Spontaneous neuronal oscillations in the human insula are hierarchically organized traveling waves

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.76702
• Publication Date: 2022-05-26T14:01:41Z
• Authors: Anup Das; John Myers; Raissa Mathura; Ben Shofty; Brian A Metzger; Kelly Bijanki; Chengyuan Wu; Joshua Jacobs; Sameer A Sheth
• Keywords: Oscillation (cell signaling)

The insula plays a fundamental role in wide range of adaptive human behaviors, but its electrophysiological dynamics are poorly understood. Here, we used intracranial electroencephalographic recordings to investigate the properties and hierarchical organization spontaneous neuronal oscillations within insula. We analyzed directly found that rhythms theta beta frequency widespread spontaneously present. These largely organized along anterior-posterior (AP) axis Both left right showed anterior--to-posterior decreasing gradients for power band. also posterior-to-anterior gradient an anterior-to-posterior In addition measuring these oscillations, examined phase signals across simultaneous recording channels bands traveling waves. strength waves each was positively correlated with amplitude oscillation. However, were uncoupled other terms amplitude, which suggested insular operate independently. Our findings provide new insights into spatiotemporal insula, which, given rich connectivity cortical regions, indicates have important intrainsular interinsular communications.