title: Preparatory α-band oscillations reflect spatial gating independently of predictions regarding target identity.
abstract: Preparatory modulations of cortical α-band oscillations are a reliable index of the voluntary allocation of covert spatial attention. It is currently unclear whether attentional cues containing information about a target's identity (such as its visual orientation), in addition to its location, might additionally shape preparatory α modulations. Here, we explore this question by directly comparing spatial and feature-based attention in the same visual detection task while recording brain activity using magnetoencephalography (MEG). At the behavioral level, preparatory feature-based and spatial attention cues both improved performance and did so independently of each other. Using MEG, we replicated robust α lateralization following spatial cues: in preparation for a visual target, α power decreased contralaterally and increased ipsilaterally to the attended location. Critically, however, preparatory α lateralization was not significantly modulated by predictions regarding target identity, as carried via the behaviorally effective feature-based attention cues. Furthermore, nonlateralized α power during the cue-target interval did not differentiate between uninformative cues and cues carrying feature-based predictions either. Based on these results we propose that preparatory α modulations play a role in the gating of information between spatially segregated cortical regions and are therefore particularly well suited for spatial gating of information.NEW & NOTEWORTHYThe present work clarifies if and how human brain oscillations in the α-band support multiple types of anticipatory attention. Using magnetoencephalography, we show that posterior α-band oscillations are modulated by predictions regarding the spatial location of an upcoming visual target, but not by feature-based predictions regarding its identity, despite robust behavioral benefits. This provides novel insights into the functional role of preparatory α mechanisms and suggests a limited specificity with which they may operate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.|Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wildegger
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.|Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Ede
authors.affiliation: Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woolrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.|Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and.|Department of Brain and Cognition, University of Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gillebert
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Kia.Nobre@psy.ox.ac.uk.|Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Nobre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055139:Sensory Gating / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: feature-based attention; magnetoencephalography; spatial attention; α lateralization