Sentence:  Thus , a low intensity of hypothalamic cortical discharges prevails in sleep and a high one during wakefulness , resulting in synchronous EEG potentials in the <WSD>former</WSD> and asynchrony in the latter condition . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several); I prefer the former version to the latter one"