title: Nonlinear phase-phase cross-frequency coupling mediates communication between distant sites in human neocortex.
abstract: Human cognition is thought to be mediated by large-scale interactions between distant sites in the neocortex. Synchronization between different cortical areas has been suggested as one possible mechanism for corticocortical interaction. Here, we report robust, directional cross-frequency synchronization between distant sensorimotor sites in human neocortex during a movement task. In four subjects, electrocorticographic recordings from the cortical surface revealed a low-frequency rhythm (10-13 Hz) that combined with a higher frequency (77-82 Hz) in a ventral region of the premotor cortex to produce a third rhythm at the sum of these two frequencies in a distant motor site. Such cross-frequency coupling implies a nonlinear interaction between these cortical sites. These findings demonstrate that task-specific, phase-phase coupling can support communication between distant areas of the human neocortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Darvas
authors.forename: Kai J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Rajesh P N
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Jeffrey G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ojemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003142:Communication; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010507:Periodicity; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult