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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
A Method for Tracking the Time Evolution of Steady-State Evoked Potentials
Published on: May 25, 2019
Non-zero mean and asymmetry of neuronal oscillations have different implications for evoked responses
Vadim V Nikulin1, Klaus Linkenkaer-Hansen, Guido Nolte
1Neurophysics Group, Department of Neurology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - University Medicine Berlin, D-12200 Berlin, Germany. vadim.nikulin@charite.de
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to show analytically and with simulations that it is the non-zero mean of neuronal oscillations, and not an amplitude asymmetry of peaks and troughs, that is a prerequisite for the generation of evoked responses through a mechanism of amplitude modulation of oscillations. Secondly, we detail the rationale and implementation of the "baseline-shift index" (BSI) for deducing whether empirical oscillations have non-zero mean. Finally, we illustrate with empirical data why the "amplitude fluctuation asymmetry" (AFA) index should be used with caution in research aimed at explaining variability in evoked responses through a mechanism of amplitude modulation of ongoing oscillations.
Methods:
An analytical approach, simulations and empirical MEG data were used to compare the specificity of BSI and AFA index to differentiate between a non-zero mean and a non-sinusoidal shape of neuronal oscillations.
Results:
Both the BSI and the AFA index were sensitive to the presence of non-zero mean in neuronal oscillations. The AFA index, however, was also sensitive to the shape of oscillations even when they had a zero mean.
Conclusions:
Our findings indicate that it is the non-zero mean of neuronal oscillations, and not an amplitude asymmetry of peaks and troughs, that is a prerequisite for the generation of evoked responses through a mechanism of amplitude modulation of oscillations.
Significance:
A clear distinction should be made between the shape and non-zero mean properties of neuronal oscillations. This is because only the latter contributes to evoked responses, whereas the former does not.
