Frequency and laminar profile of feature-specific visual activity revealed by interleaved EEG-fMRI

The role of cortical oscillations in brain function has been extensively debated, resulting in a variety of theoretical frameworks. Using interleaved simultaneous electroencephalography-functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the layer-specific relationship between oscillatory activity and visual processing. We could demonstrate that γ band activity positively correlates with feature-specific signals in superficial layers, but we were able to report a deep layer contribution as well. In addition, we could demonstrate that α band power not only correlates negatively with the feature-unspecific BOLD signal but is related to feature-specific BOLD as well. Lower frequency α was predominantly related to feature-unspecific superficial layer BOLD, while upper frequency α was found to be related to feature-specific BOLD in superficial and deep layers. We conclude that the role of α band oscillations extends beyond widespread inhibition and might be involved in active stimulus processing on the level of visual features.