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Transcript
International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 Ž2000. 95]124
Brain oscillations in perception and memory
a
E. Başar a,b,U , C. Başar-Eroglu
˘ c , S. Karakaş b,d, M. Schurmann
¨
a
Institute of Physiology, Medical Uni¨ ersity Lubeck,
23538, Lubeck,
Germany
¨
¨
b ¨
TUBITAK Brain Dynamics Research Unit, Ankara, Turkey
c
Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, 28334, Bremen, Germany
d
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Hacettepe Uni¨ ersity, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey
Received 23 March 1999; accepted 23 March 1999
Abstract
Gamma oscillations, now widely regarded as functionally relevant signals of the brain, illustrate that the concept of
event-related oscillations bridges the gap between single neurons and neural assemblies. Taking this concept further,
we review experiments showing that oscillatory phenomena such as alpha, theta, or delta responses to events are
strongly interwoven with sensory and cognitive functions. This review argues that selecti¨ ely distributed delta, theta,
alpha, and gamma oscillatory systems act as resonant communication networks through large populations of neurons.
Thus, oscillatory processes might play a major role in relation with memory and integrati¨ e functions. A new
‘neurons-brain’ doctrine is also proposed to extend the neuron doctrine of Sherrington. Q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.
All rights reserved.
Keywords: Memory; Brain oscillations Ždelta, theta, alpha, gamma.; Evoked potentials; Event-related potentials; Sensory processing; Cognitive processing; Distributed networks
1. Introduction
1.1. Aim of the report
‘During the ‘Decade of the Brain’ brain science
is coming to terms with its ultimate problem:
understanding the mechanisms by which the im-
mense number of neurons in the human brain
interact to produce the higher cognitive functions’
ŽFreeman, 1998.. As one of the candidate mechanisms, oscillatory neuroelectric acti¨ ity has recently
attracted much interest. In particular, this holds
for synchronous gamma activity in spatially distributed cells. In this framework, the present review has several aims, namely:
U
Corresponding author. Tel.: q49-451-500-4170; fax: q49451-500-4171.
E-mail address: [email protected] ŽE. Başar.
1. To survey functionally-related findings in oscillatory brain acti¨ ity in the frequency range
0167-8760r00r$ - see front matter Q 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 1 6 7 - 8 7 6 0 Ž 9 9 . 0 0 0 4 7 - 1
96
2.
3.
4.
5.
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
between 0.5 and 100 Hz, i.e. by surpassing
approaches centered on the gamma band. A
particular aim is to demonstrate that the alpha band } so far mostly neglected } deserves more interest.
To emphasize that oscillatory networks are
selectively distributed and that oscillatory activities are related to sensory as well as cognitive processes. This integrative view might
help to reconsider several contro¨ ersies.
To propose a new approach to a fundamental
problem } searching for general communication properties in the brain. In particular, it
is suggested that complex stimuli elicit superimposed alpha, gamma, theta responses Žto
be combined like letters in an alphabet, Başar,
1998..
To discuss a possible role of selecti¨ ely distributed oscillatory systems in working memory
processes. Support for this view will be derived from recent results about distributed
memory networks. It will be argued that sensory perception Ževen of simple stimuli. is
closely interwoven with cognition and memory. This makes us expect that the theoretical issues covered here might be addressed in
future ERP-based experiments.
To propose Žaccording to what Mountcastle
Ž1992. called a ‘paradigm change in neuroscience’. a ‘neurons-brain doctrine’ extending
the classical view of Sherrington.
1.2. E¨ ent-related oscillations
The functional significance of oscillatory neural
activity begins to emerge from the analysis of
responses to well-defined events Ž e¨ ent-related oscillations, phase- or time-locked to a sensory or
cogniti¨ e e¨ ent .. Among other approaches, it is
possible to investigate such oscillations by frequency domain analysis of event-related potential
ŽERP., basing on the following hypothesis ŽBaşar,
1980, 1992.:
1. The EEG consists of the activity of an ensemble of generators producing rhythmic activity
in several frequency ranges. These oscillators
are active usually in a random way. However,
by application of sensory stimulation these
generators are coupled and act together in a
coherent way. This synchronization and enhancement of EEG activity gives rise to
‘evoked’ or ‘induced rhythms’.
2. Evoked potentials representing ensembles of
neural population responses were considered
as a result of transition from a disordered to
an ordered state.
3. The compound ERP manifests a superposition of evoked oscillations in the EEG frequencies ranging from delta to gamma Ž‘natural frequencies of the brain’ such as alpha:
8]13 Hz, theta: 3.5]7 Hz, delta: 0.5]3.5 Hz
and gamma: 30]70 Hz..
Time-locked responses of specific frequency after stimulation can be identified by computing the
amplitude frequency characteristics ŽAFCs. of the
averaged ERPs ŽBaşar, 1980; Roschke
et al., 1995..
¨
The AFC describes the brain system’s transfer
properties, e.g. excitability and susceptibility, by
revealing resonant as well as salient frequencies.
It therefore does not simply represent the spectral power density characterizing the transient
signal in the frequency domain but the predicted
behavior of the system Žbrain. if sinusoidally modulated input signals of defined frequencies were
applied as stimulation. As reflecting the amplification in a given frequency channel, the AFC is
expressed in relative units. Hence, the presence
of a peak in the AFC reveals the resonant frequencies interpreted as the most preferred oscillations of the system during responding to stimulus. To calculate the AFCs, auditory ERPs were
first averaged and then transformed to the frequency domain by means of one sided Fourier
Transform ŽLaplace transform, see Solodovnikov,
1960; Başar, 1980. as shown in Fig. 1.
The AFCs serve also to define filter limits for
response-adaptive digital filtering of the averaged
ERPs. The filtered curves obtained in this way
show the time course of oscillatory activity in a
certain frequency range ŽBaşar, 1980..
More recently, a new technique called ‘wavelet
analysis’ has been applied to ERP analysis.
Wavelet analysis confirms the results obtained by
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
97
Fig. 1. Combined time and frequency domain analysis of EEG-EP epochs. FFT, Fast Fourier Transform; AFC, amplitude frequency
characteristics Žfrom Schurmann
and Başar, 1994..
¨
using the AFCs and digital filtering. In addition,
wavelet analysis can be used for signal retrie¨ al
and selection among a large number of sweeps
recorded in a given physiological or psychological
experiment ŽDemiralp et al., 1999..
As will become clear below, the combination of
98
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
these methods yields results leading to the conclusion that alpha-, theta-, delta-, and gammaresponses are functionally relevant brain responses-related to psychophysiological functions, in
short, ‘real signals’ ŽBaşar, 1998, 1999.. We intend
to show that these oscillations have multifold
functions and may act as uni¨ ersal operators or
codes of brain activity. Besides frequency and site
of oscillations, several other parameters are dependent on specific functions, namely enhancement, time locking, phase locking, delay and duration of oscillations Žfor methods to assess these
parameters, see e.g. Kolev and Yordanova, 1997..
1.3. Selecti¨ ely distributed oscillatory systems in the
brain } a general concept
The idea of ‘distributed system’ plays an important role in the statements or theories of all
scientists working on general aspects of the integrative brain activity. In Mountcastle’s words
‘ prominent among them is the concept that the
brain is a complex of widely and reciprocally interconnected systems and that the dynamic interplay of
neural acti¨ ity within and between these systems is
the ¨ ery essence of brain function’. Again coming
back to those statements the large entities of the
brain are themselves composed of replicated
modules. The linked sets of modules of the various brain entities are defined as a ‘distributed
system’.
Freeman Ž1975. has named the theory of using
dynamics of neural masses as ‘the new Sherrington
doctrine’, in which neural populations play the
significant functional role. John et al. Ž1988. described a ‘hyperneuron’ consisting, again, of neural populations as a functional important entity in
the brain Žfor details see below..
In order to facilitate the comprehension of
signal transfer of the brain and in order to avoid
several controversies related to localisation and
functional correlates of brain oscillatory responses the concept of selecti¨ ely distributed oscillatory
systems in the brain has been introduced: by means
of the application of combined analysis procedure
of EEG and EPs we recently emphasized the
functional importance of oscillatory responses Žin
the framework of brain dynamics. related to association and ‘long distance’ communication in the
brain. According to a great amount of results
alpha networks, theta networks and gamma networks Ž or systems . are selectively distributed in
the brain Žfor reviews see Başar et al., 1992;
1997a,b; Başar, 1998..
The synchronous occurrence of such responses
in multiple brain areas hints at the existence of
distributed oscillatory systems and parallel processing in the brain. Such diffuse networks would
facilitate the information transfer in the brain
according to the general theory of resonance
phenomena.
The term ‘diffuse’ was used in order to describe
the distributed nature of the frequency response
in the brain. It is not yet not possible to define
connections between the elements of these systems neuron by neuron tracking, or to define the
directions of signal flow and exact boundaries of
neuronal populations involved. However, this description is necessary to emphasize that oscillatory phenomena in these frequency ranges are
not unique features of the observed single subsystem of the brain, and that their simultaneous
existence in distant brain structures may be a
relevant and important point in the description of
an integrative neurophysiology.
Further details about the possible functional
significance of such distributed oscillatory systems
will be given below.
2. Gamma oscillations
As for e¨ ent-related gamma oscillations, the most
prominent examples nowadays are oscillatory responses in the frequency range of 40]60 Hz occurring in synchrony within a functional column
in the cat visual cortex ŽEckhorn et al., 1988;
Gray and Singer, 1989.. This has been suggested
as a possible mechanism of feature linking in the
visual cortex, being related to the ‘binding problem’. This theory, however, does not fully explain
the ‘ubiquity of gamma rhythms’ ŽDesmedt and
Tomberg, 1994, Schurmann
et al., 1997a.. It this
¨
respect, it may be helpful to consider further
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
studies of gamma oscillations, partly going back
to Lord Adrian Ž1942.. While the interpretations
are heterogeneous, the empirical findings may be
roughly classified into sensory Žor obligatory. vs.
cogniti¨ e gamma responses.
2.1. Sensory function
Some examples of sensory functions follow
here:
1.
2.
Auditory and ¨ isual gamma responses are selectively distributed in different cortical and
subcortical structures ŽFig. 2.. They are
phase-locked stable components of EPs in
cortex, hippocampus, brain stem, and cerebellum of cats occurring 100 ms after the
sensory stimulation with a second window of
approximately 300 ms latency ŽBaşar, 1980,
1999; Başar et al., 1997b.
A phase-locked gamma oscillation is also a
component of the human auditory and ¨ isual
Fig. 2. Responses to auditory stimuli in single cats, filtered in
gamma band Ž30]70 Hz. filtered auditory responses of single
cats in GEA, RF, HI and CE. The gamma band filtered grand
averages of responses are shown in the bottom row Žfrom
Başar et al., 1995..
99
response ŽFig. 3; Başar et al., 1987.. A new
strategy by application of six cognitive
paradigms showed that the 40-Hz response in
the 100-ms after stimulations has a sensory
origin, being independent of cognitive tasks
ŽKarakaş and Başar, 1999. The auditory MEG
gamma response is similar to human EEG
responses with a close relationship to the
middle latency auditory evoked response
ŽPantev et al., 1991..
3. An early phase locked 40-Hz response was
recorded in visceral ganglion of Helix pomatia
using electrical stimulation ŽSchutt
¨ and Başar,
1992.. In arthropods also, light-induced
gamma responses have been observed
ŽKirschfeld, 1992.
2.2. Cogniti¨ e processes
Several investigations dealt with cogniti¨ e
processes related to gamma responses, some of
them based on measuring the P300 wave. This
positive deflection typically occurs in human ERPs
in response to ‘oddball’ stimuli or omitted stimuli
interspersed as ‘targets’ into a series of standard
stimuli:
1. A P300-40 Hz component has been recorded
in the cat hippocampus, reticular formation
and cortex Žwith omitted auditory stimuli as
targets.. This response occurs approximately
300 ms after stimulation, being superimposed
with a slow wave of 4 Hz ŽFig. 4; Başar-Eroglu
˘
and Başar, 1991.. Preliminary data indicate
similar P300-40 Hz responses to oddball stimuli in humans ŽBaşar et al., 1993; Yordanova et al., 1997.. However, a suppression
of 40-Hz activity after target stimuli has also
been reported ŽFell et al., 1997..
2. Attention-related 40-Hz responses were
observed in humans, especially over the
frontal and central areas ŽTiitinen et al., 1993..
3. During visual perception of re¨ ersible or ambiguous figures a significant increase Žalmost
50%. in human frontal gamma EEG activity
has been recorded ŽBaşar-Eroglu
˘ et al., 1996..
4. The spatiotemporal magnetic field pattern of
100
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
Fig. 3. ŽA. Ten randomly selected single EEG-EP trials filtered with digital filters of 30]50 Hz. U , average of these trials.
Stimulation is applied at time ‘0 ms’. ŽB. Ten single EEG-EP trials, digitally filtered Ž30]50 Hz. and selected for high enhancement,
i.e. high amplitude increase after stimulus Žin comparison with prestimulus EEG amplitude.. UU , average of these trials. ŽC.
Selectively averaged evoked potentials ŽEPs.; averages of 40 single trials each, with different selection of trials Žhuman vertex
recordings.. Ža. EP averaged from randomly selected single trials Ž‘conventional’ averaged EP.. Žb. Same EP, filtered 30]50 Hz. Žc.
EP averaged from single trials selected for specific criteria Ž marked amplitude enhancement in the 40-Hz range after stimulation.. Žd.
Same EP, filtered with band limits 30]50 Hz. Že. EP averaged from single trials with low amplitude enhancement. Žf. Same EP,
filtered with band limits 30]50 Hz. Žg. Identical with Že. } average of low enhancement trials. Žh. Result of applying a 30]50-Hz
stop-band filter Žwhich theoretically rejects the 40-Hz response. to the conventional averaged EP of Ža.. Note the similarity of Žh.,
obtained with stop band filtering, and Žg., obtained with low enhancement trials ŽModified from Başar et al., 1987..
gamma band acti¨ ity has been interpreted as a
coherent rostrocaudal ‘sweep of activity’
ŽLlinas and Ribary, 1992..
2.3. Selecti¨ ely distributed gamma system
This wide spectrum of experimental data is in
accordance with a hypothetical ‘selecti¨ ely distributed parallel processing gamma system’ with
multiple functions. Rather than being highly specific correlates of a single process, gamma oscillations might be important building blocks of elec-
trical activity of the brain. Being related to multiple functions, they may: Ži. occur in different and
distant structures; Žii. act in parallel; and Žiii.
show phase locking, time locking or weak time
locking. Notably, simple electrical stimulation of
isolated invertebrate ganglia evokes gamma oscillations Žin the absence of perceptual binding or
higher cognitive processes. ŽSchutt
¨ and Başar,
1992.. In conclusion, gamma oscillations possibly
represent a universal code of CNS communication ŽBaşar, 1998, 1999.. This view might also
serve as a synthesis overcoming controversies in
earlier reports.
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
101
3. Alpha oscillations
3.1. Functions of 10-Hz oscillations
As to the alpha range, a ‘renaissance of functional alphas’ is under way. The interpretation of
alpha rhythms as an ‘idling rhythm’ rests on
observations such as blocking of ‘spontaneous’
occipital alpha oscillations upon opening of the
eyes or blocking of central mu rhythm upon
movement onset ŽKuhlman, 1978. Ž‘event-related
desynchronization’ ŽPfurtscheller et al., 1997.. A
reverse effect Žincrease of mu rhythms during
visual information processing, ‘event-related synchronization’ ŽKoshino and Niedermeyer, 1975;
Pfurtscheller et al., 1997. has also been reported.
However, co-existing with these well-known
phenomena and in relationship with Adrian’s
‘evoked alpha’ ŽAdrian, 1942., several forms of
‘functional alpha’ have been observed during sensory and cognitive processes ŽBaşar et al.,
1997a,b,c; Başar, 1998, 1999; Schurmann
et al.,
¨
1997b.:
Fig. 4. Event-related potentials of lower pyramidal layer ŽCA3.
of hippocampus Žone cat.. Top: single ERP sweeps Žepochs.
filtered at 30]50 Hz. Middle: averaged ERP filtered at 30]50
Hz. Bottom: unfiltered ERP, average of 50 artefact-free
epochs. ŽModified from Başar-Eroglu
˘ and Başar, 1991..
1. In the auditory and visual pathways in cats,
adequate stimuli elicit alpha responses
Ždamped 10-Hz oscillations of approx. 300
ms., which are visible without filtering ŽBaşar,
1980, 1998, 1999. Žfor confirmation by wavelet
analysis, see Başar Ž1998.. Human alpha responses similar to those in the cat brain were
also described ŽBaşar et al., 1997a,b,c.. Examples of such function-related alpha responses
are given in the next paragraph. Multiple
sclerosis patients with opticus neuritis show
reduced alpha responses to visual stimuli, in
consistence with a sensory function to the
alpha response ŽBaşar, 1998..
2. Thalamo-cortical circuits are not unique in
generating alpha responses. Hippocampal and
reticular 10-Hz responses are relatively
modality-independent, hinting at possible
supra-modal functions.
3. Cognitive targets significantly influence the
alpha responses in P300: Using an oddball
paradigm, prolonged event-related alpha os-
102
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
cillations up to 400 ms were observed ŽBaşar,
1998, 1999..
4. Memory-related e¨ ent-related alpha oscillations
can be observed in well-trained subjects one
second before an expected target. New results ŽKlimesch et al., 1994; Başar et al.,
1997a,b. demonstrate that alpha activity is
strongly correlated with working memory and
probably with long term memory engrams.
5. Alpha activity is not unique to mammals:
spontaneous and electrically evoked 10-Hz
oscillations in isolated ganglia of Helix pomatia and Aplysia ŽBullock and Başar, 1988;
Schutt
¨ and Başar, 1992; Başar, 1999. serve as
an example.
In parallel to the gamma band, these results
are consistent with a hypothetical selecti¨ ely distributed alpha system. Event-related alpha oscillations may facilitate association mechanisms in the
following way: When a sensory or cognitive input
elicits ‘10 Hz wave-trains’ in several brain structures then it can be expected that this general
activity can serve as a resonating signal.
The co-existence of evoked alpha oscillations
with alpha blocking and event-related desynchronization ŽPfurtscheller et al., 1997. hints at multiple processes being reflected in alpha oscillations.
An example of such co-existence are earlier measurements where high amplitude spontaneous alpha activity coincided with alpha blocking while
low amplitude alpha preceded EPs of high amplitude ŽBaşar, 1998..
Again, parallel obser¨ ations at the cellular le¨ el
are noteworthy: Evoked oscillations in the 8]10Hz frequency range in visual cortex neurons upon
visual stimulation suggest a relation to scalp-recordable alpha responses ŽSilva et al., 1991; Dinse
et al., 1997.. The sum of these observations
permits a tentative interpretation of alpha as a
functional and communicati¨ e signal with multiple
functions. This interpretation of 10-Hz oscillations
Žat the cellular level, or in populations. might be
comparable to the putative universal role of
gamma responses in brain signaling.
For a more complete descriptions of functionrelated alpha the reader is referred to ŽBaşar et
al., 1997c.; some examples follow in the next
paragraph.
3.2. E¨ idence of function-related alpha response with
some examples
3.2.1. The alpha response in cross-modality
measurements
As an example of the function-related alpha
responses mentioned in the previous paragraph,
we will deal with topographic differences of frequency components. In particular, we will summarize results of measurements from auditory
and visual areas. As auditory and visual stimuli
were used, the condition were either ‘adequate
stimulation’ Žauditory cortex recording of auditory
EP; visual cortex recording of visual EP. or ‘inadequate stimulation Žvisual cortex recording of auditory EP and vice versa.. Such experiments are
referred to as ‘cross-modality’ measurements Žsee
Hartline, 1987; Başar and Schurmann,
1994.
¨
Panel A in Fig. 5 shows single-trial EPs filtered
in the 8]15-Hz range. The left column refers to
auditory stimulation with visual cortex recordings;
the right column to visual stimulation with visual
cortex recordings; i.e. inadequate vs. adequate
stimulation. Responses to visual } adequate }
stimulation show amplitude increase and timeand phase-locking. A distinct response is also
seen in the filtered averaged EP in panel B. The
unfiltered averaged EP also shows an alpha-like
waveform. In contrast, responses to auditory stimulation } inadequate } neither show amplitude increase or phase locking, nor can we see an
alpha response in the filtered average. There is a
type of response in the unfiltered EP in panel C,
but this is not an alpha response.
Fig. 6 gives another example of time-locking
and amplitude increase in single trial responses to
adequate stimulation: Single sweeps, filtered in
the 8]15-Hz range } visual stimuli, visual cortex
recordings } are superimposed. These superimposed single sweeps filtered in the 8]15-Hz range
Župper curves. are very similar in waveform to the
wide-band filtered curves Žlower curves.. It is thus
not only by filtering that the alpha response can
be illustrated in these sweeps. Alpha responses
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
103
Fig. 5. EPs recorded from the cat brain by using intracranial electrodes. Ža. Single EEG-EP trials, filtered 8]15 Hz. Žb. Averaged
EP, filtered 8]15 Hz. Žc. Averaged EP, wide-band filtered. Left column, inadequate stimulation Žvisual cortex recording with
auditory stimulation.. Right column, adequate stimulation Žvisual cortex recording with visual stimulation. Žfrom Schurmann
et al.
¨
Ž1997b...
are even visible in the broad-band filtered sweeps
which are alpha-type responses. By contrast, Fig.
7 refers to a circumstance under which alpha
responses cannot be recorded, i.e. to a measurement with inadequate stimulation. Note the lack
of time-locking and the lack of amplitude increase.
Thus, alpha responses were recorded with adequate stimuli in primary sensory areas. Adequate
vs. inadequate differences were larger for alpha
responses than for theta responses, demonstrat-
ing the functional relevance of frequency components. As an aside, in ‘cross-modality’ recordings
from the auditory cortex Žgyrus ectosylvianus anterior. of the cat brain we observed a complementary effect: large alpha enhancements were present in auditory EP recordings. In visual EP
recordings from the auditory cortex such alpha
enhancements were not observed.
Critics might argue that the filtering procedure
gives rise to this type of enhancements. However,
even the averaged visual EP without filtering Žsee
104
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
Fig. 7. Superimposed single trial EEG-EP epochs recorded
from the cat brain with inadequate stimulation Žauditory cortex recordings with visual stimulus.. Upper panel, filter 8]15
Hz. Lower panel, wide-band filter Ž1]45 Hz. Žfrom Schurmann
¨
et al. Ž1997b...
Fig. 6. Superimposed single trial EEG-EP epochs recorded
from the cat brain with adequate stimulation Žvisual cortex
recordings with visual stimulus.. Upper panel, filter 8]15 Hz.
Lower panel, wide-band filter Ž1]45 Hz. wfrom Schurmann
et
¨
al. Ž1996. In: Başar et al., 1997ax.
Fig. 6, above. shows a 10-Hz oscillatory waveform.
For an extended discussion of such criticism see
ŽBaşar, 1998..
We learned from these experiments that such
damped alpha activity is not present in all parts of
the brain or elicited by all types of stimuli: it is
only by the combination of EP frequency analysis,
of adequate stimuli and of appropriate electrode
positions that such activities can be recorded. The
results underline the following properties of the
neural tissues under study: In the 10-Hz frequency range Žfilter limits: 8]14 Hz. we recorded
large enhancements of single visual EPs in the
visual cortex Žalso reflected in the amplitude frequency characteristics in the shape of a dominant
12-Hz peak.. In the language of systems theory
significant Žsharp. peaks in the amplitude charac-
teristics of the transfer function characterize resonant behavior of the studied system Žsee chapter
7 in Başar, 1999.. One may also express this
behavior as tuning of the ‘device’, or one might
express the resonant frequency channels as the
‘natural frequencies’ of the system. In our case we
may say that neural tissues in the occipital cortex
are tuned to respond with 12 Hz and 1]5 Hz to
adequate Žvisual. stimuli and with 1]5 Hz to
inadequate Žauditory. stimuli. The response magnitudes to both visual and auditory stimulation
are similar in the low 1]5-Hz frequency range. It
is important to note that the 10]12-Hz response
peak has almost disappeared in the case of inadequate Žauditory. stimuli, which, in turn, did not
evoke alpha enhancements in single EEG-EP
epochs of Fig. 7.
3.2.2. Alpha responses in human EEG and MEG in
cross-modality experiments
It is useful to compare the cat data to EEG and
MEG recordings in humans. EEG measurements
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
were performed in N s 11 subjects ŽBaşar and
Schurmann,
1994.. Fig. 8 shows filtered curves
¨
computed from grand averages of occipital
recordings ŽO1.. The upper half of the figure
shows theta responses whereas the lower half
shows alpha responses. The alpha response to
auditory stimulation Žinadequate for the visual
cortex, occipitally located. is on the left, where
the response is of low amplitude. The response to
visual stimulation, however, is on the right, with
a distinct alpha response. Note that the adequate]inadequate difference is less for the theta
response. The hypothesis as given previously is
thus supported: as observed in cats it is mainly
the alpha response which is dependent on whether
or not a stimulus is adequate. A correlation
between the alpha response and primary sensory
processing is thus plausible both for human and
for cat EEG-EP data.
MEG measurements were performed both with
a BTI 7 channel MEG system ŽSaermark et al.,
105
1992. and with a PHILIPS 19-channel MEG system ŽBaşar et al., 1992; Schurmann
et al., 1992a,b..
¨
The methods used were similar to those used for
EEG recordings where possible. We used auditory stimuli Ž2000 Hz; 80 dB sound pressure level.
and selected sensor positions close to the auditory
cortex and close to the visual cortex.
The data shown in Fig. 9 were obtained with
the seven-channel system where the different positions required two experimental sessions. Panel
A shows temporal recordings, Panel B occipital
recordings, in both cases with auditory stimuli.
The underlying cortical areas being the primary
auditory cortex and the primary visual cortex,
auditory stimuli are regarded as adequate in the
first case ŽFig. 9, panel A. and as inadequate in
the second case ŽFig. 9, panel B.. High amplitude
alpha responses are visible in panel A with adequate stimulation. In contrast, panel B with inadequate stimulation does not show such alpha responses.
Fig. 8. Frequency components of grands average EPs Ž N s 11.. Top, filter limits: 4]7 Hz, ‘theta response’. Bottom, filter limits:
8]15 Hz, ‘alpha response’. Left, acoustical stimulation. Right, visual stimulation. Žfrom Schurmann
et al. Ž1997b...
