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Published on: March 30, 2016
Differential conditioning of alpha amplitude: a fresh look at an old phenomenon
1School of Behavioural Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. jiharris@csu.edu.au
Objective:
To determine the latency and development of conditional suppression of alpha amplitude and its relationship to behaviour, alpha amplitude (8-13 Hz) was measured in a differential conditioning procedure.
Methods:
The CS+/- were tones and the US was a photic checkerboard. Alpha amplitude, CNV, RT and verbal responses were recorded from 12 participants.
Results:
The CS+/- difference in acquisition was greatest from 250 ms before the US. It was greatest from the trial where RT declined and participants could report the CS+/US relationship. There was an amplitude increase in lower band activity 230 ms after the US. This looked like a VEP but was produced by phase-locked activity starting before the US.
Conclusions:
Predicting the US led to cortical priming. Amplitude change in acquisition is congruent with CNV, RT and verbal performance.
Significance:
Prediction, expectancy and motor preparation are reflected in changes in alpha activity. These results provide converging evidence for the functional role of 8-10 Hz activity. They complement the emerging picture of the role of alpha activity in cognition, indicating that it extends to the acquisition of predictive knowledge.
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