Entrainment of Neuronal Oscillations as a Mechanism of Attentional Selection

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1154735
• Publication Date: 2008-04-03T20:33:35Z
• Authors: Peter Lakatos; George Karmos; Ashesh D. Mehta; Istvan Ulbert; Charles E. Schroeder
• Keywords: Entrainment (biomusicology); Premovement neuronal activity

Whereas gamma-band neuronal oscillations clearly appear integral to visual attention, the role of lower-frequency is still being debated. Mounting evidence indicates that a key functional property these rhythmic shifting excitability in local ensembles. Here, we show when attended stimuli are stream, delta-band primary cortex entrain rhythm resulting increased response gain for task-relevant events and decreased reaction times. Because hierarchical cross-frequency coupling, delta phase also determines momentary power higher-frequency activity. These instrumental functions low-frequency support conceptual framework integrates numerous earlier findings.