title: Slow-delta phase concentration marks improved temporal expectations based on the passage of time.
abstract: Temporal expectations enhance neural encoding precision, reflected in optimized alignment of slow neural oscillatory phase, and facilitate subsequent stimulus processing. If an event's exact occurrence time is unknown, temporal expectations arise solely from the passage of time. Here, we show that this specific type of temporal expectation is also reflected in neural phase organization. While undergoing magnetoencephalography, participants performed an auditory-delayed matching-to-sample task with two syllables (S1, S2). Critically, S1-onset time varied in the 0.6-1.8-s (i.e., 0.6-1.7 Hz) range. Increasing S1-onset times led to increased slow-delta (0.6-0.9 Hz) phase coherence over right frontotemporal sensors during S1 encoding. Moreover, individuals with higher slow-delta coherence showed decreased alpha power (8-13 Hz) during subsequent memory retention. In sum, temporal expectations based on the passage of time optimize the precise alignment of neural oscillatory phase with an expected stimulus.
authors: Max Planck Research Group "Auditory Cognition", Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Wilsch
authors: Max Planck Research Group "Auditory Cognition", Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Molly J
authors: MJ
authors: Henry
authors: Max Planck Research Group "Auditory Cognition", Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Herrmann
authors: MEG and Cortical Networks, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
authors: Burkhard
authors: B
authors: Maess
authors: Max Planck Research Group "Auditory Cognition", Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.|Department of Psychology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors: Jonas
authors: J
authors: Obleser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003700:Delta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Delayed match-to-sample; MEG; Phase coherence; Slow-delta; Temporal expectations