Alpha-band oscillations in visual cortex: part of the neural correlate of visual awareness?
It was originally proposed that synchronized gamma-band oscillations in neurons of the visual cortex constitute the neural correlate of visual awareness. Two hypotheses are presented in this article: (a) both alpha-band and gamma-band oscillatory activity correspond to visual awareness; and (b) alpha-band activity occurs in the parvocellular processing pathway and gamma-band activity occurs in the magnocellular pathway, and the two modes of oscillation are correlated. It is further proposed that the frequency of the gamma-band oscillation in a group of neurons representing a particular visual scene segment is three times that of the alpha-band oscillation in the neurons representing the same segment. These hypotheses are discussed in relation to recent neurophysiological and psychophysiological experiments.
Sewards
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Sandia Research Center, Placitas, NM 87043, USA.
Sewards
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MA
D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*