¨
106
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
point out, that the amplitude, time course,
and frequency responses in EPs strongly depend on the amplitude of the prestimulus
alpha activity.
Again, parallel obser¨ ations at the cellular le¨ el
are noteworthy: Evoked oscillations in the 8]10Hz frequency range in visual cortex neurons upon
visual stimulation suggest a relation to scalp-recordable alpha responses ŽSilva et al., 1991; Dinse
et al., 1997.. The sum of these observations
permits a tentative interpretation of alpha as a
functional and communicati¨ e signal with multiple
functions. This interpretation of 10 Hz oscillations
Žat the cellular level, or in populations. might be
comparable to the putative universal role of
gamma responses in brain signaling.
4. Theta oscillations
4.1. Theta response oscillations in cogniti¨ e processes
Fig. 9. Human MEG responses to auditory stimulation: averaged evoked fields recorded in a typical subject Žfilter limits:
8]15 Hz.. Ža. Seven channels with ‘pure temporal’ location.
Žb. Seven channels with ‘pure occipital’ location Žfrom
Schurmann
et al. Ž1997b...
¨
3.3. Brain’s selecti¨ ely distributed alpha system with
multiple functions
Similar to the gamma band the selecti¨ ely distributed alpha system in the brain is interwoven
with multiple functions and control functions:
1. The 10-Hz processes may facilitate, association mechanisms in the brain: when a sensory
or cognitive input elicits ‘10 Hz wave-trains’
in several brain structures then it can be
expected that this general activity can serve
as a resonating signal ‘ par excellence’ ŽBaşar,
1980..
2. Alpha activity controls EPs. Experiments of
several authors Žsee Başar et al., 1997a, 1998.
Experimental data suggests that e¨ ent-related
theta oscillations are related to cognitive processing and cortico-hippocampal interaction ŽMiller,
1991; Klimesch et al., 1994; Başar, 1999.. Some
examples follow:
1. Theta is the most stable component of the cat
P300-like response ŽBaşar, 1999..
2. Bimodal sensory stimulation induces large increases in frontal theta response thus demonstrating that complex events require frontal
processing ŽBaşar, 1999..
3. Event-related theta oscillations are prolonged
andror have a second time window approximately 300 ms after target stimuli in oddball
experiments. Prolongation of theta is interpreted as being correlated with selecti¨ e attention ŽBaşar-Eroglu
˘ et al., 1992..
4. Event-related theta oscillations are also
observed after an inadequate stimulation
whereas event-related alpha oscillations are
not existent if the stimulation is an inadequate one. Accordingly the associative character for event-related theta oscillations is
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
more pronounced than for higher frequency
event-related oscillations ŽBaşar-Eroglu
˘ et al.,
1992..
5. ‘Orienting’ } a coordinated response indicating alertness, arousal or readiness to process
information } is related to theta oscillations
and manifested in cat experiments during exploration and searching and motor behavior
ŽBaşar, 1998, 1999..
6. Results of Miller Ž1991. on cortico-hippocampal signal processing support the functional role of theta transmission in all cognitive
states related to association.
According to the statements above it is clear
that event-related theta oscillations can be con-
107
sidered as important building blocks of functional
signaling in the brain.
4.2. E¨ idence of theta response: an example
Demiralp and Başar Ž1992. have measured significant theta responses following expected visual
and auditory targets. Their results help to understand the functioning of the diffusely distributed
theta system of the brain. EPs as well as ERPs
were recorded from 10 healthy subjects in auditory and visual modalities Žonly visual EPs will be
shown in this chapter.. For ERP recordings ‘the
omitted stimulus paradigm’ was employed, in
which the subjects were expected to mark mentally the onset time Žtime prediction task. of the
omitted stimulus Žtarget..
Fig. 10. Superimposed standard visual EPs ŽVEP. and responses to third attended light stimuli in the visual omitted stimulus
paradigm Ž3 ATT. of 10 subjects obtained from frontal ŽF3., parietal ŽP3. and occipital ŽO1. regions. Wide-band filtered recordings
Žfrom Demiralp and Başar, 1992..
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E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
The bottom row of Fig. 10 shows the unfiltered
averaged responses, superimposed, of 10 subjects
recorded from F3, P3 and O1 leads upon application of the standard visual EP paradigm ŽVEP..
The upper row of Fig. 10 illustrates the responses
of the same subjects to the third attended visual
stimuli Ž3.ATT. in the visual omitted stimulus
paradigm. In this paradigm, theta responses are
visible even without filtering. Especially the
frontal EP response looks like an ‘almost pure
theta oscillation’ visible without filtering.
The averaged responses were filtered in various
frequency bands by means of digital filters with
zero phase-shift Žband limits selected according to
maxima in amplitude frequency characteristics ..
Fig. 11 shows the visual EPs ŽVEP, bottom. and
the responses to the third attended light stimuli
Ž3.ATT, top. in the omitted stimulus paradigm
Žsuperimposed. and the grand averages obtained
in both conditions filtered in the theta frequency
band Ž3]6 Hz.. Note that the similarity between
wide-band filtered curves ŽFig. 10, above. and
theta-filtered curves ŽFig. 11, above. is highest for
frontal recordings Ž‘pure theta’ responses.. Further details of the results will be presented in the
companion volume.
The highest, statistically significant, theta increases during cognitive performance were ob-
Fig. 11. Superimposed standard visual EPs ŽVEP. and responses to third attended light stimuli in the visual omitted stimulus
paradigm Ž3 ATT. of 10 subjects and their grand averages filtered in theta frequency band Ž3]6 Hz. Žfrom Demiralp and Başar,
1992..
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
tained in frontal and parietal recording sites. In
the visual modality the theta response increase in
the frontal recording site was slightly higher than
that in the parietal recording site Ž48% vs. 45%..
Since the cognitive task in this study was also
mainly based on anticipation to an expected stimulus, it is not surprising that the greatest changes
are in frontal regions.
5. Delta oscillations
5.1. Delta responses in cogniti¨ e processes
As to delta oscillations, experimental data hint
at functional correlates roughly similar to those
mentioned for theta oscillations, i.e. mainly in
cognitive processing:
1. The response to visual oddball targets have
their highest response amplitude in parietal
locations, whereas for auditory target stimuli
the highest delta response amplitudes are
observed in central and frontal areas ŽSchutt
¨
and Başar, 1992; Başar, 1999..
2. Cogniti¨ e functions: The amplitude of the delta
response is considerably increased during
oddball experiments. Accordingly, it was concluded that the delta response is related to
signal detection and decision making ŽBaşarEroglu
˘ et al., 1992..
3. In response to stimuli at the hearing threshold
delta oscillations are observed in human subjects, in consistence with the hypothetical
relation to signal detection and decision making ŽBaşar, 1999..
4. A waveform observed in response to deviant
stimuli not attended by the subject, the mismatch negati¨ ity ŽNaatanen,
1992. is shaped
¨¨ ¨
by a delayed delta response superimposed
with a significant theta response.
5. Phase-locked delta responses are probably the
major processing signals in the sleeping cat
and human brain ŽBaşar, 1980..
The topographic distribution of the results is
again consistent with a distributed response system.
The delta response obtained during a typical P300
109
experiment will be described in the following to
give a good support about the cognitive nature of
the delta responses. Details are given in Başar
Ž1999.; some examples follow in the next paragraph.
5.2. Functional significance of the delta response }
examples from experiments with ‘cogniti¨ e’
paradigms
The P300 human response to a special type of
auditory stimuli shows that delta responses can be
considered as ‘real brain responses’ with precise
functional correlates. This was demonstrated in a
study using an auditory oddball paradigm ŽBaşarEroglu
˘ et al., 1992.. Standard auditory EPs Ždelta
response amplitude set to 100%. were compared
with responses to oddball stimuli where the normalized delta amplitude was approximately 600%
Žsee Table 1.. This remarkable increase is an
example of a major change in the frequency contents of an EP as mentioned in the beginning of
this chapter. Taking into account the psychophysiological foundation of the P300 paradigm this
hints at cognitive processing as a functional correlate of the delta response. The same conclusion
was drawn from a study employing a visual oddball paradigm with standard vs. target checkerboard stimuli ŽSchurmann
et al., 1995; see below..
¨
In a new series of experiments the first group of
voluntary healthy subjects Ž21]29 years; six male;
four female. underwent visual evoked potential
Ž VEP . measurements with reversal of a 509
checkerboard pattern. In the second group Ž17]33
years; seven male; three female. two stimuli were
applied in pseudorandom order: NON-TARGET
Ž75% occurrence. was checkerboard reversal.
Subjects were instructed to pay attention to TARGET Ž25%. stimuli, i.e. checkerboard reversal
with horizontal and vertical displacement by 259.
Fig. 12 shows amplitude frequency characteristics
computed from a¨ eraged ERPs. Fig. 13 shows single trials of target responses clearly demonstrating that pure delta responses are visible in such
target responses even without filtering. Maxima in
the 10-Hz range were common to VEP and TARGET and largest in occipital positions. Prominent
maxima in the 0.5]3.5-Hz range were only
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
110
Table 1
The medians of maximum amplitudes of delta, theta and
alpha frequency components of auditory evoked potentials
ŽAEP. responses to third attended stimuli in the omitted
stimulus paradigm Ž3.ATT. and responses to non-frequent
target tones in the oddball paradigm ŽODDBALL. obtained in
frontal ŽF3., vertex ŽCz., parietal ŽP3. and occipital ŽO1.
recording sites
Delta
Ž1]3 Hz.
AEP
3.ATT
F3
P300
AEP
3.ATT
Cz
P300
AEP
3.ATT
P3
P300
AEP
3.ATT
O1
P300
1.8
3.0
Ž66%.a
10.6
UU
Ž489%.a,
5.3
7.3
Ž37%.a
10.9
UU
Ž106%.a,
2.4
3.2
Ž33%.a
9.7
UU
Ž304%.a,
1.6
1.9
Ž19%.a
8.2
UU
Ž413%.a,
Theta Ž3]6 Hz.
Window 1
Ž0]250 ms.
Window 2
Ž250]500 ms.
4.7
6.7
Ž43%.aUU
4.5
Žy4%.a
8.2
9.5
Ž16%.a
7.2
Žy12%.a
4.0
4.4
U
Ž10%.a,
2.7
Žy33%.a
2.3
2.3
Ž0%.a
2.8
Ž22%.a
2.0
2.0
Ž0%.a
6.5
UU
Ž225%.a,
3.0
2.9
Žy3%.a
9.7
UU
Ž223%.a,
1.6
1.8
Ž13%.a
5.8
UU
Ž263%.a,
1.3
1.5
Ž15%.a
3.9
UU
Ž200%.a,
a
The percent changes of amplitudes in Ž3.ATT. and
ŽODD-BALL. conditions as the percent of the standard AEP
amplitudes are given in parentheses.
U
P- 0.05.
UU
P- 0.01.
observed after TARGET stimuli. Filtered a¨ eraged
ERPs Ždelta. in Fig. 2c show a prominent positive
deflection in TARGET responses at approximately 400 ms Žamplitude: up to 244% in comparison to VEP.. Amplitude differences of VEPs vs.
responses to TARGET were significant for delta
Žd.f.s 2, 27; F s 4.60; P- 0.05. but not for alpha
Ž8]15 Hz. responses Žd.f.s 2, 27; F s 1.55;
MANOVA test; factor TASK.. Thus, the delta
response is clearly more dependent on the P300 task
than the alpha response ŽSchurmann
et al., 1995..
¨
The slow positive wave in TARGET responses
belongs to the family of the P300-waves Žcf. Başar
et al., 1987, 1993; Başar-Eroglu,
˘ and Başar, 1991.
which are widely accepted to be related to the
processing of task-rele¨ ant, surprising e¨ ents and to
reflect a manifold of cognitive processes. Polich
and Kok Ž1995. emphasize that, although the
explanations of the P300 center around the basic
information processing mechanisms of attention
allocation and immediate memory, a substantial
portion of P300 variation appears to be caused by
factors not only related to alterations of the task
structure but also fluctuations in the arousal state
of the subject. The ‘uni¨ ersal’, i.e. general, modality-independent character of the ‘P300-delta response’ is underlined by similar responses in auditory P300 experiments ŽBullock and Başar, 1988;
Başar et al., 1997a,b; Başar, 1999.. Furthermore,
detecting auditory stimuli close to the hearing
threshold produced slow induced delta rhythms,
possibly correlates of signal detection and decision making ŽBaşar, 1980..
6. Communication networks in the brain and
oscillatory responses
6.1. Most general transfer functions in the brain
Fessard Ž1961. emphasized that the brain must
not be considered simply as a juxtaposition of
private lines, leading to a mosaic of independent
cortical territories, one for each sense modality,
with internal subdivisions corresponding to topical differentiations. What are principles dominating the operations of heterosensory communications in the brain? This knowledge needs an
extensive use of multiple microelectrode recordings, together with a systematic treatment of data
by computers Žcf. Eckhorn et al., 1988; Gray and
Singer, 1989.. Fessard indicated the necessity of
discovering principles that govern the most general
} or transfer functions of multiunit homogeneous
messages through neuronal networks.
The transfer function describes the ability of a
network to increase or impede transmission of
signals in given frequency channels. The transfer
function, represented mathematically by frequency characteristics or wavelets, ŽBaşar, 1980;
Başar-Eroglu
˘ et al., 1992. constitute the main
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
111
Fig. 12. Responses to visual evoked potential ŽVEP. stimuli Ž left column. and responses to TARGET stimuli Ž right column.. Ža.
Time domain: wide-band filtered averaged event-related potentials ŽERPs. in subject J.A. Žb. Frequency domain: amplitude
frequency characteristics computed from ERPs shown in Ža.. Along the x-axis, frequency in logarithmic scale; along the y-axis,
amplitude in relative units ŽdB.. Amplitudes are normalized in such a way that the amplitude at 1 Hz is equal to 0 dB. Žc. Time
domain: 0.5]3.5-Hz filtered ERPs in typical subject J.A. Žfrom Schurmann
et al., 1995..
¨
112
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
Fig. 12. Ž Continued.
framework for signal processing and communication. The existence of general transfer functions
would then be interpreted as the existence of
networks distributed in the brain having similar
frequency characteristics facilitating or optimizing
the signal transmission in resonant frequency
channels ŽBaşar, 1999.. In an electric system an
optimal transmission of signals is reached when
subsystems are tuned to the same frequency range.
Does the brain have such subsystems tuned in
similar frequency ranges, or do there exist common frequency modes in the brain?
The empirical results reviewed here imply a
positive answer and provide a satisfactory framework to Fessard’s question. Frequency selectivities in all brain tissues containing selectively distributed oscillatory networks Ž delta, theta, alpha,
beta, gamma. constitute and govern mathematically the general transfer functions of the brain.
To fulfil Fessard’s prediction all brain tissues,
both mammalian and invertebrates would have to
react to sensitive and cognitive inputs with oscillatory activity or with similar transfer functions.
The degree of synchrony, amplitudes, locations
and durations or phase lags are continuously varying, but similar oscillations are most often present
in the activated brain tissues ŽBaşar, 1999..
6.2. E¨ ent processing in distributed systems
The synchrony of selectivities described earlier
by our group could have a conceptual parallel in
‘selectively distributed processing’ in neurocognitive networks ŽMesulam, 1990, 1994.. In Mesulam’s neurological model of cognition, the unimodal areas of cortex provide the most veridical
building blocks of experience Žfor functional anatomy see also chapter 3 in volume I.. Transmodal
nodes bind information in a way that introduces
temporal and contextual coherence. The formation of specific templates belonging to objects and
memories occurs in distributed form but with
considerable specialization. This arrangement
leads to a highly flexible and powerful computational system which underlies the selectively distributed processing. In our earlier work we often
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
113
This means that the oscillatory 10 Hz response
or delta response should also show selective behavior in various anatomical structures distinguished by their physiological functions Žsee above
for a discussion about such ‘selectively distributed
oscillatory systems’.. This idea will be detailed in
the following section.
7. Distributed percepts and memory networks
7.1. Memory as distributed property of cortical
systems
Fig. 13. Top: single trial ERPs Žresponses to TARGET. in
subject C.G. Bottom: averaged ERP Žresponses to TARGET.
in subject C.G. Right parietal recordings ŽP4. Žfrom Schurmann
¨
et al., 1995..
used the expression or concept of distributed
oscillatory systems and their resonance as selective activities. According to Mesulam, functional
selectivities exist in distributed functions that are
based on the anatomy. The electrophysiological
activity of selectively distributed systems must be
also of selective behavior. Accordingly, oscillatory
response susceptibility of the sensory cortices, of
the hippocampus, thalamus or cerebellum should
also be differentiated, depicting selective behavior to stimulation from the milieu interior or exterior.
Goldman-Rakic Ž1988, 1997., in search of a
topography of cognition, concludes: ‘If subdivisions of limbic, motor, sensory, and associative
cortex exist in developmentally linked and functionally unified networks, as the anatomical, physiological, and behavioral evidence suggests, it may
be more useful to study the cortex in terms of
information processing functions and systems
rather than traditional but artificially segregated
sensory, motor, or limbic components and individual neurons within only one of these components’.
In this paper we intend to describe some hints
or remarks related to working memory and event
related oscillations. This is suggested as an example of the relationship between the concepts of
distributed systems and e¨ ent-related oscillations,
which probably will attract considerable attention
in memory research in future.
According to Fuster Ž1997. our thinking on the
cortical organization of primate memory is undergoing a Copernican change, from a neurophysiology that localizes different memories in different areas as to one that views memory as a
distributed property of cortical systems as stated.
