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Increased gamma band activity for lateral interactions in humans
Alon Shapira1, Anna Sterkin2, Moshe Fried2
1Nano Photonics Center, the Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Plos One
|December 15, 2017
Summary
Gamma-band oscillations, linked to visual perception, were investigated during collinear facilitation. This study demonstrates their role in processing visual stimuli, free from eye movement artifacts, suggesting their utility in perceptual research.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Lateral interactions in the primary visual cortex facilitate contrast sensitivity, crucial for object perception.
- Gamma-band oscillations in the electroencephalogram (ERP) power spectrum are associated with object representation, but their origin, potentially linked to saccadic eye movements, is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gamma-band activity during collinear facilitation, specifically excluding saccade-related confounds.
- To clarify the role of gamma-band oscillations in basic visual perception processes.
Main Methods:
- Employed single-trial spectral analysis of ERP data from occipital channels.
- Focused analysis on a time window with near-complete saccadic suppression.
- Excluded trials containing saccades to prevent artifacts.
Main Results:
- Observed amplified gamma-band activity (150-350 ms) during facilitatory collinear interactions with low-contrast stimuli.
- This amplification is presumed to result from excitatory processes, challenging the notion of gamma-band activity solely reflecting inhibitory balance.
Conclusions:
- Gamma-band oscillations play a significant role in the neuronal encoding of visual perception.
- Gamma-band ERP spectrum analysis is a reliable tool for studying basic perception in various populations.
