title: Multistable perception in children: Prefrontal delta oscillations in the developing brain.
abstract: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is considered to be the primary source of attentional control during elementary visual processing as exemplified in perceptual ambiguity. Assuming that multistable perception activates a fronto-parietal network, we contrast the results of mature and developing cognitive systems to deduce the developmental status of underlying structures from behavioral performances and functional EEG parameters. We analyzed the topographical distribution, amplitude characteristics and inter-trial variability of a reversal-related delta response that accompanies perceptual switches between the two alternative percepts of an ambiguous motion pattern. Fourteen ten-year old children and an adult control group indicated changes of perceived motion directions by a button-press. EEG was recorded from frontal, central, parietal, and occipital locations of both hemispheres. Behavioral data shows a considerably lower reversal rate within the children sample, suggesting that the related mechanisms are not yet operating on an adult level. In contrast to findings in adults, the involved delta component emerges as part of an unspecific posterior activation, suggesting that a cortical specialization process has not been accomplished yet. On frontal locations the ten-year old children fail to yield a stable component. The synchronized fronto-parietal activity in adults may constitute the result of a specialization process that determined connection patterns and functionally tuned the involved areas. This implies a deficit in timing and temporal sequencing of neuronal activity in children, mainly attributable to a less functional differentiated PFC that has not been fully integrated yet into the cognitive ensemble.
authors: Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of General Psychology, University of Ulm, 89960 Ulm, Germany; Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Ehlers
authors: Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany; Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Strüber
authors: Institute of Psychology and Cognition Research, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany; Center for Cognitive Sciences, University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: cbasar@uni-bremen.de.
authors: Canan
authors: C
authors: Basar-Eroglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D003700:Delta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000254:growth & development*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ambiguous motion pattern; Brain oscillations; Delta-oscillations; EEG