1
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Knight RS, Chen T, Center EG, Gratton G, Fabiani M, Savazzi S, Mazzi C, Beck DM. Bypassing input to V1 in visual awareness: A TMS-EROS investigation. Neuropsychologia 2024; 198:108864. [PMID: 38521150 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Early visual cortex (V1-V3) is believed to be critical for normal visual awareness by providing the necessary feedforward input. However, it remains unclear whether visual awareness can occur without further involvement of early visual cortex, such as re-entrant feedback. It has been challenging to determine the importance of feedback activity to these areas because of the difficulties in dissociating this activity from the initial feedforward activity. Here, we applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the left posterior parietal cortex to elicit phosphenes in the absence of direct visual input to early visual cortex. Immediate neural activity after the TMS pulse was assessed using the event-related optical signal (EROS), which can measure activity under the TMS coil without artifacts. Our results show that: 1) The activity in posterior parietal cortex 50 ms after TMS was related to phosphene awareness, and 2) Activity related to awareness was observed in a small portion of V1 140 ms after TMS, but in contrast (3) Activity in V2 was a more robust correlate of awareness. Together, these results are consistent with interactive models proposing that sustained and recurrent loops of activity between cortical areas are necessary for visual awareness to emerge. In addition, we observed phosphene-related activations of the anteromedial cuneus and lateral occipital cortex, suggesting a functional network subserving awareness comprising these regions, the parietal cortex and early visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramisha S Knight
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Aptima, Inc. 2555 University Blvd, Fairborn, OH, USA
| | - Tao Chen
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois. 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Evan G Center
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois. 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL, USA; Center for Ubiquitous Computing, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Gabriele Gratton
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois. 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Monica Fabiani
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois. 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Silvia Savazzi
- Perception and Awareness (PandA) Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Mazzi
- Perception and Awareness (PandA) Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diane M Beck
- Beckman Institute, University of Illinois.405 N Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Illinois. 601 E John Street, Champaign, IL, USA.
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2
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Pilipenko A, Samaha J. Double Dissociation of Spontaneous Alpha-Band Activity and Pupil-Linked Arousal on Additive and Multiplicative Perceptual Gain. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1944232024. [PMID: 38548339 PMCID: PMC11079969 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1944-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Perception is a probabilistic process dependent on external stimulus properties and one's internal state. However, which internal states influence perception and via what mechanisms remain debated. We studied how spontaneous alpha-band activity (8-13 Hz) and pupil fluctuations impact visual detection and confidence across stimulus contrast levels (i.e., the contrast response function, CRF). In human subjects of both sexes, we found that low prestimulus alpha power induced an "additive" shift in the CRF, whereby stimuli were reported present more frequently at all contrast levels, including contrast of zero (i.e., false alarms). Conversely, prestimulus pupil size had a "multiplicative" effect on detection such that stimuli occurring during large pupil states (putatively corresponding to higher arousal) were perceived more frequently as contrast increased. Signal detection modeling reveals that alpha power changes detection criteria equally across the CRF but not detection sensitivity (d'), whereas pupil-linked arousal modulated sensitivity, particularly for higher contrasts. Interestingly, pupil size and alpha power were positively correlated, meaning that some of the effect of alpha on detection may be mediated by pupil fluctuations. However, pupil-independent alpha still induced an additive shift in the CRF corresponding to a criterion effect. Our data imply that low alpha boosts detection and confidence by an additive factor, rather than by a multiplicative scaling of contrast responses, a profile which captures the effect of pupil-linked arousal. We suggest that alpha power and arousal fluctuations have dissociable effects on behavior. Alpha reflects the baseline level of visual excitability, which can vary independent of arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- April Pilipenko
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064
| | - Jason Samaha
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064
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3
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Peylo C, Romberg-Taylor C, Behnke L, Sauseng P. Dynamic alpha power modulations and slow negative potentials track natural shifts of spatio-temporal attention. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14498. [PMID: 38071405 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Alpha power modulations and slow negative potentials have previously been associated with anticipatory processes in spatial and temporal top-down attention. In typical experimental designs, however, neural responses triggered by transient stimulus onsets can interfere with attention-driven activity patterns and our interpretation of such. Here, we investigated these signatures of spatio-temporal attention in a dynamic paradigm free from potentially confounding stimulus-driven activity using electroencephalography. Participants attended the cued side of a bilateral stimulus rotation and mentally counted how often one of two remembered sample orientations (i.e., the target) was displayed while ignoring the uncued side and non-target orientation. Afterwards, participants performed a delayed match-to-sample task, in which they indicated if the orientation of a probe stimulus matched the corresponding sample orientation (previously target or non-target). We observed dynamic alpha power reductions and slow negative waves around task-relevant points in space and time (i.e., onset of the target orientation in the cued hemifield) over posterior electrodes contralateral to the locus of attention. In contrast to static alpha power lateralization, these dynamic signatures correlated with subsequent memory performance (primarily detriments for matching probes of the non-target orientation), suggesting a preferential allocation of attention to task-relevant locations and time points at the expense of reduced resources and impaired performance for information outside the current focus of attention. Our findings suggest that humans can naturally and dynamically focus their attention at relevant points in space and time and that such spatio-temporal attention shifts can be reflected by dynamic alpha power modulations and slow negative potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charline Peylo
- Department of Psychology, Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Larissa Behnke
- Department of Psychology, Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Paul Sauseng
- Department of Psychology, Universität Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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4
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Deiber MP, Piguet C, Berchio C, Michel CM, Perroud N, Ros T. Resting-State EEG Microstates and Power Spectrum in Borderline Personality Disorder: A High-Density EEG Study. Brain Topogr 2024; 37:397-409. [PMID: 37776472 PMCID: PMC11026215 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-023-01005-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition characterized by emotional dysregulation, unstable sense of self, and impulsive, potentially self-harming behavior. In order to provide new neurophysiological insights on BPD, we complemented resting-state EEG frequency spectrum analysis with EEG microstates (MS) analysis to capture the spatiotemporal dynamics of large-scale neural networks. High-density EEG was recorded at rest in 16 BPD patients and 16 age-matched neurotypical controls. The relative power spectrum and broadband MS spatiotemporal parameters were compared between groups and their inter-correlations were examined. Compared to controls, BPD patients showed similar global spectral power, but exploratory univariate analyses on single channels indicated reduced relative alpha power and enhanced relative delta power at parietal electrodes. In terms of EEG MS, BPD patients displayed similar MS topographies as controls, indicating comparable neural generators. However, the MS temporal dynamics were significantly altered in BPD patients, who demonstrated opposite prevalence of MS C (lower than controls) and MS E (higher than controls). Interestingly, MS C prevalence correlated positively with global alpha power and negatively with global delta power, while MS E did not correlate with any measures of spectral power. Taken together, these observations suggest that BPD patients exhibit a state of cortical hyperactivation, represented by decreased posterior alpha power, together with an elevated presence of MS E, consistent with symptoms of elevated arousal and/or vigilance. This is the first study to investigate resting-state MS patterns in BPD, with findings of elevated MS E and the suggestion of reduced posterior alpha power indicating a disorder-specific neurophysiological signature previously unreported in a psychiatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pierre Deiber
- Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air 2, 1226 Thônex, Geneva, Switzerland.
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Camille Piguet
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cristina Berchio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christoph M Michel
- Functional Brain Mapping Laboratory, Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, CIBM, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nader Perroud
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Division of Psychiatric Specialties, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tomas Ros
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, CIBM, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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5
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Melcón M, Stern E, Kessel D, Arana L, Poch C, Campo P, Capilla A. Perception of near-threshold visual stimuli is influenced by prestimulus alpha-band amplitude but not by alpha phase. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14525. [PMID: 38234038 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Ongoing brain activity preceding visual stimulation has been suggested to shape conscious perception. According to the pulsed inhibition framework, bouts of functional inhibition arise in each alpha cycle (every ~100 ms), allowing information to be processed in a pulsatile manner. Consequently, it has been hypothesized that perceptual outcome can be influenced by the specific phase of alpha oscillations prior to the stimulus onset, although empirical findings are controversial. In this study, we aimed to shed light on the role of prestimulus alpha oscillations in visual perception. To this end, we recorded electroencephalographic activity, while participants performed three near-threshold visual detection tasks with different attentional involvement: a no-cue task, a noninformative cue task (50% validity), and an informative cue task (100% validity). Cluster-based permutation statistics were complemented with Bayesian analyses to test the effect of prestimulus oscillatory amplitude and phase on visual awareness. We additionally examined whether these effects differed in trials with low and high oscillatory amplitude, as expected from the pulsed inhibition theory. Our results show a clear effect of prestimulus alpha amplitude on conscious perception, but only when alpha fluctuated spontaneously. In contrast, we did not find any evidence that prestimulus alpha phase influenced perceptual outcome, not even when differentiating between low- and high-amplitude trials. Furthermore, Bayesian analysis provided moderate evidence in favor of the absence of phase effects. Taken together, our results challenge the central theoretical predictions of the pulsed inhibition framework, at least for the particular experimental conditions used here.
