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Recording Spatially Restricted Oscillations in the Hippocampus of Behaving Mice
Published on: July 1, 2018
Attentional modulation of alpha oscillations in macaque inferotemporal cortex
Jue Mo1, Charles E Schroeder, Mingzhou Ding
1J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
Summary
Alpha oscillations in the inferotemporal cortex (IT) increase with visual attention, unlike in other visual areas. This heightened alpha activity, contrary to prior beliefs, correlates with increased neural firing and improved visual processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Alpha frequency oscillations (8-12 Hz) are observed in macaque visual cortex (V2, V4, IT).
- Alpha's role in V2/V4 suggests attention-related suppression.
- Alpha reactivity in IT appears inconsistent with a suppression role.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the functional role of alpha oscillations in the inferotemporal cortex (IT) during selective attention.
- To resolve conflicting observations regarding alpha activity in IT.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of laminar profiles of local field potentials and multiunit activities.
- Macaque monkeys performed an intermodal selective attention task (visual vs. auditory).
Main Results:
- Increased ongoing alpha power in IT when attending to visual input before stimulus onset.
- Increased multiunit firing concurrent with heightened alpha activity.
- Facilitation of visual stimulus processing associated with increased alpha activity.
Conclusions:
- Ongoing alpha oscillations in IT have a distinct functional role compared to occipital cortex.
- IT alpha activity may contribute to representing task-relevant information.
- Alpha oscillations in IT might not primarily function as inhibitory signals.
