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Concurrent EEG and Functional MRI Recording and Integration Analysis for Dynamic Cortical Activity Imaging
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Medial Prefrontal-Medial Temporal Theta Phase Coupling in Dynamic Spatial Imagery
Raphael Kaplan1,2, Daniel Bush1, James A Bisby1
1University College London.
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|October 26, 2016
Summary
Brain theta rhythms coordinate imagined scene exploration. Medial prefrontal cortex theta oscillations synchronize with posterior medial temporal lobe/retrosplenial cortex theta during dynamic mental imagery, aiding spatial working memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Brain Oscillations
Background:
- Hippocampal-medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) interactions are crucial for mental simulation.
- mPFC theta rhythms are linked to introspection and working memory.
- Theta rhythms coordinate brain regions during viewpoint shifts in imagery.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate theta oscillatory power and phase-locking in the mPFC during a spatial working memory task.
- Examine the role of mPFC theta synchronization with other brain regions during different types of mental imagery.
Main Methods:
- Used whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) to record brain activity.
- Analyzed theta (4-7 Hz) oscillatory power and phase coupling during postencoding delay periods.
- Compared brain activity during object maintenance, static imagery, and dynamic imagery.
Main Results:
- Increased theta power in the mPFC during the delay period compared to baseline.
- Significantly higher theta phase coupling between mPFC and posterior medial temporal lobe/retrosplenial cortex (RSc) during dynamic imagery.
- No significant theta phase coupling with other brain regions.
Conclusions:
- mPFC theta power increases during spatial working memory maintenance.
- Oscillatory coupling between mPFC and medial temporal lobe/RSc theta rhythms is critical for dynamic mental exploration of imagined scenes.