According to Fuster’s empirically founded hypothesis, the same cortical systems that serve us
to perceive the world serve us to remember it.
Fuster Ž1997. states that memory reflects a distributed property of cortical systems. An important part of higher nervous function, as perception, recognition, language, planing, problem
solving and decision making, is interwoven with
memory. Memory is a property of the neurobiological systems it serves and inseparable from
their other functions.
Perceiving is the classification of objects by
activation of the associative nets that represent
them in memory. It is reasonable to assume, as
Hayek Ž1952. did, that memory and perception
share, to a large extent, the same cortical networks, neurons and connections. To understand
the formation and topography of memory, it is
useful to think of the primary and sensory motor
areas of the cortex that we may call phyletic
memory or memory of the species. The structure of
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E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
primary sensory and motor cortices may be considered a fund of memory that the species has
acquired in evolution. We can call it memory
because, like personal memory, it is information
that has been acquired and stored, and can be
retrieved Žrecalled. by sensory stimuli or the need
to act.
Perceptual memory is memory acquired through
the senses. It comprises all that is commonly
understood as personal memory and knowledge,
i.e. the representation of events, objects, persons,
animals, facts, names and concepts. From the
hierarchical viewpoint, at the bottom are memories of elementary sensations; at the top, the
abstract concepts that, although originally acquired by sensory experience, have become independent from it in cognitive operations.
According to Fuster Ž1997. the classic terms
representation, retrieval, recall, recognition, short
term memory and long-term memory are still
valid for current discourse, but need to be neurobiologically redefined. Arguably, the smallest
memory network Žnetlet . is the cortical cell group
or module representing a simple sensory or motor
feature in the interface between the organism
and its environment.
Single neuron recordings in monkeys that are
trained to perform working memory tasks have
identified components of a working memory circuit in the prefrontal cortex. In these studies, the
neuronal processes that are related to task performance can be dissociated, on the scale of
milliseconds to seconds. During a working memory task, as the stimulus is sequentially registered, stored over a period of a second and then
translated into a motor response, specific neural
populations respond in a characteristic ways. One
class of prefrontal neuron responds to a visual
stimulus as long as the stimulus is in view. In
contrast, other prefrontal neurons are activated
at the offset of the stimulus, and they remain
active all the time that the monkey has to remember the location or features of an object ŽGoldman-Rakic, 1988, 1997; Fuster, 1995..
For investigations in humans, Cohen et al.
Ž1997., and Courtney et al. Ž1997. used functional
MRI ŽfMRI., finding parallels to the knowledge
gained from single-cell recordings in animals.
Courtney et al. Ž1997. presented subjects with
pictures of human faces, and asked them to recall
whether the picture being shown was the same, or
different, from one that had been presented 8 s
earlier. The authors found that activations in the
prefrontal areas correlated most strongly with
delay periods, compared with activations in the
visual areas, which were more strongly correlated
with sensory stimulation.
Cohen et al. Ž1997. presented subjects with
written consonants, one at a time every 10 s, and
asked them to judge whether each consonant was
the same as a letter presented one, two or three
trials back in the sequence. This task requires
that subjects remember the order of consonants,
as well as their identity. The farther back in the
sequence the consonant to be recalled occurs, the
greater the ‘load’ on working memory. These
authors showed that activations in the prefrontal
cortex are maintained throughout the 10-s interstimulus interval and, importantly, that the degree of prefrontal activation is higher for the
conditions with the greatest memory load. By
contrast activations by the primary visual, somatosensory and motor cortices, as well as in
several secondary regions, are not sustained across
the 10-s interval, and they are not related to
memory demand. They are probably responsive to
the sensory or perceptual, but not memory-aiding,
aspects of working memory tasks. Further, according to the fMRI results of Courtney et al.
Ž1997. early extrastriate visual areas demonstrate
transient, relatively non-selective responses to
complex visual stimuli and later extrastriate visual
areas demonstrate transient, selective responses
to faces, indicating a more specialized role in the
processing of meaningful images, and both extrastriate visual and prefrontal cortical areas demonstrate sustained activity during memory delays,
indicating a role indicating a role in maintaining
an active representation of the face in working
memory.
7.2. What is the role of brain oscillations in memory
processes?
7.2.1. General remarks
According to the view of Fuster Ž1997. stating
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
that memory reflects a distributed property of
cortical systems and to our view outlined in the
present paper it can be hypothesized that the
selectively distributed oscillatory systems Žor networks. may provide a general communication
framework can be a useful concept for functional
mapping of the brain ŽMesulam, 1990, 1994..
Communication in these networks might contribute to the formation of specific templates belonging to objects and memories. According to a
model of cognition, this formation occurs as selecti¨ ely distributed processing with considerable specialization and in anatomically differentiated
localizations ŽMesulam, 1990, 1994; for details
about memory as a distributed property of cortical systems see also Fuster, 1997.. In particular,
analysis of the hypothetical distributed oscillatory
systems may lead to fundamental functional mapping of the brain, complementary to morphological studies.
As one can extract from Mesulam’s and Fuster’s
work, there must be common codes for perpetual
signal transfer between neural networks for parallel and serial processing and also for possible
reverberation circuits and loops between neural
networks. Oscillations might serve as adequate
codes for this general communication by putting
the networks to resonate.
A more general view is that functional or oscillatory networks modules are distributed not only
in the cortex but in the whole brain ŽBaşar, 1998..
In the following we will try to discuss an electrophysiological parallel between Fuster’s ‘memory
network’ and the distributed oscillatory systems
mentioned earlier.
When analyzing the field potentials it is difficult to define boundaries of brain nuclei and
their electrical activity. Nevertheless, this approach is useful, since a great amount of data can
be collected and interpreted from several electrodes distributed in the brain. Furthermore, it is
possible to perform measurements during continuously changing cognitive states. This way, EPs or
EEG segments are recorded in the cortex, limbic
system, and thalamus, and cerebellum. They can
be compared in waking and freely behaving animals.
This type of recording during behavioral states
115
can not possibly be managed with recordings of
single cell electrodes. Studies on functional correlates of structures like sensory cortices, hippocampus, and thalamic relay nuclei are mostly
based on experiments using unit recordings. A
major difficulty concerning the interpretation of
experiments with single unit recordings Žfor example experiments on cortico-thalamic information transfer . is that the results are limited to a
few neurons. Accordingly, the author assumes
that every hypothesis on the localisation of
‘thalamo-cortical circuit as 10 Hz generator’ is
restricted and not acceptable with regard to the
results of experiments described in this book: The
alpha, theta and gamma generators are selectively
distributed in the brain.
Başar Ž1999. reviewed several classifications of
memories given by distinguished memory investigators in order to find a strategy to explore the
electrophsyiology of distributed memories. He
concluded that the brain oscillations in EEG and
ERPs could provide a good foundation to attack
the problem both at the neurophysioloical and
psychological levels since brain oscillations have
similar frequency codes in the whole brain.
Remembering and memory are manifestations of
various and multiple functional processes depending on the complexity of the input to the CNS.
Already the electrical response to a simple light
flash bases on simple memory processes at the
lowest hierachical order. When we talk about a
memory process-either a short } or long-term
one } then we have in our mind the perception
of a sensory input which is matched with information already stored in the neural tissue. If a
simple light evokes alpha and gamma responses
than it is almost obligatory to assume that elementary oscillatory responses are also manifestations of several memory processes at different
hierarchical levels. The topology of the memories
depending on the modality of the input must be
different Žsee examples given above: cross modality experiments; measurements in cortical and
subcortical structures ..
So far, such studies have rarely been performed, as Başar et al. Ž1999. point out. Therefore, results and their interpretations are to be
considered as preliminary. Accordingly, the multi-
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E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
ple distributed memories can not be treated in
details and a classification on all levels of distributed memories can not be yet provided.
In performing many complex tasks, it is necessary to hold information in temporary storage to
complete the task. The system used for this is
referred to as working memory ŽBaddeley, 1996..
Working memory is the temporary, ad hoc, activation of an extensive network of short- or long-term
perceptual component of that network would be,
as any other perceptual memory, retrievable and
expandable by a new stimulus or experience.
Fuster states that working memory has the same
cortical substrate as the kind of short-term memory traditionally considered the gateway to
long-term memory.
According to the functional descriptions above,
a simple light stimulation, or a complex light
stimulation or a light stimulation with some tasks
Ževent. should evoke oscillatory responses with
different time hierarchies. Our view is that functional or oscillatory networks modules are distributed not only in the cortex but in the whole
brain ŽBaşar, 1999..
The detection of a target signal during a P300
type of experiment requires also a type of working memory. The subject has to sustain knowledge
related to the target Žnature of the target, frequency, shape, color, etc., depending on the type
of the experiment. during the experiment. The
linkage between P300 amplitude and latency
measures and working memory processes has been
already established ŽSanquist et al., 1980; Howard
and Polich, 1985; Pratt et al., 1989; Fabiani et al.,
1990; Scheffers and Johnson, 1994.. The matching
process after the detection of the target should
rely in this case on working memory or the success of this type of memory P300 vs. N100.