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Grants
- PGC2018-100682-B-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain / FEDER, UE (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE)
- PID2019-111335GA-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades / Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain / FEDER, UE (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE)
- PID2021-125841NB-I00 Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación / Agencia Estatal de Investigación, Spain / FEDER, UE (MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 /FEDER, UE)
- Comunidad de Madrid
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Affiliation(s)
- María Melcón
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Enrique Stern
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dominique Kessel
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lydia Arana
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudia Poch
- Departamento de Educación, Universidad de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Campo
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Capilla
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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6
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Walsh K, McGovern DP, Dully J, Kelly SP, O'Connell RG. Prior probability cues bias sensory encoding with increasing task exposure. eLife 2024; 12:RP91135. [PMID: 38564237 PMCID: PMC10987094 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
When observers have prior knowledge about the likely outcome of their perceptual decisions, they exhibit robust behavioural biases in reaction time and choice accuracy. Computational modelling typically attributes these effects to strategic adjustments in the criterion amount of evidence required to commit to a choice alternative - usually implemented by a starting point shift - but recent work suggests that expectations may also fundamentally bias the encoding of the sensory evidence itself. Here, we recorded neural activity with EEG while participants performed a contrast discrimination task with valid, invalid, or neutral probabilistic cues across multiple testing sessions. We measured sensory evidence encoding via contrast-dependent steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEP), while a read-out of criterion adjustments was provided by effector-selective mu-beta band activity over motor cortex. In keeping with prior modelling and neural recording studies, cues evoked substantial biases in motor preparation consistent with criterion adjustments, but we additionally found that the cues produced a significant modulation of the SSVEP during evidence presentation. While motor preparation adjustments were observed in the earliest trials, the sensory-level effects only emerged with extended task exposure. Our results suggest that, in addition to strategic adjustments to the decision process, probabilistic information can also induce subtle biases in the encoding of the evidence itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Walsh
- School of Psychological Sciences, Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia
| | | | - Jessica Dully
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Simon P Kelly
- School of Electrical Engineering, University College DublinDublinIreland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Redmond G O'Connell
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College DublinDublinIreland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College DublinDublinIreland
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7
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Tarasi L, Romei V. Individual Alpha Frequency Contributes to the Precision of Human Visual Processing. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:602-613. [PMID: 37382485 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Brain oscillatory activity within the alpha band has been associated with a wide range of processes encompassing perception, memory, decision-making, and overall cognitive functioning. Individual alpha frequency (IAF) is a specific parameter accounting for the mean velocity of the alpha cycling activity, conventionally ranging between ∼7 and ∼13 Hz. One influential hypothesis has proposed a fundamental role of this cycling activity in the segmentation of sensory input and in the regulation of the speed of sensory processing, with faster alpha oscillations resulting in greater temporal resolution and more refined perceptual experience. However, although several recent theoretical and empirical studies would support this account, contradictory evidence suggests caution and more systematic approaches in the assessment and interpretation of this hypothesis. For example, it remains to be explored to what degree IAF shapes perceptual outcomes. In the present study, we investigated whether inter-individual differences in bias-free visual contrast detection threshold in a large sample of individuals in the general population (n = 122) could be explained by inter-individual differences in alpha pace. Our results show that the contrast needed to correctly identify target stimuli (individual perceptual threshold) is associated with alpha peak frequency (not amplitude). Specifically, individuals who require reduced contrast show higher IAF than individuals requiring higher contrasts. This suggests that inter-individual differences in alpha frequency contribute to performance variability in low-level perceptual tasks, supporting the hypothesis that IAF underlies a fundamental temporal sampling mechanism that shapes visual objective performance, with higher frequencies promoting enhanced sensory evidence per time unit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Tarasi
- Università di Bologna and Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Università di Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Università di Bologna and Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Università di Bologna, Cesena, Italy
- Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Samaha J, Romei V. Alpha-band Brain Dynamics and Temporal Processing: An Introduction to the Special Focus. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:567-571. [PMID: 38261401 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
For decades, the intriguing connection between the human alpha rhythm (an 8- to 13-Hz oscillation maximal over posterior cortex) and temporal processes in perception has furnished a rich landscape of proposals. The past decade, however, has seen a surge in interest in the topic, bringing new theoretical, analytic, and methodological developments alongside fresh controversies. This Special Focus on alpha-band dynamics and temporal processing provides an up-to-date snapshot of the playing field, with contributions from leading researchers in the field spanning original perspectives, new evidence, comprehensive reviews and meta-analyses, as well as discussion of ongoing controversies and paths forward. We hope that the perspectives captured here will help catalyze future research and shape the pathways toward a theoretically grounded and mechanistic account of the link between alpha dynamics and temporal properties of perception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Cesena, Italy
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Ronconi L, Balestrieri E, Baldauf D, Melcher D. Distinct Cortical Networks Subserve Spatio-temporal Sampling in Vision through Different Oscillatory Rhythms. J Cogn Neurosci 2024; 36:572-589. [PMID: 37172123 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Although visual input arrives continuously, sensory information is segmented into (quasi-)discrete events. Here, we investigated the neural correlates of spatiotemporal binding in humans with magnetoencephalography using two tasks where separate flashes were presented on each trial but were perceived, in a bistable way, as either a single or two separate events. The first task (two-flash fusion) involved judging one versus two flashes, whereas the second task (apparent motion: AM) involved judging coherent motion versus two stationary flashes. Results indicate two different functional networks underlying two unique aspects of temporal binding. In two-flash fusion trials, involving an integration window of ∼50 msec, evoked responses differed as a function of perceptual interpretation by ∼25 msec after stimuli offset. Multivariate decoding of subjective perception based on prestimulus oscillatory phase was significant for alpha-band activity in the right medial temporal (V5/MT) area, with the strength of prestimulus connectivity between early visual areas and V5/MT being predictive of performance. In contrast, the longer integration window (∼130 msec) for AM showed evoked field differences only ∼250 msec after stimuli offset. Phase decoding of the perceptual outcome in AM trials was significant for theta-band activity in the right intraparietal sulcus. Prestimulus theta-band connectivity between V5/MT and intraparietal sulcus best predicted AM perceptual outcome. For both tasks, phase effects found could not be accounted by concomitant variations in power. These results show a strong relationship between specific spatiotemporal binding windows and specific oscillations, linked to the information flow between different areas of the where and when visual pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ronconi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elio Balestrieri
- University of Münster, Germany
- Otto Creutzfeld Center for Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Münster, Germany
| | | | - David Melcher
- New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
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10
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Chen L, Cichy RM, Kaiser D. Coherent categorical information triggers integration-related alpha dynamics. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:619-625. [PMID: 38416707 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00450.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
To create coherent visual experiences, the brain spatially integrates the complex and dynamic information it receives from the environment. We previously demonstrated that feedback-related alpha activity carries stimulus-specific information when two spatially and temporally coherent naturalistic inputs can be integrated into a unified percept. In this study, we sought to determine whether such integration-related alpha dynamics are triggered by categorical coherence in visual inputs. In an EEG experiment, we manipulated the degree of coherence by presenting pairs of videos from the same or different categories through two apertures in the left and right visual hemifields. Critically, video pairs could be video-level coherent (i.e., stem from the same video), coherent in their basic-level category, coherent in their superordinate category, or incoherent (i.e., stem from videos from two entirely different categories). We conducted multivariate classification analyses on rhythmic EEG responses to decode between the video stimuli in each condition. As the key result, we significantly decoded the video-level coherent and basic-level coherent stimuli, but not the superordinate coherent and incoherent stimuli, from cortical alpha rhythms. This suggests that alpha dynamics play a critical role in integrating information across space, and that cortical integration processes are flexible enough to accommodate information from different exemplars of the same basic-level category.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our brain integrates dynamic inputs across the visual field to create coherent visual experiences. Such integration processes have previously been linked to cortical alpha dynamics. In this study, the integration-related alpha activity was observed not only when snippets from the same video were presented, but also when different video snippets from the same basic-level category were presented, highlighting the flexibility of neural integration processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiang Chen
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Mathematical Institute, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Kaiser
- Mathematical Institute, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps-Universität Marburg and Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Marburg, Germany
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11
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Trajkovic J, Di Gregorio F, Thut G, Romei V. Transcranial magnetic stimulation effects support an oscillatory model of ERP genesis. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1048-1058.e4. [PMID: 38377998 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.01.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Whether prestimulus oscillatory brain activity contributes to the generation of post-stimulus-evoked neural responses has long been debated, but findings remain inconclusive. We first investigated the hypothesized relationship via EEG recordings during a perceptual task with this correlational evidence causally probed subsequently by means of online rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation. Both approaches revealed a close link between prestimulus individual alpha frequency (IAF) and P1 latency, with faster IAF being related to shorter latencies, best explained via phase-reset mechanisms. Moreover, prestimulus alpha amplitude predicted P3 size, best explained via additive (correlational and causal evidence) and baseline shift mechanisms (correlational evidence), each with distinct prestimulus alpha contributors. Finally, in terms of performance, faster prestimulus IAF and shorter P1 latencies were both associated with higher task accuracy, while lower prestimulus alpha amplitudes and higher P3 amplitudes were associated with higher confidence ratings. Our results are in favor of the oscillatory model of ERP genesis and modulation, shedding new light on the mechanistic relationship between prestimulus oscillations and functionally relevant evoked components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Trajkovic
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena 47521, Italy; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Di Gregorio
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena 47521, Italy
| | - Gregor Thut
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, MVLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G128QB, UK
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena 47521, Italy; Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid 28015, Spain.
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12
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Ye H, Dima M, Hall V, Hendee J. Cellular mechanisms underlying carry-over effects after magnetic stimulation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5167. [PMID: 38431662 PMCID: PMC10908793 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55915-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Magnetic fields are widely used for neuromodulation in clinical settings. The intended effect of magnetic stimulation is that neural activity resumes its pre-stimulation state right after stimulation. Many theoretical and experimental works have focused on the cellular and molecular basis of the acute neural response to magnetic field. However, effects of magnetic stimulation can still last after the termination of the magnetic stimulation (named "carry-over effects"), which could generate profound effects to the outcome of the stimulation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of carry-over effects are largely unknown, which renders the neural modulation practice using magnetic stimulation unpredictable. Here, we investigated carry-over effects at the cellular level, using the combination of micro-magnetic stimulation (µMS), electrophysiology, and computation modeling. We found that high frequency magnetic stimulation could lead to immediate neural inhibition in ganglion neurons from Aplysia californica, as well as persistent, carry-over inhibition after withdrawing the magnetic stimulus. Carry-over effects were found in the neurons that fired action potentials under a variety of conditions. The carry-over effects were also observed in the neurons when the magnetic field was applied across the ganglion sheath. The state of the neuron, specifically synaptic input and membrane potential fluctuation, plays a significant role in generating the carry-over effects after magnetic stimulation. To elucidate the cellular mechanisms of such carry-over effects under magnetic stimulation, we simulated a single neuron under magnetic stimulation with multi-compartment modeling. The model successfully replicated the carry-over effects in the neuron, and revealed that the carry-over effect was due to the dysfunction of the ion channel dynamics that were responsible for the initiation and sustaining of membrane excitability. A virtual voltage-clamp experiment revealed a compromised Na conductance and enhanced K conductance post magnetic stimulation, rendering the neurons incapable of generating action potentials and, therefore, leading to the carry over effects. Finally, both simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the carry-over effects could be controlled by disturbing the membrane potential during the post-stimulus inhibition period. Delineating the cellular and ion channel mechanisms underlying carry-over effects could provide insights to the clinical outcomes in brain stimulation using TMS and other modalities. This research incentivizes the development of novel neural engineering or pharmacological approaches to better control the carry-over effects for optimized clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ye
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan Life Sciences Education and Research Center, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60660, USA.
| | - Maria Dima
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan Life Sciences Education and Research Center, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Vincent Hall
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan Life Sciences Education and Research Center, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
| | - Jenna Hendee
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Quinlan Life Sciences Education and Research Center, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60660, USA
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Mikutta CA, Knight RT, Sammler D, Müller TJ, Koenig T. Electrocorticographic Activation Patterns of Electroencephalographic Microstates. Brain Topogr 2024; 37:287-295. [PMID: 36939988 PMCID: PMC10884069 DOI: 10.1007/s10548-023-00952-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
Electroencephalography (EEG) microstates are short successive periods of stable scalp field potentials representing spontaneous activation of brain resting-state networks. EEG microstates are assumed to mediate local activity patterns. To test this hypothesis, we correlated momentary global EEG microstate dynamics with the local temporo-spectral evolution of electrocorticography (ECoG) and stereotactic EEG (SEEG) depth electrode recordings. We hypothesized that these correlations involve the gamma band. We also hypothesized that the anatomical locations of these correlations would converge with those of previous studies using either combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-EEG or EEG source localization. We analyzed resting-state data (5 min) of simultaneous noninvasive scalp EEG and invasive ECoG and SEEG recordings of two participants. Data were recorded during the presurgical evaluation of pharmacoresistant epilepsy using subdural and intracranial electrodes. After standard preprocessing, we fitted a set of normative microstate template maps to the scalp EEG data. Using covariance mapping with EEG microstate timelines and ECoG/SEEG temporo-spectral evolutions as inputs, we identified systematic changes in the activation of ECoG/SEEG local field potentials in different frequency bands (theta, alpha, beta, and high-gamma) based on the presence of particular microstate classes. We found significant covariation of ECoG/SEEG spectral amplitudes with microstate timelines in all four frequency bands (p = 0.001, permutation test). The covariance patterns of the ECoG/SEEG electrodes during the different microstates of both participants were similar. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate distinct activation/deactivation patterns of frequency-domain ECoG local field potentials associated with simultaneous EEG microstates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A Mikutta
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland
- Interdisciplinary Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert T Knight
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley, 132 Barker Hall, 94720, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Daniela Sammler
- Research Group Neurocognition of Music and Language, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas J Müller
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Private Clinic Meiringen, Meiringen, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Koenig
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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Morrone JM, Pedlar CR. EEG-based neurophysiological indices for expert psychomotor performance - a review. Brain Cogn 2024; 175:106132. [PMID: 38219415 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2024.106132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
A primary objective of current human neuropsychological performance research is to define the physiological correlates of adaptive knowledge utilization, in order to support the enhanced execution of both simple and complex tasks. Within the present article, electroencephalography-based neurophysiological indices characterizing expert psychomotor performance, will be explored. As a means of characterizing fundamental processes underlying efficient psychometric performance, the neural efficiency model will be evaluated in terms of alpha-wave-based selective cortical processes. Cognitive and motor domains will initially be explored independently, which will act to encapsulate the task-related neuronal adaptive requirements for enhanced psychomotor performance associating with the neural efficiency model. Moderating variables impacting the practical application of such neuropsychological model, will also be investigated. As a result, the aim of this review is to provide insight into detectable task-related modulation involved in developed neurocognitive strategies which support heightened psychomotor performance, for the implementation within practical settings requiring a high degree of expert performance (such as sports or military operational settings).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin M Morrone
- Faculty of Sport, Allied Health, and Performance Science, St Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK.
| | - Charles R Pedlar
- Faculty of Sport, Allied Health, and Performance Science, St Mary's University, Twickenham, London, UK; Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, UK
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Trajkovic J, Sack AT, Romei V. EEG-based biomarkers predict individual differences in TMS-induced entrainment of intrinsic brain rhythms. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:224-232. [PMID: 38428585 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Entrainment (increase) and modulation (shift) of intrinsic brain oscillations via rhythmic-TMS (rh-TMS) enables to either increase the amplitude of the individual peak oscillatory frequency, or experimentally slowing/accelerating this intrinsic peak oscillatory frequency by slightly shifting it. Both entrainment, and modulation of brain oscillations can lead to different measurable perceptual and cognitive changes. However, there are noticeable between-participant differences in such experimental entrainment outcomes. OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS The current study aimed at explaining these inter-individual differences in entrainment/frequency shift success. Here we hypothesize that the width and the height of the Arnold tongue, i.e., the frequency offsets that can still lead to oscillatory change, can be individually modelled via resting-state neural markers, and may explain and predict efficacy and limitation of successful rhythmic-TMS (rh-TMS) manipulation. METHODS Spectral decomposition of resting-state data was used to extract the spectral curve of alpha activity, serving as a proxy of an individual Arnold tongue. These parameters were then used as predictors of the rh-TMS outcome, when increasing alpha-amplitude (i.e., applying pulse train tuned to the individual alpha frequency, IAF), or modulating the alpha-frequency (i.e., making alpha faster or slower by stimulating at IAF±1Hz frequencies). RESULTS Our results showed that the height of the at-rest alpha curve predicted how well the entrainment increased the intrinsic oscillatory peak frequency, with a higher at-rest spectral curve negatively predicting amplitude-enhancement during entrainment selectively during IAF-stimulation. In contrast, the wider the resting-state alpha curve, the higher the modulation effects aiming to shift the intrinsic frequency towards faster or slower rhythms. CONCLUSION These results not only offer a theoretical and experimental model for explaining the variance across different rh-TMS studies reporting heterogenous rh-TMS outcomes, but also introduce a potential biomarker and corresponding evaluative tool to develop most optimal and personalized rh-TMS protocols, both in research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Trajkovic
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, the Netherlands; Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, 47521, Italy.
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER, the Netherlands
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, 47521, Italy; Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid, 28015, Spain.
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16
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Pellegrino G, Schuler AL, Cai Z, Marinazzo D, Tecchio F, Ricci L, Tombini M, Di Lazzaro V, Assenza G. Assessing cortical excitability with electroencephalography: A pilot study with EEG-iTBS. Brain Stimul 2024; 17:176-183. [PMID: 38286400 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cortical excitability measures neural reactivity to stimuli, usually delivered via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Excitation/inhibition balance (E/I) is the ongoing equilibrium between excitatory and inhibitory activity of neural circuits. According to some studies, E/I could be estimated in-vivo and non-invasively through the modeling of electroencephalography (EEG) signals and termed 'intrinsic excitability' measures. Several measures have been proposed (phase consistency in the gamma band, sample entropy, exponent of the power spectral density 1/f curve, E/I index extracted from detrend fluctuation analysis, and alpha power). Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of the primary motor cortex (M1) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique allowing controlled and focal enhancement of TMS cortical excitability and E/I of the stimulated hemisphere. OBJECTIVE Investigating to what extent E/I estimates scale with TMS excitability and how they relate to each other. METHODS M1 excitability (TMS) and several E/I estimates extracted from resting state EEG recordings were assessed before and after iTBS in a cohort of healthy subjects. RESULTS Enhancement of TMS M1 excitability, as measured through motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), and phase consistency of the cortex in high gamma band correlated with each other. Other measures of E/I showed some expected results, but no correlation with TMS excitability measures or strong consistency with each other. CONCLUSIONS EEG E/I estimates offer an intriguing opportunity to map cortical excitability non-invasively, with high spatio-temporal resolution and with a stimulus independent approach. While different EEG E/I estimates may reflect the activity of diverse excitatory-inhibitory circuits, spatial phase synchrony in the gamma band is the measure that best captures excitability changes in the primary motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Pellegrino
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Anna-Lisa Schuler
- Lise Meitner Research Group Cognition and Plasticity, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zhengchen Cai
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Daniele Marinazzo
- Department of Data Analysis, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Franca Tecchio
- Laboratory of Electrophysiology for Translational NeuroScience (LET'S), Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (ISTC) - Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ricci
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 200, 00128, Roma, Italy; UOC Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 21, 00128, Roma, Italy
| | - Mario Tombini
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 200, 00128, Roma, Italy; UOC Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 21, 00128, Roma, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Di Lazzaro
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 200, 00128, Roma, Italy; UOC Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 21, 00128, Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Assenza
- UOC Neurologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 200, 00128, Roma, Italy; UOC Neurology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Unit of Neurology, Neurophysiology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Via Alvaro Del Portillo, 21, 00128, Roma, Italy.
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Kopčanová M, Tait L, Donoghue T, Stothart G, Smith L, Flores-Sandoval AA, Davila-Perez P, Buss S, Shafi MM, Pascual-Leone A, Fried PJ, Benwell CSY. Resting-state EEG signatures of Alzheimer's disease are driven by periodic but not aperiodic changes. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106380. [PMID: 38114048 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown potential for identifying early-stage biomarkers of neurocognitive dysfunction associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). A large body of evidence shows that, compared to healthy controls (HC), AD is associated with power increases in lower EEG frequencies (delta and theta) and decreases in higher frequencies (alpha and beta), together with slowing of the peak alpha frequency. However, the pathophysiological processes underlying these changes remain unclear. For instance, recent studies have shown that apparent shifts in EEG power from high to low frequencies can be driven either by frequency specific periodic power changes or rather by non-oscillatory (aperiodic) changes in the underlying 1/f slope of the power spectrum. Hence, to clarify the mechanism(s) underlying the EEG alterations associated with AD, it is necessary to account for both periodic and aperiodic characteristics of the EEG signal. Across two independent datasets, we examined whether resting-state EEG changes linked to AD reflect true oscillatory (periodic) changes, changes in the aperiodic (non-oscillatory) signal, or a combination of both. We found strong evidence that the alterations are purely periodic in nature, with decreases in oscillatory power at alpha and beta frequencies (AD < HC) leading to lower (alpha + beta) / (delta + theta) power ratios in AD. Aperiodic EEG features did not differ between AD and HC. By replicating the findings in two cohorts, we provide robust evidence for purely oscillatory pathophysiology in AD and against aperiodic EEG changes. We therefore clarify the alterations underlying the neural dynamics in AD and emphasize the robustness of oscillatory AD signatures, which may further be used as potential prognostic or interventional targets in future clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kopčanová
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
| | - Luke Tait
- Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, School of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK; Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff, UK
| | - Thomas Donoghue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | | | - Laura Smith
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Aimee Arely Flores-Sandoval
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Davila-Perez
- Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital (HURJC), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain; Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephanie Buss
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mouhsin M Shafi
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Peter J Fried
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher S Y Benwell
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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Chen L, Cichy RM, Kaiser D. Alpha-frequency feedback to early visual cortex orchestrates coherent naturalistic vision. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi2321. [PMID: 37948520 PMCID: PMC10637741 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi2321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
During naturalistic vision, the brain generates coherent percepts by integrating sensory inputs scattered across the visual field. Here, we asked whether this integration process is mediated by rhythmic cortical feedback. In electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments, we experimentally manipulated integrative processing by changing the spatiotemporal coherence of naturalistic videos presented across visual hemifields. Our EEG data revealed that information about incoherent videos is coded in feedforward-related gamma activity while information about coherent videos is coded in feedback-related alpha activity, indicating that integration is indeed mediated by rhythmic activity. Our fMRI data identified scene-selective cortex and human middle temporal complex (hMT) as likely sources of this feedback. Analytically combining our EEG and fMRI data further revealed that feedback-related representations in the alpha band shape the earliest stages of visual processing in cortex. Together, our findings indicate that the construction of coherent visual experiences relies on cortical feedback rhythms that fully traverse the visual hierarchy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiang Chen
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Radoslaw M. Cichy
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Daniel Kaiser
- Mathematical Institute, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Geography, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen 35392, Germany
- Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (CMBB), Philipps-Universität Marburg and Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Marburg 35032, Germany
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Bai Y, Xuan J, Jia S, Ziemann U. TMS of parietal and occipital cortex locked to spontaneous transient large-scale brain states enhances natural oscillations in EEG. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1588-1597. [PMID: 37827359 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fluctuating neuronal network states influence brain responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Our previous studies revealed that transient spontaneous bihemispheric brain states in the EEG, driven by oscillatory power, information flow and regional domination, modify cortical EEG responses to TMS. However, the impact of ongoing fluctuations of large-scale brain network states on TMS-EEG responses has not been explored. OBJECTIVES To determine the effects of large-scale brain network states on TMS-EEG responses. METHODS Resting-state EEG and structural MRI from 24 healthy subjects were recorded to infer large-scale brain states. TMS-EEG was acquired with TMS at state-related targets, identified by the spatial distribution of state activation power from resting-state EEG. TMS-induced oscillations were measured by event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs), and classified with respect to the brain states preceding the TMS pulses. State-locked ERSPs with TMS at specific state-related targets and during state activation were compared with state-unlocked ERSPs. RESULTS Intra-individual comparison of ERSPs by threshold free cluster enhancement (TFCE) revealed that posterior and visual state-locked TMS, respectively, increased beta and alpha responses to TMS of parietal and occipital cortex compared to state-unlocked TMS. Also, the peak frequencies of ERSPs were increased with state-locked TMS. In addition, inter-individual correlation analyses revealed that posterior and visual state-locked TMS-induced oscillation power (ERSP clusters identified by TFCE) positively correlated with state-dependent oscillation power preceding TMS. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous transient large-scale brain network states modify TMS-induced natural oscillations in specific brain regions. This significantly extends our knowledge on the critical importance of instantaneous state on explaining the brain's varying responsiveness to external perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Bai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China; Rehabilitation Medicine Clinical Research Center of Jiangxi Province, 330006, Jiangxi, China; Department of Neurology & Stroke, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Jie Xuan
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shihang Jia
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology & Stroke, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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20
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Matsuo M, Higuchi T, Miyabara H, Higashijima M, Oshikawa T, Nakamura M, Yamaguchi Y, Higashionna T. Assessing attentional task-related electroencephalogram signal variations by using mobile electroencephalogram technology: An experimental study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35801. [PMID: 37861488 PMCID: PMC10589521 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A better understanding of the network responses of cortical activities during rest and cognitive tasks is necessary. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate cerebral activities during attentional tasks by using mobile electroencephalography, identifying the types of attentional components and brain waves. METHODS In this experimental study, we enrolled 12 healthy young adults. The attentional tasks comprised parts A and B of the Trail-Making Test (TMT). Nineteen electroencephalography electrodes were placed over various brain regions. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to examine the differences in power levels between the rest and TMT conditions. RESULTS During TMT part A, the electroencephalography power level of the delta waves was significantly higher in the right frontal, left central, left occipital, left inferior frontal, right mid-temporal, right posterior temporal, and middle parietal areas (P < .05) than those during the resting state; that of the alpha waves was significantly lower in the left posterior temporal area (P = .006); and that of the high gamma waves was significantly lower in the left parietal (P = .05) and left occipital (P = .002) areas. During TMT part B, the electroencephalography power level of the beta waves was significantly higher in the right frontal area (P = .041) than that during the resting state, and that of the low gamma waves was significantly higher in the left frontal pole, right frontal, and right inferior frontal areas (P < .05). During the focused attentional task, the power level of the delta waves increased and that of the alpha waves decreased, and during the alternating attentional task, those of both the beta and gamma waves increased. The delta waves were related to the whole brain, the alpha and high gamma waves to the left posterior lobe, and the beta and low gamma waves to both frontal lobes. CONCLUSION These findings contribute to the basic knowledge necessary to develop new attentional assessment methods for clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moemi Matsuo
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Takashi Higuchi
- Department of Physical Therapy, Osaka University of Human Sciences, Settsu, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroya Miyabara
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Misako Higashijima
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Takeshi Oshikawa
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Nakamura
- Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Yuji Yamaguchi
- Faculty of Health and Social Welfare Sciences, Nishi Kyushu University, Kanzaki, Saga, Japan
| | - Takuya Higashionna
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Tokyo Kasei University, Inariyama, Saitama, Japan
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Tichelman NL, Foerges AL, Elmenhorst EM, Lange D, Hennecke E, Baur DM, Beer S, Kroll T, Neumaier B, Bauer A, Landolt HP, Aeschbach D, Elmenhorst D. A genetic variation in the adenosine A2A receptor gene contributes to variability in oscillatory alpha power in wake and sleep EEG and A 1 adenosine receptor availability in the human brain. Neuroimage 2023; 280:120345. [PMID: 37625500 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The EEG alpha rhythm (∼ 8-13 Hz) is one of the most salient human brain activity rhythms, modulated by the level of attention and vigilance and related to cerebral energy metabolism. Spectral power in the alpha range in wakefulness and sleep strongly varies among individuals based on genetic predisposition. Knowledge about the underlying genes is scarce, yet small studies indicated that the variant rs5751876 of the gene encoding A2A adenosine receptors (ADORA2A) may contribute to the inter-individual variation. The neuromodulator adenosine is directly linked to energy metabolism as product of adenosine tri-phosphate breakdown and acts as a sleep promoting molecule by activating A1 and A2A adenosine receptors. We performed sleep and positron emission tomography studies in 59 healthy carriers of different rs5751876 alleles, and quantified EEG oscillatory alpha power in wakefulness and sleep, as well as A1 adenosine receptor availability with 18F-CPFPX. Oscillatory alpha power was higher in homozygous C-allele carriers (n = 27, 11 females) compared to heterozygous and homozygous carriers of the T-allele (n(C/T) = 23, n(T/T) = 5, 13 females) (F(18,37) = 2.35, p = 0.014, Wilk's Λ = 0.487). Furthermore, a modulatory effect of ADORA2A genotype on A1 adenosine receptor binding potential was found across all considered brain regions (F(18,40) = 2.62, p = 0.006, Wilk's Λ = 0.459), which remained significant for circumscribed occipital region of calcarine fissures after correction for multiple comparisons. In female participants, a correlation between individual differences in oscillatory alpha power and A1 receptor availability was observed. In conclusion, we confirmed that a genetic variant of ADORA2A affects individual alpha power, while a direct modulatory effect via A1 adenosine receptors in females is suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naemi L Tichelman
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany
| | - Anna L Foerges
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Department of Neurophysiology, Institute of Zoology (Bio-II), Worringerweg 3, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia 52074, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Elmenhorst
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Höhe, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia 51147, Germany; Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia 52074, Germany
| | - Denise Lange
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Höhe, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia 51147, Germany
| | - Eva Hennecke
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Höhe, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia 51147, Germany
| | - Diego M Baur
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland and Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Beer
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany
| | - Tina Kroll
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany
| | - Bernd Neumaier
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-5), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany
| | - Andreas Bauer
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Landolt
- University of Zurich, Institute of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich 8057, Switzerland and Sleep & Health Zurich, University Center of Competence, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Aeschbach
- German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Linder Höhe, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia 51147, Germany; Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep Medicine, Suite BL-438, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Institute of Experimental Epileptology and Cognition Research, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud Str. 25, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia 53127, Germany
| | - David Elmenhorst
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-2), Wilhelm-Johnen-Strasse, Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia 52428, Germany; Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Division of Medical Psychology, Venusberg-Campus 1, Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia 53127, Germany; University Hospital Cologne, Multimodal Neuroimaging Group, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kerpener Strasse 62, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia 50937, Germany.
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22
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Wang H, Zheng H, Yang Y, Fong KNK, Long J. Cortical Contributions to Imagined Power Grip Task: An EEG-Triggered TMS Study. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2023; 31:3813-3822. [PMID: 37729574 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2023.3317813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that motor imagery leads to desynchronization in the alpha rhythm within the contralateral primary motor cortex. However, the underlying electrophysiological mechanisms responsible for this desynchronization during motor imagery remain unclear. To examine this question, we conducted an investigation using EEG in combination with noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during index finger abduction (ABD) and power grip imaginations. The TMS was administered employing diverse coil orientations to selectively stimulate corticospinal axons, aiming to target both early and late synaptic inputs to corticospinal neurons. TMS was triggered based on the alpha power levels, categorized in 20th percentile bins, derived from the individual alpha power distribution during the imagined tasks of ABD and power grip. Our analysis revealed negative correlations between alpha power and motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude, as well as positive correlations with MEP latency across all coil orientations for each imagined task. Furthermore, we conducted functional network analysis in the alpha band to explore network connectivity during imagined index finger abduction and power grip tasks. Our findings indicate that network connections were denser in the fronto-parietal area during imagined ABD compared to power grip conditions. Moreover, the functional network properties demonstrated potential for effectively classifying between these two imagined tasks. These results provide functional evidence supporting the hypothesis that alpha oscillations may play a role in suppressing MEP amplitude and latency during imagined power grip. We propose that imagined ABD and power grip tasks may activate different populations and densities of axons at the cortical level.
