Individual Alpha Frequency Determines the Impact of Bottom-Up Drive on Visual Processing

• DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgab032
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26T20:34:58Z
• Authors: Stephanie Nelli; Aayushi Malpani; Max Boonjindasup; John T Serences
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology); Oscillation (cell signaling); Alpha (finance)

Endogenous alpha oscillations propagate from higher-order to early visual cortical regions, consistent with the observed modulation of these by top-down factors. However, bottom-up manipulations also influence oscillations, and little is known about how processes interact impact behavior. To address this, participants performed a detection task while viewing stimulus flickering at multiple band frequencies. Bottom-up drive participant's endogenous frequency either impaired or enhanced perception, depending on frequency, but not amplitude, their oscillation. Fast perceptual performance in faster slower displayed performance. This interaction was reflected oscillatory dynamics fast more rapid slow when receiving high-frequency drive. central tendency may suggest that driving circuits frequencies are away peak improves perception through dynamical interactions As such, studies causally manipulate neural via exogenous stimulation should carefully consider interacting effects