“…This is of interest because, first, the immature network patterns (cENOs) recorded in slices of the cerebral cortex occur in absence of GABAergic signaling (Garaschuk et al, 2000; Allene et al, 2008). Secondly, although cultured networks have been extensively used as models for cortical network studies (Feinerman et al, 2007; Le et al, 2007; Rolston et al, 2007; Bakkum et al, 2008; Baruchi et al, 2008; Chao et al, 2008; Pasquale et al, 2008; Raichman and Ben-Jacob, 2008; Shahaf et al, 2008), generating cultured cortical networks with a predictable activity pattern development has been difficult (Wagenaar et al, 2006a). Finally, although early synchronized network activity is described as extremely robust behavior, due to homeostatic regulation of intrinsic features (Marder and Goaillard, 2006; Blankenship and Feller, 2010), the limits of homeostasis might be reached along maturation if the local circuitry is abnormally constructed.…”