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23
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Cunningham E, Zimnicki C, Beck DM. The Influence of Prestimulus 1/f-Like versus Alpha-Band Activity on Subjective Awareness of Auditory and Visual Stimuli. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6447-6459. [PMID: 37591739 PMCID: PMC10500988 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0238-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha rhythmic activity is often suggested to exert an inhibitory influence on information processing. However, relatively little is known about how reported alpha-related effects are influenced by a potential confounding element of the neural signal, power-law scaling. In the current study, we systematically examine the effect of accounting for 1/f activity on the relation between prestimulus alpha power and human behavior during both auditory and visual detection (N = 27; 19 female, 6 male, 2 nonbinary). The results suggest that, at least in the scalp-recorded EEG signal, the difference in alpha power often reported before visual hits versus misses is probably best thought of as a combination of narrowband alpha and broadband shifts. That is, changes in broadband parameters (exponent and offset of 1/f-like activity) also appear to be strong predictors of the subsequent awareness of visual stimuli. Neither changes in posterior alpha power nor changes in 1/f-like activity reliably predicted detection of auditory stimuli. These results appear consistent with suggestions that broadband changes in the scalp-recorded EEG signal may account for a portion of prior results linking alpha band dynamics to visuospatial attention and behavior, and suggest that systematic re-examination of existing data may be warranted.Significance Statement Fluctuations in alpha band (∼8-12 Hz) activity systematically follow the allocation of attention across space and sensory modality. Increases in alpha amplitude, which often precede failures to report awareness of threshold visual stimuli, are suggested to exert an inhibitory influence on information processing. However, fluctuations in alpha activity are often confounded with changes in the broadband 1/f-like pattern of the neural signal. When both factors are considered, we find that changes in broadband activity are as effective as narrowband alpha activity as predictors of subsequent visual detection. These results are consistent with emerging understanding of the potential functional importance of broadband changes in the neural signal and may have significant consequences for our understanding of alpha rhythmic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Cunningham
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61820
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Clementine Zimnicki
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61820
| | - Diane M Beck
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois 61820
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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24
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Petrie J, Kowallis LR, Kamhout S, Bills KB, Adams D, Fleming DE, Brown BL, Steffensen SC. Gender-Specific Interactions in a Visual Object Recognition Task in Persons with Opioid Use Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2460. [PMID: 37760905 PMCID: PMC10525754 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioid use disorder (OUD)-associated overdose deaths have reached epidemic proportions worldwide over the past two decades, with death rates for men reported at twice the rate for women. Using a controlled, cross-sectional, age-matched (18-56 y) design to better understand the cognitive neuroscience of OUD, we evaluated the electroencephalographic (EEG) responses of male and female participants with OUD vs. age- and gender-matched non-OUD controls during a simple visual object recognition Go/No-Go task. Overall, women had significantly slower reaction times (RTs) than men. In addition, EEG N200 and P300 event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes for non-OUD controls were significantly larger for men, while their latencies were significantly shorter than for women. However, while N200 and P300 amplitudes were not significantly affected by OUD for either men or women in this task, latencies were also affected differentially in men vs. women with OUD. Accordingly, for both N200 and P300, male OUD participants exhibited longer latencies while female OUD participants exhibited shorter ones than in non-OUD controls. Additionally, robust oscillations were found in all participants during a feedback message associated with performance in the task. Although alpha and beta power during the feedback message were significantly greater for men than women overall, both alpha and beta oscillations exhibited significantly lower power in all participants with OUD. Taken together, these findings suggest important gender by OUD differences in cognitive processing and reflection of performance in this simple visual task.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn Petrie
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
| | - Logan R. Kowallis
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
| | - Sarah Kamhout
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
| | - Kyle B. Bills
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, Provo, UT 84606, USA
| | - Daniel Adams
- PhotoPharmics, Inc., 947 So, 500 E, Suite 100, American Fork, UT 84003, USA
| | - Donovan E. Fleming
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
| | - Bruce L. Brown
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
| | - Scott C. Steffensen
- Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (J.P.); (K.B.B.)
- Department of Neuroscience, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine, Provo, UT 84606, USA
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25
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Macedo-Pascual J, Capilla A, Campo P, Hinojosa JA, Poch C. Selection within working memory impairs perceptual detection. Psychon Bull Rev 2023; 30:1442-1451. [PMID: 36596909 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02238-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There is broad consensus supporting the reciprocal influence of working memory (WM) and attention. Top-down mechanisms operate to cope with either environmental or internal demands. In that sense, it is possible to select an item within the contents of WM to endow it with prioritized access. Although evidence supports that maintaining an item in this privileged state does not rely on sustained visual attention, it is unknown whether selection within WM depends on perceptual attention. To answer this question, we recorded electrophysiological neural activity while participants performed a retro-cue task in which we inserted a detection task in the delay period after retro-cue presentation. Critically, the onset of to-be-detected near threshold stimuli was unpredictable, and thus, sustained perceptual spatial attention was needed to accomplish the detection task from the offset of the retro-cue. At a behavioral level, we found decreased visual detection when a WM representation was retro-cued. At a neural level, alpha oscillatory activity confirmed a spatial shift of attention to the retro-cued representation. We interpret the convergence of neural oscillations and behavioral data to point towards the theory that selection within WM could be accomplished through a perceptual attentional mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Macedo-Pascual
- Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y Logopedia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Capilla
- Departamento de Psicología Biológica y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Campo
- Departamento de Psicología Básica, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Antonio Hinojosa
- Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Procesos Cognitivos y Logopedia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Nebrija en Cognición (CINC), Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain
| | - Claudia Poch
- Centro de Investigación Nebrija en Cognición (CINC), Universidad Nebrija, Madrid, Spain.
- Departamento de Educación, Universidad Nebrija, C. de Sta. Cruz de Marcenado, 27, 28015, Madrid, Spain.
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26
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Wei J, Yao Z, Huang G, Li L, Liang Z, Zhang L, Zhang Z. Frontal-occipital phase synchronization predicts occipital alpha power in perceptual decision-making. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:815-827. [PMID: 37522043 PMCID: PMC10374503 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09862-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies of perceptual decision-making have shown that lower prestimulus alpha power leads to a higher hit rate in visual detection, which is believed to correlate with the top-down control. However, whether frontal-occipital phase synchronization underlying the top-down control could impact the occipital alpha power that directly affects the perceptual performance remains unclear. In this study, we used analyses of the general linear mixed model (GLMM) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to show that the prestimulus alpha power over the occipital area directly affected visual perception. Using both the univariate and multivariate methods, we found that low-frequency (4-30 Hz) frontal-occipital phase synchronization predicted the prestimulus alpha power over the occipital area. Overall, our results suggested that frontal-occipital phase synchronization could predict occipital alpha power that directly affects perceptual decision-making. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-022-09862-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwen Wei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ziqing Yao
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R, China
| | - Gan Huang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Linling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Liang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Institute of Computing and Intelligence, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, China
- Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
- Marshall Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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27
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Huang Z. Temporospatial Nestedness in Consciousness: An Updated Perspective on the Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 25:1074. [PMID: 37510023 PMCID: PMC10378228 DOI: 10.3390/e25071074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Time and space are fundamental elements that permeate the fabric of nature, and their significance in relation to neural activity and consciousness remains a compelling yet unexplored area of research. The Temporospatial Theory of Consciousness (TTC) provides a framework that links time, space, neural activity, and consciousness, shedding light on the intricate relationships among these dimensions. In this review, I revisit the fundamental concepts and mechanisms proposed by the TTC, with a particular focus on the central concept of temporospatial nestedness. I propose an extension of temporospatial nestedness by incorporating the nested relationship between the temporal circuit and functional geometry of the brain. To further unravel the complexities of temporospatial nestedness, future research directions should emphasize the characterization of functional geometry and the temporal circuit across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Investigating the links between these scales will yield a more comprehensive understanding of how spatial organization and temporal dynamics contribute to conscious states. This integrative approach holds the potential to uncover novel insights into the neural basis of consciousness and reshape our understanding of the world-brain dynamic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zirui Huang
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA;
- Center for Consciousness Science, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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28
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Radecke JO, Fiene M, Misselhorn J, Herrmann CS, Engel AK, Wolters CH, Schneider TR. Personalized alpha-tACS targeting left posterior parietal cortex modulates visuo-spatial attention and posterior evoked EEG activity. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:1047-1061. [PMID: 37353071 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2023.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Covert visuo-spatial attention is marked by the anticipatory lateralization of neuronal alpha activity in the posterior parietal cortex. Previous applications of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at the alpha frequency, however, were inconclusive regarding the causal contribution of oscillatory activity during visuo-spatial attention. OBJECTIVE Attentional shifts of behavior and electroencephalography (EEG) after-effects were assessed in a cued visuo-spatial attention paradigm. We hypothesized that parietal alpha-tACS shifts attention relative to the ipsilateral visual hemifield. Furthermore, we assumed that modulations of behavior and neurophysiology are related to individual electric field simulations. METHODS We applied personalized tACS at alpha and gamma frequencies to elucidate the role of oscillatory neuronal activity for visuo-spatial attention. Personalized tACS montages were algorithmically optimized to target individual left and right parietal regions that were defined by an EEG localizer. RESULTS Behavioral performance in the left hemifield was specifically increased by alpha-tACS compared to gamma-tACS targeting the left parietal cortex. This hemisphere-specific effect was observed despite the symmetry of simulated electric fields. In addition, visual event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes showed a reduced lateralization over posterior sites induced by left alpha-tACS. Neuronal sources of this effect were localized in the left premotor cortex. Interestingly, accuracy modulations induced by left parietal alpha-tACS were directly related to electric field magnitudes in the left premotor cortex. CONCLUSION Overall, results corroborate the notion that alpha lateralization plays a causal role in covert visuo-spatial attention and indicate an increased susceptibility of parietal and premotor brain regions of the left dorsal attention network to subtle tACS-neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Ole Radecke
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Marina Fiene
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Misselhorn
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christoph S Herrmann
- Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Hearing4all", Germany
| | - Andreas K Engel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carsten H Wolters
- Institute for Biomagnetism and Biosignalanalysis, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany; Otto Creutzfeldt Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Till R Schneider
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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29
