Pontine reticular formation: relation to lateral geniculate nucleus during deep sleep.

Irregular groups of monophasic waves (seven waves per second) appear synchronously in the pontine reticular, formation and in the lateral geniculate nucleus during the deep (low-voltage, fast) phase of sleep. The geniculate potentials can be triggered by low-rate stimulation of the pontine reticular formation, but the reverse effect has never been obtained.