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Detecting Pre-Stimulus Source-Level Effects on Object Perception with Magnetoencephalography
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Enhanced alpha-oscillations in visual cortex during anticipation of self-generated visual stimulation
Max-Philipp Stenner1, Markus Bauer, Patrick Haggard
1University College London.
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|May 8, 2014
Summary
Motor actions reduce perceived sensory intensity. Our study links enhanced alpha-oscillations in visual cortex to this sensory attenuation, suggesting a neurophysiological basis for action-induced anticipation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Sensory attenuation, the reduction in perceived stimulus intensity due to self-generated actions, is traditionally explained by forward models.
- These models predict anticipatory modulation of sensory processing, but direct neurophysiological evidence linked to perceptual data is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sensory attenuation.
- To link anticipatory neural activity with perceptual reports of reduced sensory intensity during self-generated stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Combined a psychophysical contrast discrimination task with Magnetoencephalography (MEG).
- Utilized source-level time-frequency analysis to examine neural oscillations in visual cortex.
- Investigated prestimulus activity in relation to self-controlled visual stimuli.
Main Results:
- Found enhanced alpha-oscillation amplitude in visual cortex preceding self-generated visual stimuli.
- Observed that this prestimulus alpha enhancement correlated with psychophysically reported reduced stimulus contrast.
- Demonstrated a direct link between anticipatory neural activity and sensory attenuation.
Conclusions:
- Alpha-oscillations in visual cortex preceding self-generated stimuli are a neurophysiological signature of motor-induced sensory anticipation.
- These alpha-oscillations likely mediate the phenomenon of sensory attenuation.
- Results support theories of alpha-oscillations serving inhibitory functions in sensory gating and top-down control.
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