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Bertaccini R, Ippolito G, Tarasi L, Zazio A, Stango A, Bortoletto M, Romei V. Rhythmic TMS as a Feasible Tool to Uncover the Oscillatory Signatures of Audiovisual Integration. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1746. [PMID: 37371840 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multisensory integration is quintessential to adaptive behavior, with clinical populations showing significant impairments in this domain, most notably hallucinatory reports. Interestingly, altered cross-modal interactions have also been reported in healthy individuals when engaged in tasks such as the Sound-Induced Flash-Illusion (SIFI). The temporal dynamics of the SIFI have been recently tied to the speed of occipital alpha rhythms (IAF), with faster oscillations entailing reduced temporal windows within which the illusion is experienced. In this regard, entrainment-based protocols have not yet implemented rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rhTMS) to causally test for this relationship. It thus remains to be evaluated whether rhTMS-induced acoustic and somatosensory sensations may not specifically interfere with the illusion. Here, we addressed this issue by asking 27 volunteers to perform a SIFI paradigm under different Sham and active rhTMS protocols, delivered over the occipital pole at the IAF. Although TMS has been proven to act upon brain tissues excitability, results show that the SIFI occurred for both Sham and active rhTMS, with the illusory rate not being significantly different between baseline and stimulation conditions. This aligns with the discrete sampling hypothesis, for which alpha amplitude modulation, known to reflect changes in cortical excitability, should not account for changes in the illusory rate. Moreover, these findings highlight the viability of rhTMS-based interventions as a means to probe the neuroelectric signatures of illusory and hallucinatory audiovisual experiences, in healthy and neuropsychiatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Bertaccini
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Neurophysiology Lab., IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Luca Tarasi
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Agnese Zazio
- Neurophysiology Lab., IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonietta Stango
- Neurophysiology Lab., IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Marta Bortoletto
- Neurophysiology Lab., IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, 25125 Brescia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, 28015 Madrid, Spain
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30
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O'Hare L, Tarasi L, Asher JM, Hibbard PB, Romei V. Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance in Migraine: From Neurotransmitters to Brain Oscillations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10093. [PMID: 37373244 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Migraine is among the most common and debilitating neurological disorders typically affecting people of working age. It is characterised by a unilateral, pulsating headache often associated with severe pain. Despite the intensive research, there is still little understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine. At the electrophysiological level, altered oscillatory parameters have been reported within the alpha and gamma bands. At the molecular level, altered glutamate and GABA concentrations have been reported. However, there has been little cross-talk between these lines of research. Thus, the relationship between oscillatory activity and neurotransmitter concentrations remains to be empirically traced. Importantly, how these indices link back to altered sensory processing has to be clearly established as yet. Accordingly, pharmacologic treatments have been mostly symptom-based, and yet sometimes proving ineffective in resolving pain or related issues. This review provides an integrative theoretical framework of excitation-inhibition imbalance for the understanding of current evidence and to address outstanding questions concerning the pathophysiology of migraine. We propose the use of computational modelling for the rigorous formulation of testable hypotheses on mechanisms of homeostatic imbalance and for the development of mechanism-based pharmacological treatments and neurostimulation interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise O'Hare
- Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
| | - Luca Tarasi
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Via Rasi e Spinelli, 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Jordi M Asher
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Paul B Hibbard
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro Studi e Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Via Rasi e Spinelli, 176, 47521 Cesena, Italy
- Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, 28015 Madrid, Spain
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31
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Kopčanová M, Tait L, Donoghue T, Stothart G, Smith L, Sandoval AAF, Davila-Perez P, Buss S, Shafi MM, Pascual-Leone A, Fried PJ, Benwell CS. Resting-state EEG signatures of Alzheimer's disease are driven by periodic but not aperiodic changes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.11.544491. [PMID: 37398162 PMCID: PMC10312609 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.11.544491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Electroencephalography (EEG) has shown potential for identifying early-stage biomarkers of neurocognitive dysfunction associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD). A large body of evidence shows that, compared to healthy controls (HC), AD is associated with power increases in lower EEG frequencies (delta and theta) and decreases in higher frequencies (alpha and beta), together with slowing of the peak alpha frequency. However, the pathophysiological processes underlying these changes remain unclear. For instance, recent studies have shown that apparent shifts in EEG power from high to low frequencies can be driven either by frequency specific periodic power changes or rather by non-oscillatory (aperiodic) changes in the underlying 1/f slope of the power spectrum. Hence, to clarify the mechanism(s) underlying the EEG alterations associated with AD, it is necessary to account for both periodic and aperiodic characteristics of the EEG signal. Across two independent datasets, we examined whether resting-state EEG changes linked to AD reflect true oscillatory (periodic) changes, changes in the aperiodic (non-oscillatory) signal, or a combination of both. We found strong evidence that the alterations are purely periodic in nature, with decreases in oscillatory power at alpha and beta frequencies (AD < HC) leading to lower (alpha + beta) / (delta + theta) power ratios in AD. Aperiodic EEG features did not differ between AD and HC. By replicating the findings in two cohorts, we provide robust evidence for purely oscillatory pathophysiology in AD and against aperiodic EEG changes. We therefore clarify the alterations underlying the neural dynamics in AD and emphasise the robustness of oscillatory AD signatures, which may further be used as potential prognostic or interventional targets in future clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kopčanová
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Luke Tait
- Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, School of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff, UK
| | - Thomas Donoghue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | | | - Laura Smith
- School of Psychology, University of Kent, Kent, UK
| | - Aimee Arely Flores Sandoval
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Davila-Perez
- Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital (HURJC), Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (IIS-FJD, UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephanie Buss
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mouhsin M. Shafi
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston MA
| | - Peter J. Fried
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christopher S.Y. Benwell
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
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32
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Trajkovic J, Di Gregorio F, Avenanti A, Thut G, Romei V. Two Oscillatory Correlates of Attention Control in the Alpha-Band with Distinct Consequences on Perceptual Gain and Metacognition. J Neurosci 2023; 43:3548-3556. [PMID: 37019621 PMCID: PMC10184728 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1827-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Behavioral consequences and neural underpinnings of visuospatial attention have long been investigated. Classical studies using the Posner paradigm have found that visual perception systematically benefits from the use of a spatially informative cue pointing to the to-be-attended spatial location, compared with a noninformative cue. Lateralized α amplitude modulation during visuospatial attention shifts has been suggested to account for such perceptual gain. However, recent studies on spontaneous fluctuations of prestimulus α amplitude have challenged this notion. These studies showed that spontaneous fluctuations of prestimulus α amplitude were associated with the subjective appreciation of stimulus occurrence, while objective accuracy was instead best predicted by the frequency of α oscillations, with faster prestimulus α frequency accounting for better perceptual performance. Here, in male and female humans, by using an informative cue in anticipation of lateralized stimulus presentation, we found that the predictive cue not only modulates preparatory α amplitude but also α frequency in a retinotopic manner. Behaviorally, the cue significantly impacted subjective performance measures (metacognitive abilities [meta-d']) and objective performance gain (d'). Importantly, α amplitude directly accounted for confidence levels, with ipsilateral synchronization and contralateral desynchronization coding for high-confidence responses. Crucially, the contralateral α amplitude selectively predicted interindividual differences in metacognitive abilities (meta-d'), thus anticipating decision strategy and not perceptual sensitivity, probably via excitability modulations. Instead, higher perceptual accuracy both within and across participants (d') was associated with faster contralateral α frequency, likely by implementing higher sampling at the attended location. These findings provide critical new insights into the neural mechanisms of attention control and its perceptual consequences.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Prior knowledge serves the anticipation of sensory input to reduce sensory ambiguity. The growing interest in the neural mechanisms governing the integration of sensory input into our internal representations has highlighted a pivotal role of brain oscillations. Here we show that distinct but interacting oscillatory mechanisms are engaged during attentional deployment: one relying on α amplitude modulations and reflecting internal decision processes, associated with subjective perceptual experience and metacognitive abilities; the other relying on α frequency modulations and enabling mechanistic sampling of the sensory input at the attended location to influence objective performance. These insights are crucial for understanding how we reduce sensory ambiguity to maximize the efficiency of our conscious experience, but also in interpreting the mechanisms of atypical perceptual experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Trajkovic
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Cesena, 47521, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Gregorio
- Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale, UOC Medicina riabilitativa e neuroriabilitazione, Bologna, 40124, Italy
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Cesena, 47521, Italy
- Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, 346000, Chile
| | - Gregor Thut
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, MVLS, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QB, United Kingdom
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna, Cesena, 47521, Italy
- Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, 00179, Italy
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Liu B, Nobre AC, van Ede F. Microsaccades transiently lateralise EEG alpha activity. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 224:102433. [PMID: 36907349 PMCID: PMC10074474 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
The lateralisation of 8-12 Hz alpha activity is a canonical signature of human spatial cognition that is typically studied under strict fixation requirements. Yet, even during attempted fixation, the brain produces small involuntary eye movements known as microsaccades. Here we report how spontaneous microsaccades - made in the absence of incentives to look elsewhere - can themselves drive transient lateralisation of EEG alpha power according to microsaccade direction. This transient lateralisation of posterior alpha power occurs similarly following start and return microsaccades and is, at least for start microsaccades, driven by increased alpha power ipsilateral to microsaccade direction. This reveals new links between spontaneous microsaccades and human electrophysiological brain activity. It highlights how microsaccades are an important factor to consider in studies relating alpha activity - including spontaneous fluctuations in alpha activity - to spatial cognition, such as studies on visual attention, anticipation, and working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiwei Liu
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Anna C Nobre
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom; Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Freek van Ede
- Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
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34
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Clements GM, Gyurkovics M, Low KA, Kramer AF, Beck DM, Fabiani M, Gratton G. Dynamics of alpha suppression index both modality specific and general attention processes. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119956. [PMID: 36863549 PMCID: PMC10037550 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
EEG alpha power varies under many circumstances requiring visual attention. However, mounting evidence indicates that alpha may not only serve visual processing, but also the processing of stimuli presented in other sensory modalities, including hearing. We previously showed that alpha dynamics during an auditory task vary as a function of competition from the visual modality (Clements et al., 2022) suggesting that alpha may be engaged in multimodal processing. Here we assessed the impact of allocating attention to the visual or auditory modality on alpha dynamics at parietal and occipital electrodes, during the preparatory period of a cued-conflict task. In this task, bimodal precues indicated the modality (vision, hearing) relevant to a subsequent reaction stimulus, allowing us to assess alpha during modality-specific preparation and while switching between modalities. Alpha suppression following the precue occurred in all conditions, indicating that it may reflect general preparatory mechanisms. However, we observed a switch effect when preparing to attend to the auditory modality, in which greater alpha suppression was elicited when switching to the auditory modality compared to repeating. No switch effect was evident when preparing to attend to visual information (although robust suppression did occur in both conditions). In addition, waning alpha suppression preceded error trials, irrespective of sensory modality. These findings indicate that alpha can be used to monitor the level of preparatory attention to process both visual and auditory information, and support the emerging view that alpha band activity may index a general attention control mechanism used across modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Clements
- Psychology Department, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA.
| | - Mate Gyurkovics
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; School of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Kathy A Low
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA
| | - Arthur F Kramer
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; Center for Cognitive & Brain Health, Northeastern University, USA
| | - Diane M Beck
- Psychology Department, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA
| | - Monica Fabiani
- Psychology Department, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA
| | - Gabriele Gratton
- Psychology Department, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign, USA.