The ERP is a compound neuroelectric signal
which is rich in functional information ŽBullock,
1993. and related to a large spectrum ranging
from single percepts to complicated memory
processes. Furthermore, in the analysis of integrative brain functions it is indispensable to consider
not only one specific ERP in a given brain structure, but to take into account that distributed
ERPs are interrelated due to the evident strong
parallel processing in the whole brain. Accord-
ingly, it is necessary to analyze the entire brain in
order to understand even a specific function manifested by neurolectric activity of a given structures: For example, when we consider or analyze
cognitive processes usually the most marked ERPs
are recorded in fronto-parietal areas or in various
association cortices. However, it is necessary to
take into account recordings from other areas as
well, e.g. from sensory cortices Žpossibly indicating parallel processing; Başar and Schurmann,
¨
1994; Başar, 1998, 1999.. Several types of analysis
categories are crucial in the functional interpretation of ERPs:
1. The analysis of stimulus itself: what can a
stimulus evoke in the brain? It can evoke
simple sensory percepts, complex sensory percepts, bimodal percepts or memory-related
functions, etc.
2. The analysis of ERPs should be performed in
related our unrelated function-dependent areas. For example, if a complex semantic event
or memory demanding task is presented as
stimulation is presented to the brain, usually
frontal recordings and or parietal recordings
are considered to carry the most important
information. In this case it is very important
to analyze ERPs recorded in the occipital
cortex Žan area thought to be less involved in
high level cognitive processing.. This shows
what is missing in occipital ERPs in comparison to association ares, or what is recorded
additionally. These steps are analogous to the
fMRI analysis mentioned above.
3. The component analysis by means of eventrelated oscillations provide a real advantage
over conventional ERP analysis as, for example, the results of cross modality measurements demonstrate: In occipital areas auditory stimulation does not evoke 10 Hz responses, although an ERP is measured upon
visual stimulation. This demonstrates the dependence of the 10-Hz response on visual
perception. Accordingly, the spatial resolution of ERPs is highly increased.
4. Studies with single-cell recordings and with
fMRI point out that memory networks are
distributed. Although the ERPs and the
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
event-related oscillations do not have the excellent spatial resolution of fMRI or the exact
one-to-one location of single cell recordings,
they have several outstanding advantages in
memory research.
5. When compared with fMRI the time resolution of ERPs Žand of event-related oscillations. is excellent, since it is possible to measure function-related neuroelectric changes
within a few milliseconds.
6. In ERP studies the neuroelectric or Žneuromagnetic recordings. can be also performed
by human studies, almost impossible to perform with single cell recordings. Moreover it
is possible to apply simultaneous measurements with several recording electrodes in
distant locations, this in turn allowing the
dynamic comparisons between various structures of the human cortex Žalso diverse subcortical structures during experiments with
the animal brain.. For example, immediate
comparison of frontal theta or alpha activity
with the occipital ones is possible.
7. Similarly, increased focused attention evokes
ample theta response in frontal recording, but
almost no alpha response, whereas in occipital recordings alpha and theta responses are
superimposed. During oddball recordings a
600% increase of delta responses can be
recorded Žsee Table 1.. Such an enhancement
cannot be obtained by conventional repetitive
stimuli.
As Fuster Ž1997. underlines there are in the
brain as much memory types as the number of
percepts. Not only for the analysis of working
memory but for a simultaneous analysis of perceptual memory the applications of event-related
oscillations is very useful as a complement to
fMRI and single cell studies. These remarks
clearly show that the analysis of event-related
oscillations fills an important gap for the analysis
of selectively distributed percepts and memories.
7.2.2. Examples of selecti¨ ely distributed oscillatory
responses in search of memory
To see something, even the simplest light signal, is already a memory process-related to a
117
fundamental inborn retrieval process: a baby perceives the light and shows reflex responses to
light before going through learning processes. This
is probably a basic decoding process.
In Fig. 14 ŽSchurmann
and Başar, unpublished
¨
results . responses to target and non-target stimulation Župon checkerboard stimulation. in alpha
and delta frequencies are shown. The occipital 10
Hz response is large in posterior areas Žrelated to
vision.. The delta response, however, is distributed, being most marked in posterior areas
upon target stimuli. As explained above, the target signal also requires working memory
processes. So the fact that delta responses are
most marked in posterior areas hints at selective
distribution of ‘memory oscillations’. Ample occipital 10 Hz responses are not recorded in frontal
locations indicating that the frontal lobes are not
involved in primary visual processing. This response is a sign of perceptual memory: When no
visual perception occurs, then there are no 10 Hz
responses.
As to the delta response in the auditory P300
paradigm, a distributed highly enhanced response
in the whole cortex is observed ŽBaşar-Eroglu
˘ et
al., 1992., the maxima being in frontal and parietal areas. The auditory 10-Hz signal to auditory
signal is missing. These findings again indicate a
functional selective distribution 10 Hz responses
are recorded in primary sensory areas. Frontal
and parietal delta areas.
As to the theta response the findings are yet
more complicated to interpret: in the auditory
P300 paradigm only target signals have a prolonged theta oscillation Žsecond window. marked
in parietal and frontal recording indicating a correlation to working memory. In experiments where
subjects pay attention to the third applied signal
in an evoked potential experiment, the third attended signal show ample theta increases again
especially in frontal location. In this report it is
not our aim to differentiate the functional roles
of theta and delta responses in working memory
processes; we solely indicate that this oscillatory
responses are selectively distributed depending on
the memory load required during the experiments.
A P300-40 Hz response as visible in Fig. 4
118
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
Fig. 14. Grand average ERPs Ž509 checkerboards; N s 9 subjects., filtered 1]5 Hz Ža. and 8]15 Hz Žb., respectively. Left: Visual
evoked potentials ŽVEP., middle: responses to non-target stimuli; right: responses to target stimuli.
Žabove. illustrates the superposition of theta and
gamma response following omitted stimuli as targets. The combination of gamma and delta response oscillations are here again involved with
working memory.
These findings have remarkable parallelities to
fMRI experiments showing topographical functional selectivity. Moreover, it is possible to define
the working and perceptual memory components
in a time window already 100 ms upon a memory
load. At least two types of memory responses with
a time hierarchy are observed: Ž1. sensory Žper-
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
ceptual. memory oscillatory response; and Ž2. late
window responses related to working memory.
This time hierarchy occurring in the 1-s period
following stimuli, are not reflected in fMRI studies, and not found in conventional ERPs that, in
the best case, allow analysis of two relevant peaks.
7.3. Grandmother cell or grandmother cell assemblies
Sherrington introduced the notion of ‘one ultimate pontifical ner¨ e-cell’ which integrates CNS
function. The grandmother neuron is a neuron
that responds to nothing else but the face of one’s
grandmother. Barlow Ž1972. stated that the sensory system is organized to achieve as completely
as possible a representation of the sensory stimulus with a minimum of active neurons. According
to his view, perception consists of achieving a
selection from the very numerous high-level neurons corresponding to a pattern of external events
of the order of complexity of the event that is
symbolized by the word ‘grandmother’.
According to what Mountcastle Ž1992. called a
‘paradigm change in neuroscience’, the role of
neural assemblies gains an important rank in
functional studies. In this place it is therefore
appropriate to summarize some of relevant viewpoints about the organisation of neural masses,
before dealing with the ‘problem of the grandmother cell’.
Szenthagothai’s well known illustration of a
300-mm diameter cortical module is one of the
important examples of neural modules and local
nerve circuits, an ensemble that plays a significant
functional role. According to Szenthagothai, modular organization allows a higher degree of specific connectivity to be achieved with a minimum of
genetic instructions. Mountcastle defined the basic function unit as a ‘minicolumn’ approximately
30 mm in diameter containing 100]300 neurons.
Larger processing units called ‘macrocolumns’
contain up to several hundred ‘minicolumns’.
Concerning the functional level, Damasio and
Damasio Ž1994. state that our brains use dynamic
records, rather than static, immutable memory
traces. For example the record of the face of a
person you know is a set of neuron circuit changes
119
which can be reactivated, rather than the ‘picture’
that is stored somewhere in the brain.
In our recent publications we developed, a step
by step, a theory on the existence of the selectively distributed alpha and theta and 40 Hz systems of the brain. Furthermore, the existence of
EEG-modules Žactive in parallel and selectively
} or diffusely } distributed the brain. was proposed. EEG oscillation-modules, in this context,
are neural populations giving rise to coherent
EEG activities in different frequency channels.
We assume that the EEG oscillations which
can attain coherent states belong to functional
repertoires of the higher brain function. The superposition of several of these signals makes it
possible to connect behavioral events with an
ensemble of event-related oscillations. Since the
ERPs are now very popular for scientists of psychophysiology who use a diversity of psychological
paradigms, the consideration of EEG dynamics
can bring a deeper understanding to the correlation between cognitive performance and physiological states.
