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Multiunit and oscillatory activity in macaque V1 is modulated by blinking in a context-dependent way
Surpiya Murali1, Beshoy Agayby2, Michael C Schmid2,3
1Department of Psychology (III), University of Würzburg, Röntgenring 10, Würzburg 97070, Germany.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|December 19, 2025
Summary
Eye blinks alter brain activity in visual areas, but this modulation depends on the context, not just the blink itself. This suggests movement and sensory processing are context-dependent for active sensing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
- Motor Control
Background:
- Eye blinks are known to modulate neural activity in visual processing areas.
- The precise mechanisms and contextual dependencies of this modulation remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the neural modulation caused by eye blinks is determined by the motor command of the blink.
- To explore the influence of different behavioral contexts (video viewing vs. rest) on blink-related neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of blink-related neural activity using laminar resolution in V1 of macaque monkeys.
- Recording local field potential (LFP) and multiunit activity (MUA) during two conditions: free video viewing and rest.
Main Results:
- Blinks modulated LFP power in theta, beta, and gamma bands with a granular/infragranular focus during video viewing.
- Multiunit activity (MUA) decreased around blink execution during video viewing but increased during rest.
- Blink-related LFP power changes differed significantly in amplitude and latency between the two conditions.
Conclusions:
- The modulation of V1 activity by eye blinks is context-dependent, not solely determined by motor execution.
- These findings highlight context-dependent interactions between motor commands and sensory processing.
- Such interactions may be crucial for predictive coding and active sensing frameworks.
