Oscillatory neuronal synchronization in primary visual cortex as a correlate of stimulus selection

TY - JOUR

T1 - Oscillatory neuronal synchronization in primary visual cortex as a correlate of stimulus selection

AU - Fries, Pascal

AU - Schröder, Jan-Hinrich

AU - Roelfsema, Pieter R

AU - Singer, Wolf

AU - Engel, Andreas K

PY - 2002/5/1

Y1 - 2002/5/1

N2 - Spike and local field potential activity were recorded simultaneously from multiple sites in primary visual cortex of strabismic cats, while monocular stimulation alternated with dichoptic stimulation, inducing interocular rivalry. During interocular rivalry, there is competition between the two nonfusible stimuli presented to the two eyes, and only one stimulus is selected at any time. We biased this competition in three different ways: (1) we exploited the condition that in strabismic cats there is often one dominant eye that is selected for most of the time. (2) We presented the two stimuli with a temporal offset, which biases competition in favor of the newly appearing stimulus. (3) We presented the two stimuli with highly different contrasts, which biases competition in favor of the stimulus with higher contrast. Whenever competition was biased in favor of the stimulus activating the recorded neurons, gamma-frequency synchronization of the respective responses was enhanced, and vice versa. Firing rates showed some differences between stimulation conditions. However, when present, these changes were inversely related to a competitive advantage of the respective stimulus. We hypothesize that enhanced gamma-frequency synchronization in primary visual cortex is a correlate of stimulus selection. Synchronization is likely to be translated into firing rate changes at later processing stages.

AB - Spike and local field potential activity were recorded simultaneously from multiple sites in primary visual cortex of strabismic cats, while monocular stimulation alternated with dichoptic stimulation, inducing interocular rivalry. During interocular rivalry, there is competition between the two nonfusible stimuli presented to the two eyes, and only one stimulus is selected at any time. We biased this competition in three different ways: (1) we exploited the condition that in strabismic cats there is often one dominant eye that is selected for most of the time. (2) We presented the two stimuli with a temporal offset, which biases competition in favor of the newly appearing stimulus. (3) We presented the two stimuli with highly different contrasts, which biases competition in favor of the stimulus with higher contrast. Whenever competition was biased in favor of the stimulus activating the recorded neurons, gamma-frequency synchronization of the respective responses was enhanced, and vice versa. Firing rates showed some differences between stimulation conditions. However, when present, these changes were inversely related to a competitive advantage of the respective stimulus. We hypothesize that enhanced gamma-frequency synchronization in primary visual cortex is a correlate of stimulus selection. Synchronization is likely to be translated into firing rate changes at later processing stages.

KW - Action Potentials

KW - Animals

KW - Biological Clocks

KW - Cats

KW - Contrast Sensitivity

KW - Convergence, Ocular

KW - Dominance, Ocular

KW - Electrooculography

KW - Eye Movements

KW - Neurons

KW - Photic Stimulation

KW - Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

KW - Strabismus

KW - Visual Cortex

KW - Wakefulness

U2 - 20026318

DO - 20026318

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 11978850

VL - 22

SP - 3739

EP - 3754

JO - J NEUROSCI

JF - J NEUROSCI

SN - 0270-6474

IS - 9

ER -