Transient synchrony of distant brain areas and perceptual switching in ambiguous figures.
We studied the relationship between perceptual switching in the Necker cube and long-distance transient phase synchronization in EEG. Transient periods of response related synchrony between parietal and frontal areas were observed. They start 800-600, ms prior to the switch response and occur in pairs. Four types of pairs could be distinguished, two of which are accompanied by transient alpha band activity in the occipital area. The results indicate that perceptual switching processes involve parietal and frontal areas; these are the ones that are normally associated with various cognitive processes. Sensory information in the visual areas is involved in some, but not in all, of switching processes. The intrinsic variability, as well as the participating areas, points to the role of strategic cognitive processes in perceptual switching.
Nakatani
Hironori
H
Laboratory for Perceptual Dynamics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute 2-1, Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan. hnakatani@brain.riken.go.jp
van Leeuwen
Cees
C
D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003344:Cortical Synchronization; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors