Cortical traveling waves in time and space: Physics, physiology, and psychology

Widefield recordings acquired with different resolutions and in diverse species have revealed that cortical activity often propagates as waves of excitation that are structured in both time and space. This realization allows neuroscientists to draw on a rigorous theoretical framework developed in wave physics to inform the physiological mechanisms and psychological implications of cortical wave dynamics. Here, we review core concepts from wave physics and consider their relation to studies of cortical wave physiology and psychology. We examine how cortical waves emerge naturally in the cortex, how they facilitate coordinated, hierarchical, and counterstream dynamics, and how they encode perceptual and behavioral signals. The ubiquity of cortical waves underscores their fundamental role in cortical function. A comprehensive understanding of their significance requires integrating perspectives from physics, physiology, and psychology.