Visually induced gamma-band activity predicts speed of change detection in humans

Abstract

Groups of activated neurons typically synchronize in the gamma-frequency band (30-100 Hz), and gamma-band synchronization has been implicated in numerous cognitive functions. Those functions are ultimately expressed as behavior and therefore, functional gamma-band synchronization should be directly related to behavior. We recorded the magnetoencephalogram in human subjects and used a visual stimulus to induce occipital gamma-band activity. We found that the strength of this gamma-band activity at a given moment predicted the speed with which the subject was able to report a change in the stimulus. This predictive effect was restricted in time, frequency and space: It started only around 200 ms before the behaviorally relevant stimulus change, was present only between 50 and 80 Hz, and was significant only in bilateral middle occipital gyrus, while the peak of overall visually induced gamma-band activity was found in the calcarine sulcus. These results suggest that visually induced gamma-band activity is functionally relevant for the efficient transmission of stimulus change information to brain regions issuing the corresponding motor response.