According to Szentagothai connections are established between vertical columns and modules.
These connections can link also frontal areas to
occipital ones. Now the question is whether the
hypotethized EEG generating modules in the
frontal and occipital areas are also be connected.
If event-related 10 Hz oscillations are measured
in occipital and frontal areas, then it is certainly
legitimate to define such modules and thus connections between these modules. The same possibility also exists in theta-, delta-, and gamma
frequency bands. With the knowledge presented
in Başar Ž1999. it is not possible to clearly indicate that the modules described above also serve
for processing information in the EEG frequency
channels. Volume conduction between modules
as distant as occipital and frontal cortices is unlikely. Accordingly, the high amplitude delta responses following target signals in P300 experiments ŽFig. 12. must have different local generators. Furthermore, it is probable that neural impulses can reach several parts of the cortex following an event and generate in cortical areas
oscillatory responses in various frequency chan-
120
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
nels depending on the sensory information or
task.
According to experiments described in Başar
Ž1998, 1999. gamma activity is not recorded only
in a small given brain population but in widely
distributed neural populations. The 10-Hz resonances are also widely distributed and depend on
functions processed in the brain. Depending on
‘regimes’ or ‘states’ of the brain, the limbic system, brainstem, thalamus, and cortex are all involved with 2, 4, 10, and 40 Hz firing or with all of
them. The distribution of coherently working EEG
modules does not take place only in the cortex;
we assume that they are selectively distributed in
the entire system.
One of the examples is the frontal-hippocampal]parietal-system which gains a highly organized theta state during attentive processes. By
combining examples and concepts arising from
the analysis of EEG and evoked potential responses, we aim to extend from modular concepts to
modular frequency systems operating in the entire brain. This is a new hypothesis emerging from
a recent book ŽBaşar, 1999.. This hypothesis is
based on experiments where brain functions are
explained on the basis of measurement of field
potentials which reflect the activity of large neural populations. These neural populations can be
also be interpreted as functionally active modules.
These explanations are based on the different
frequency systems of the brain which are not
defined in space and time precisely. But even
then, such explanations seem more efficient in
explaining the dynamic aspect of the percepts.
In this report we have described numerous
types of oscillatory activities with definitive or
tentative explanations of their functional relations. The results from several laboratories clearly
demonstrated that it is not possible to assign a
single function to a given type of oscillatory activity. These oscillations have multifold functions and
may act as uni¨ ersal operators or codes of brain
activity. Besides frequency and site of oscillations,
several other parameters are dependent on specific functions, namely enhancement, time locking,
phase locking, delay and duration of oscillations.
Concerning the question at the beginning of
this section Ž‘Does a grandmother neuron exist?’.,
our hypothesis about the functional role of
event-related brain oscillations is as follows: complex and integrative brain functions are manifested in the superposition of several oscillations.
Stryker Ž1989. and Başar et al. Ž1997a,b,c. described results of cellular gamma activity ŽBullock
and Başar, 1988; Desmedt and Tomberg, 1994. by
commenting that neurons in the visual cortex
activated by the same object in the world tend to
discharge rhythmically and in unison. He raised
the question ‘Is grandmother an oscillation?’ According to the studies reviewed above, the observation of the grandmother picture would activate
oscillations, not only in the visual cortices, but in
all parts of the brain Žprobably including frontoparietal delta, occipital alpha, theta and gamma
oscillations.: every simple input trigger diverse
oscillations in selectively distributed areas of the
brain. Accordingly, distributed neural groups of
all frequencies have to be involved in the processing of this complicated percept ŽDesmedt and
Tomberg, 1994; Dinse et al., 1997..
8. A ‘neurons-brain’ doctrine: new thoughts
With the neuron doctrine alone, as it was originally proposed by Sherrington, it is not possible to
interpret the functional contributions of alpha,
theta, delta and gamma responses. The generators giving rise to these frequency responses are
extremely sensitive to the modality of sensory and
cognitive inputs. For now, such generators can
only be explored with macroelectrodes that are
placed with an adequate physical separation.
Tracking of properties of functionally-related distant single neurons is not yet possible because of
technical limitation. At the first step approaching
the higher functions of the brain is easier when
we assume the existence of modules that generate
EEG-like signals. At this point, it should again be
remembered that potentials measured from human subjects reflect the properties of a large
number of neurons and possibly, multiple neural
populations.
During an experiment of ‘P300 type’ the brain
goes over to a regime in which distributed theta
and delta neural networks are mostly in play.
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
During pure sensory stimulations several structures of the brain go over to a 10-Hz regime.
During slow sleep stage the brain does not only
show slow wave activity in the delta frequency
range, but all EPs from intracranial and cortical
structure of the cat brain and cortex of the human brain depict a dominance of delta responsiveness.
There are several trends of extending or renewing Sherrington’s ‘neuron doctrine’. Freeman proposed a ‘Neo-Sherringtonian view’ of integrative
brain function whereas Barlow and Mountcastle
proposed modern views on the neuron doctrine.
Here, an attempt at extending the Sherringtonian
neuron doctrine to neural populations with oscillatory firing properties is proposed. It relies on
experiments as reviewed above Žfor details, see
Başar, 1998, 1999. and serves to describe a basic
framework for signaling of communication and
functional operating in the brain. This new doctrine cannot be perfect and cannot cover all results and principles accumulated in the last
decades. However, it provides a plausible and
progressive framework, which might replace the
old doctrine. The latter one should be considered
as a special case of the more general new ‘neurons-brain doctrine’.
1. The neuron is the basic signaling element of
the brain.
2. Oscillatory neural acti¨ ity is considered as a
basic signal reflecting natural frequencies of
the brain Žthis thesis relies on works of Eckhorn et al., 1988; Eckhorn, 1994; Gray and
Singer, 1989; Silva et al., 1991; Dinse et al.,
1997..
3. Neural assemblies replace the neuron in the
description of complex brain functions. This
view diverges from Sherrington’s ‘neuron
doctrine’. As a metaphor to physical sciences,
neurons can be considered as atoms, neural
assemblies, that contribute to a function, as
molecules. Accordingly the metaphor is similar to statistical mechanics and gas laws Žsee
chapter 4.2 in Başar, 1998..
4. Oscillatory acti¨ ities Ž e¨ ent-related, induced or
spontaneous. govern the most general transfer
121
functions in the brain Žfrequency characteristics and power spectra are governed with
alpha, gamma, theta, delta, etc. oscillations }
which is confirmed by the wavelet approach..
Furthermore, as stated in Section 6.1 the
general transfer functions provide a framework for the electrical information processing
in the brain.
5. Oscillations in different frequency ranges are
a property of the neurons Žsee no. 2 above..
Selecti¨ ely distributed oscillatory neural populations, however, behave with ‘molecular properties’ Žalpha, beta, gamma, delta, theta being
‘atomar properties’ .. These oscillatory networks are activated upon sensory stimulation
or event-related tasks by manifestation of
synchronization of neural activity; partial synchrony; enhancements; or blocking or desynchronization of oscillations; depending on the
nature of the sensation or event, and accordingly depending on the function performed.
These selectively distributed networks are
operators of general brain functions including
communication and association and data retrieval Žmolecular properties, see previous
item..
6. Major operating rhythms play a key role in
association and communication. Topological
distribution of oscillations is heterogeneous
and their functions are multifold. Accordingly, parallel processing is not perfect
between distributed populations since the
major operating rhythms are selectively distributed. Examples: Alpha responses do not
appear in the medial geniculate nucleus and
in the auditory cortex to light stimulation,
whereas the lateral geniculate nucleus and
the primary visual cortex respond with large
alpha enhancements Žmore examples are
summarized in chapter 30 in Başar, 1999..
7. Types of neurons do not play a major role for
frequency tuning of oscillatory networks. The
neural architectonics of the cerebellar cortex,
cerebellum and hippocampus are completely
different. In spite of this, all these structures
behave with almost similar frequency responses.
122
E. Başar et al. r International Journal of Psychophysiology 35 (2000) 95]124
8. Distributed oscillatory networks react selectively upon application of pharmacological
agents. Examples: Caerulein causes a great
change in hippocampal evoked response
which takes the shape of a homogeneous
3]4-Hz response, whereas the frequency response of the cerebellum remained completely unchanged since this agent does not
have any action in the cerebellum. Acetylcholine activates the 4-Hz response of the
hippocampus enormously, whereas other
structures are less influenced Žsee chapter 8
in Başar, 1999.. Functions in the brain are
manifested by varied degrees of superpositions
of oscillations in EEG frequency ranges.
There are varied degrees of responsiveness
depending on the strength of the stimulation
or the event presented to the CNS. Accordingly, neuronal assemblies do not react with a
type of all-or-none behavior as in the single
neuron doctrine.
There exists a strong inverse relation between
prestimulus oscillations and brain responses.
Spontaneous oscillations control the amplitude
and shape of population responses Žsee chapters
12 and 14 in Arieli et al., 1996; Başar, 1998..
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