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35
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Di Gregorio F, Petrone V, Casanova E, Lullini G, Romei V, Piperno R, La Porta F. Hierarchical psychophysiological pathways subtend perceptual asymmetries in Neglect. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119942. [PMID: 36796529 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke patients with left Hemispatial Neglect (LHN) show deficits in perceiving left contralesional stimuli with biased visuospatial perception towards the right hemifield. However, very little is known about the functional organization of the visuospatial perceptual neural network and how this can account for the profound reorganization of space representation in LHN. In the present work, we aimed at (1) identifying EEG measures that discriminate LHN patients against controls and (2) devise a causative neurophysiological model between the discriminative EEG measures. To these aims, EEG was recorded during exposure to lateralized visual stimuli which allowed for pre-and post-stimulus activity investigation across three groups: LHN patients, lesioned controls, and healthy individuals. Moreover, all participants performed a standard behavioral test assessing the perceptual asymmetry index in detecting lateralized stimuli. The between-groups discriminative EEG patterns were entered into a Structural Equation Model for the identification of causative hierarchical associations (i.e., pathways) between EEG measures and the perceptual asymmetry index. The model identified two pathways. A first pathway showed that the combined contribution of pre-stimulus frontoparietal connectivity and individual-alpha-frequency predicts post-stimulus processing, as measured by visual-evoked N100, which, in turn, predicts the perceptual asymmetry index. A second pathway directly links the inter-hemispheric distribution of alpha-amplitude with the perceptual asymmetry index. The two pathways can collectively explain 83.1% of the variance in the perceptual asymmetry index. Using causative modeling, the present study identified how psychophysiological correlates of visuospatial perception are organized and predict the degree of behavioral asymmetry in LHN patients and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Di Gregorio
- UOC Medicina Riabilitativa e Neuroriabilitazione, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale, Bologna 40133, Italy
| | - Valeria Petrone
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emanuela Casanova
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giada Lullini
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Romei
- Dipartimento di Psicologia, Centro Studi E Ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena 47521, Italy
| | - Roberto Piperno
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio La Porta
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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36
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Lin SHN, Lien YR, Shibata K, Sasaki Y, Watanabe T, Lin CP, Chang LH. The phase of plasticity-induced neurochemical changes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation are different from visual perceptual learning. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5720. [PMID: 37029245 PMCID: PMC10082079 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32985-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) modulates plasticity. rTMS has often been used to change neural networks underlying learning, often under the assumption that the mechanism of rTMS-induced plasticity should be highly similar to that associated with learning. The presence of visual perceptual learning (VPL) reveals the plasticity of early visual systems, which is formed through multiple phases. Hence, we tested how high-frequency (HF) rTMS and VPL modulate the effect of visual plasticity by investigating neurometabolic changes in early visual areas. We employed an excitatory-to-inhibitory (E/I) ratio, which refers to glutamate concentration divided by GABA+ concentration, as an index of the degree of plasticity. We compared neurotransmitter concentration changes after applying HF rTMS to the visual cortex with those after training in a visual task, in otherwise identical procedures. Both the time courses of the E/I ratios and neurotransmitter contributions to the E/I ratio significantly differed between HF rTMS and training conditions. The peak E/I ratio occurred 3.5 h after HF rTMS with decreased GABA+, whereas the peak E/I ratio occurred 0.5 h after visual training with increased glutamate. Furthermore, HF rTMS temporally decreased the thresholds for detecting phosphene and perceiving low-contrast stimuli, indicating increased visual plasticity. These results suggest that plasticity in early visual areas induced by HF rTMS is not as involved in the early phase of development of VPL that occurs during and immediately after training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Hua N Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yun R Lien
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Yuka Sasaki
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistics, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, USA
| | - Takeo Watanabe
- Department of Cognitive, Linguistics, and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Providence, USA
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hung Chang
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
- Institute of Philosophy of Mind and Cognition, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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37
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Köhler MHA, Weisz N. Cochlear Theta Activity Oscillates in Phase Opposition during Interaural Attention. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:588-602. [PMID: 36626349 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
It is widely established that sensory perception is a rhythmic process as opposed to a continuous one. In the context of auditory perception, this effect is only established on a cortical and behavioral level. Yet, the unique architecture of the auditory sensory system allows its primary sensory cortex to modulate the processes of its sensory receptors at the cochlear level. Previously, we could demonstrate the existence of a genuine cochlear theta (∼6-Hz) rhythm that is modulated in amplitude by intermodal selective attention. As the study's paradigm was not suited to assess attentional effects on the oscillatory phase of cochlear activity, the question of whether attention can also affect the temporal organization of the cochlea's ongoing activity remained open. The present study utilizes an interaural attention paradigm to investigate ongoing otoacoustic activity during a stimulus-free cue-target interval and an omission period of the auditory target in humans. We were able to replicate the existence of the cochlear theta rhythm. Importantly, we found significant phase opposition between the two ears and attention conditions of anticipatory as well as cochlear oscillatory activity during target presentation. Yet, the amplitude was unaffected by interaural attention. These results are the first to demonstrate that intermodal and interaural attention deploy different aspects of excitation and inhibition at the first level of auditory processing. Whereas intermodal attention modulates the level of cochlear activity, interaural attention modulates the timing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nathan Weisz
- University of Salzburg.,Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
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38
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Poorganji M, Zomorrodi R, Zrenner C, Bansal A, Hawco C, Hill AT, Hadas I, Rajji TK, Chen R, Zrenner B, Voineskos D, Blumberger DM, Daskalakis ZJ. Pre-Stimulus Power but Not Phase Predicts Prefrontal Cortical Excitability in TMS-EEG. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:220. [PMID: 36831986 PMCID: PMC9953459 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The cortical response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has notable inter-trial variability. One source of this variability can be the influence of the phase and power of pre-stimulus neuronal oscillations on single-trial TMS responses. Here, we investigate the effect of brain oscillatory activity on TMS response in 49 distinct healthy participants (64 datasets) who had received single-pulse TMS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Across all frequency bands of theta (4-7 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (14-30 Hz), there was no significant effect of pre-TMS phase on single-trial cortical evoked activity. After high-powered oscillations, whether followed by a TMS pulse or not, the subsequent activity was larger than after low-powered oscillations. We further defined a measure, corrected_effect, to enable us to investigate brain responses to the TMS pulse disentangled from the power of ongoing (spontaneous) oscillations. The corrected_effect was significantly different from zero (meaningful added effect of TMS) only in theta and beta bands. Our results suggest that brain state prior to stimulation might play some role in shaping the subsequent TMS-EEG response. Specifically, our findings indicate that the power of ongoing oscillatory activity, but not phase, can influence brain responses to TMS. Aligning the TMS pulse with specific power thresholds of an EEG signal might therefore reduce variability in neurophysiological measurements and also has the potential to facilitate more robust therapeutic effects of stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Poorganji
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Reza Zomorrodi
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
| | - Christoph Zrenner
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Aiyush Bansal
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
| | - Colin Hawco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Aron T. Hill
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia
| | - Itay Hadas
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA
| | - Tarek K. Rajji
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Toronto Dementia Research Alliance, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Robert Chen
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Brigitte Zrenner
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Daphne Voineskos
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Daniel M. Blumberger
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Zafiris J. Daskalakis
- Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M6J 1H4, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603, USA
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39
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Chen X, Sui L. Alpha band neurofeedback training based on a portable device improves working memory performance of young people. Biomed Signal Process Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2022.104308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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40
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Phylactou P, Traikapi A, Konstantinou N. One in four people fail to perceive phosphenes during early visual cortex transcranial magnetic stimulation. Brain Stimul 2023; 16:23-24. [PMID: 36572208 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2022.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Phivos Phylactou
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus.
| | - Artemis Traikapi
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
| | - Nikos Konstantinou
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
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Jannati A, Oberman LM, Rotenberg A, Pascual-Leone A. Assessing the mechanisms of brain plasticity by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:191-208. [PMID: 36198876 PMCID: PMC9700722 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique for focal brain stimulation based on electromagnetic induction where a fluctuating magnetic field induces a small intracranial electric current in the brain. For more than 35 years, TMS has shown promise in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders in adults. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the TMS technique with a focus on repetitive TMS (rTMS) protocols, particularly theta-burst stimulation (TBS), and relevant rTMS-derived metrics of brain plasticity. We then discuss the TMS-EEG technique, the use of neuronavigation in TMS, the neural substrate of TBS measures of plasticity, the inter- and intraindividual variability of those measures, effects of age and genetic factors on TBS aftereffects, and then summarize alterations of TMS-TBS measures of plasticity in major neurological and psychiatric disorders including autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, depression, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes. Finally, we discuss the translational studies of TMS-TBS measures of plasticity and their therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Jannati
- Neuromodulation Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Lindsay M Oberman
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- Neuromodulation Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Division of Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alvaro Pascual-Leone
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA, USA.
- Guttmann Brain Health Institute, Institut Guttmann, Barcelona, Spain.
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Prestimulus oscillatory brain activity interacts with evoked recurrent processing to facilitate conscious visual perception. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22126. [PMID: 36550141 PMCID: PMC9780344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25720-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether prestimulus alpha-band oscillatory activity and stimulus-elicited recurrent processing interact to facilitate conscious visual perception. Participants tried to perceive a visual stimulus that was perceptually masked through object substitution masking (OSM). We showed that attenuated prestimulus alpha power was associated with greater negative-polarity stimulus-evoked ERP activity that resembled the visual awareness negativity (VAN), previously argued to reflect recurrent processing related to conscious perception. This effect, however, was not associated with better perception. Instead, when prestimulus alpha power was elevated, a preferred prestimulus alpha phase was associated with a greater VAN-like negativity, which was then associated with better cue perception. Cue perception was worse when prestimulus alpha power was elevated but the stimulus occurred at a nonoptimal prestimulus alpha phase and the VAN-like negativity was low. Our findings suggest that prestimulus alpha activity at a specific phase enables temporally selective recurrent processing that facilitates conscious perception in OSM.
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Attentional capture is modulated by stimulus saliency in visual search as evidenced by event-related potentials and alpha oscillations. Atten Percept Psychophys 2022; 85:685-704. [PMID: 36525202 PMCID: PMC10066093 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-022-02629-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThis study used a typical four-item search display to investigate top-down control over attentional capture in an additional singleton paradigm. By manipulating target and distractor color and shape, stimulus saliency relative to the remaining items was systematically varied. One group of participants discriminated the side of a dot within a salient orange target (ST group) presented with green circles (fillers) and a green diamond distractor. A second group discriminated the side of the dot within a green diamond target presented with green circle fillers and a salient orange square distractor (SD group). Results showed faster reaction times and a shorter latency of the N2pc component in the event-related potential (ERP) to the more salient targets in the ST group. Both salient and less salient distractors elicited Pd components of equal amplitude. Behaviorally, no task interference was observed with the less salient distractor, indicating the prevention of attentional capture. However, reaction times were slower in the presence of the salient distractor, which conflicts with the hypothesis that the Pd reflects proactive distractor suppression. Contrary to recent proposals that elicitation of the Pd requires competitive interactions with a target, we found a greater Pd amplitude when the distractor was presented alone. Alpha-band amplitudes decreased during target processing (event-related desynchronization), but no significant amplitude enhancement was observed at electrodes contralateral to distractors regardless of their saliency. The results demonstrate independent neural mechanisms for target and distractor processing and support the view that top-down guidance of attention can be offset (counteracted) by relative stimulus saliency.
