Phase-amplitude coupling and interlaminar synchrony are correlated in human neocortex
Ryan J McGinn1, Taufik A Valiante2
1Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Canada, M5T 2S8, Edward S. Rogers Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and.
Summary
Human brain oscillations, including theta to high-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and interlaminar synchrony, are linked. Theta oscillations coordinate communication between cortical layers and potentially across brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Neuronal population activity manifests as rhythmic oscillations in the local field potential.
- Oscillatory patterns like phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) and inter-regional synchrony are hypothesized to underlie local and long-range cortical computations, respectively.
- A functional relationship between these oscillatory patterns, potentially binding cortical assemblies, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between theta to high-gamma PAC and interlaminar synchrony in human temporal neocortex.
- To provide direct evidence for the functional link between local and long-range cortical oscillatory patterns.
- To explore the role of theta oscillations in coordinating cortical communication.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of human temporal neocortical slices maintained in vitro.
- Measurement of theta to high-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) within cortical laminae.
- Quantification of interlaminar synchrony using phase-dependent power correlations and phase coherence at theta frequencies.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the existence of both theta to high-gamma PAC and interlaminar synchrony in human temporal neocortex.
- Showed a significant correlation between the strength of interlaminar synchrony and the magnitude of intralaminar PAC.
- Identified theta oscillations as a potential mediator linking interlaminar communication and local laminar excitability.
Conclusions:
- The strength of local oscillatory patterns (intralaminar PAC) is directly related to the strength of long-range communication metrics (interlaminar synchrony) in human temporal neocortex.
- Theta oscillations play a crucial role in coordinating communication between superficial and deep cortical layers.
- Findings support the hypothesis that theta oscillations coordinate inter-areal excitability in the human brain.
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