Attention changes the peak latency of the visual gamma-band oscillation of the EEG

To investigate the physiological role of visual gamma-band oscillation (GBO), we calculated the event-related dynamics of the EEG power-spectrum for paired visual stimuli (S1 and S2) with or without attention in 12 subjects. The visual stimuli elicited transient increases in the GBO power (around 40 Hz), which were maximal over the parietal area. The peak GBO increase appeared around 300 ms after stimulus onset, but its latency was shorter after S1 and longer after S2 under the 'with attention' than under the 'without attention' condition. This transient increase in the visual GBO is thought to reflect attention and to reset the activity of the visual system in preparation for a new stimulus.