan

Received: 17 April 2002
Revised: 30 September 2002
Published online: 31 December 2002

Abstract

Nonlinear statistical properties of Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA) of limbic brain are studied in vivo. VTA plays key role in generation of pleasure and in development of psychological drug addiction. It is shown that spiking time-series of the VTA dopaminergic neurons exhibit long-range correlations with self-averaging behavior. This specific VTA phenomenon has no relation to VTA rewarding function. Last result reveals complex role of VTA in limbic brain.