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Tarasi L, di Pellegrino G, Romei V. Are you an empiricist or a believer? Neural signatures of predictive strategies in humans. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 219:102367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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daSilva Morgan K, Schumacher J, Collerton D, Colloby S, Elder GJ, Olsen K, Ffytche DH, Taylor JP. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Visual Hallucinations in Charles Bonnet Syndrome: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial. Ophthalmology 2022; 129:1368-1379. [PMID: 35817197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2022.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential therapeutic benefits and tolerability of inhibitory transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the remediation of visual hallucinations in Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS). DESIGN Randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled crossover trial. PARTICIPANTS Sixteen individuals diagnosed with CBS secondary to visual impairment caused by eye disease experiencing recurrent visual hallucinations. INTERVENTION All participants received 4 consecutive days of active and placebo cathodal stimulation (current density: 0.29 mA/cm2) to the visual cortex (Oz) over 2 defined treatment weeks, separated by a 4-week washout period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ratings of visual hallucination frequency and duration following active and placebo stimulation, accounting for treatment order, using a 2 × 2 repeated-measures model. Secondary outcomes included impact ratings of visual hallucinations and electrophysiological measures. RESULTS When compared with placebo treatment, active inhibitory stimulation of visual cortex resulted in a significant reduction in the frequency of visual hallucinations measured by the North East Visual Hallucinations Interview, with a moderate-to-large effect size. Impact measures of visual hallucinations improved in both placebo and active conditions, suggesting support and education for CBS may have therapeutic benefits. Participants who demonstrated greater occipital excitability on electroencephalography assessment at the start of treatment were more likely to report a positive treatment response. Stimulation was found to be tolerable in all participants, with no significant adverse effects reported, including no deterioration in preexisting visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that inhibitory tDCS of visual cortex may reduce the frequency of visual hallucinations in people with CBS, particularly individuals who demonstrate greater occipital excitability prior to stimulation. tDCS may offer a feasible intervention option for CBS with no significant side effects, warranting larger-scale clinical trials to further characterize its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina daSilva Morgan
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Collerton
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Sean Colloby
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Greg J Elder
- Northumbria Sleep Research, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Olsen
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic H Ffytche
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - John-Paul Taylor
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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Stephani T, Nierula B, Villringer A, Eippert F, Nikulin VV. Cortical response variability is driven by local excitability changes with somatotopic organization. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119687. [PMID: 36257491 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Identical sensory stimuli can lead to different neural responses depending on the instantaneous brain state. Specifically, neural excitability in sensory areas may shape the brain´s response already from earliest cortical processing onwards. However, whether these dynamics affect a given sensory domain as a whole or occur on a spatially local level is largely unknown. We studied this in the somatosensory domain of 38 human participants with EEG, presenting stimuli to the median and tibial nerves alternatingly, and testing the co-variation of initial cortical responses in hand and foot areas, as well as their relation to pre-stimulus oscillatory states. We found that amplitude fluctuations of initial cortical responses to hand and foot stimulation - the N20 and P40 components of the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP), respectively - were not related, indicating local excitability changes in primary sensory regions. In addition, effects of pre-stimulus alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (18-23 Hz) band amplitude on hand-related responses showed a robust somatotopic organization, thus further strengthening the notion of local excitability fluctuations. However, for foot-related responses, the spatial specificity of pre-stimulus effects was less consistent across frequency bands, with beta appearing to be more foot-specific than alpha. Connectivity analyses in source space suggested this to be due to a somatosensory alpha rhythm that is primarily driven by activity in hand regions while beta frequencies may operate in a more hand-region-independent manner. Altogether, our findings suggest spatially distinct excitability dynamics within the primary somatosensory cortex, yet with the caveat that frequency-specific processes in one sub-region may not readily generalize to other sub-regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Stephani
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; International Max Planck Research School NeuroCom, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - B Nierula
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - A Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - F Eippert
- Max Planck Research Group Pain Perception, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - V V Nikulin
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Neurophysics Group, Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Berlin, Germany.
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Forschack N, Gundlach C, Hillyard S, Müller MM. Dynamics of attentional allocation to targets and distractors during visual search. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119759. [PMID: 36417950 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is much debate about the neural mechanisms that achieve suppression of salient distracting stimuli during visual search. The proactive suppression hypothesis asserts that if exposed to the same distractors repeatedly, these stimuli are actively inhibited before attention can be shifted to them. A contrasting proposal holds that attention is initially captured by salient distractors but is subsequently withdrawn. By concurrently measuring stimulus-driven and intrinsic brain potentials in 36 healthy human participants, we obtained converging evidence against early proactive suppression of distracting input. Salient distractors triggered negative event-related potentials (N1pc/N2pc), enhanced the steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) relative to non-salient (filler) stimuli, and suppressed contralateral relative to ipsilateral alpha-band amplitudes-three electrophysiological measure associated with the allocation of attention-even though these distractors did not interfere with behavioral responses to the search targets. Furthermore, these measures indicated that both stimulus-driven and goal-driven allocations of attention occurred in conjunction with one another, with the goal-driven effect enhancing and prolonging the stimulus-driven effect. These results provide a new perspective on the traditional dichotomy between bottom-up and top-down attentional allocation. Control experiments revealed that continuous marking of the locations at which the search display items were presented resulted in a dramatic and unexpected conversion of the target-elicited N2pc into a shorter-latency N1pc in association with faster reaction times to the targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman Forschack
- Wilhelm Wundt Department of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
| | | | - Steven Hillyard
- University of California, San Diego, USA; Leibniz Institute of Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthias M Müller
- Wilhelm Wundt Department of Psychology, University of Leipzig, Germany
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Pinggal E, Dockree PM, O'Connell RG, Bellgrove MA, Andrillon T. Pharmacological Manipulations of Physiological Arousal and Sleep-Like Slow Waves Modulate Sustained Attention. J Neurosci 2022; 42:8113-8124. [PMID: 36109167 PMCID: PMC9637000 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0836-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Sustained attention describes our ability to keep a constant focus on a given task. This ability is modulated by our physiological state of arousal. Although lapses of sustained attention have been linked with dysregulations of arousal, the underlying physiological mechanisms remain unclear. An emerging body of work proposes that the intrusion during wakefulness of sleep-like slow waves, a marker of the transition toward sleep, could mechanistically account for attentional lapses. This study aimed to expose, via pharmacological manipulations of the monoamine system, the relationship between the occurrence of sleep-like slow waves and the behavioral consequences of sustained attention failures. In a double-blind, randomized-control trial, 32 healthy human male participants received methylphenidate, atomoxetine, citalopram or placebo during four separate experimental sessions. During each session, electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure neural activity while participants completed a visual task requiring sustained attention. Methylphenidate, which increases wake-promoting dopamine and noradrenaline across cortical and subcortical areas, improved behavioral performance whereas atomoxetine, which increases dopamine and noradrenaline predominantly over frontal cortices, led to more impulsive responses. Additionally, citalopram, which increases sleep-promoting serotonin, led to more missed trials. Based on EEG recording, citalopram was also associated with an increase in sleep-like slow waves. Importantly, compared with a classical marker of arousal such as α power, only slow waves differentially predicted both misses and faster responses in a region-specific fashion. These results suggest that a decrease in arousal can lead to local sleep intrusions during wakefulness which could be mechanistically linked to impulsivity and sluggishness.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We investigated whether the modulation of attention and arousal could not only share the same neuromodulatory pathways but also rely on similar neuronal mechanisms; for example, the intrusion of sleep-like activity within wakefulness. To do so, we pharmacologically manipulated noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin in a four-arm, randomized, placebo-controlled trial and examined the consequences on behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) indices of attention and arousal. We showed that sleep-like slow waves can predict opposite behavioral signatures: impulsivity and sluggishness. Slow waves may be a candidate mechanism for the occurrence of attentional lapses since the relationship between slow-wave occurrence and performance is region-specific and the consequences of these local sleep intrusions are in line with the cognitive functions carried by the underlying brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Pinggal
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Paul M Dockree
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Redmond G O'Connell
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin D02 PN40, Ireland
| | - Mark A Bellgrove
- School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Thomas Andrillon
- School of Philosophical, Historical, and International Studies, Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia
- Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris 75013, France
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Köster M, Gruber T. Rhythms of human attention and memory: An embedded process perspective. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:905837. [PMID: 36277046 PMCID: PMC9579292 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.905837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It remains a dogma in cognitive neuroscience to separate human attention and memory into distinct modules and processes. Here we propose that brain rhythms reflect the embedded nature of these processes in the human brain, as evident from their shared neural signatures: gamma oscillations (30–90 Hz) reflect sensory information processing and activated neural representations (memory items). The theta rhythm (3–8 Hz) is a pacemaker of explicit control processes (central executive), structuring neural information processing, bit by bit, as reflected in the theta-gamma code. By representing memory items in a sequential and time-compressed manner the theta-gamma code is hypothesized to solve key problems of neural computation: (1) attentional sampling (integrating and segregating information processing), (2) mnemonic updating (implementing Hebbian learning), and (3) predictive coding (advancing information processing ahead of the real time to guide behavior). In this framework, reduced alpha oscillations (8–14 Hz) reflect activated semantic networks, involved in both explicit and implicit mnemonic processes. Linking recent theoretical accounts and empirical insights on neural rhythms to the embedded-process model advances our understanding of the integrated nature of attention and memory – as the bedrock of human cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Köster
- Faculty of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Moritz Köster,
| | - Thomas Gruber
- Institute of Psychology, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
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50
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Liu X, Balestrieri E, Melcher D. Evidence for a theta-band behavioural oscillation in rapid face detection. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:5033-5046. [PMID: 35943892 PMCID: PMC9805000 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Theories of rhythmic perception propose that perceptual sampling operates in a periodic way, with alternating moments of high and low responsiveness to sensory inputs. This rhythmic sampling is linked to neural oscillations and thought to produce fluctuations in behavioural outcomes. Previous studies have revealed theta- and alpha-band behavioural oscillations in low-level visual tasks and object categorization. However, less is known about fluctuations in face perception, for which the human brain has developed a highly specialized network. To investigate this, we ran an online study (N = 179) incorporating the dense sampling technique with a dual-target rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm. In each trial, a stream of object images was presented at 30 Hz and participants were tasked with detecting whether or not there was a face image in the sequence. On some trials, one or two (identical) face images (the target) were embedded in each stream. On dual-target trials, the targets were separated by an interstimulus interval (ISI) that varied between 0 to 633 ms. The task was to indicate the presence of the target and its gender if present. Performance varied as a function of ISI, with a significant behavioural oscillation in the face detection task at 7.5 Hz, driven mainly by the male target faces. This finding is consistent with a high theta-band-based fluctuation in visual processing. Such fluctuations might reflect rhythmic attentional sampling or, alternatively, feedback loops involved in updating top-down predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Liu
- New York University Abu DhabiAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
| | - Elio Balestrieri
- Institute of PsychologyUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany,Otto‐Creutzfeldt‐Center for Cognitive and Behavioral NeuroscienceUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - David Melcher
- New York University Abu DhabiAbu DhabiUnited Arab Emirates
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