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Research ArticleNew Research, Integrative Systems

Synchronization of Sensory Gamma Oscillations Promotes Multisensory Communication

Jonas Misselhorn, Bettina C. Schwab, Till R. Schneider and Andreas K. Engel
eNeuro 10 October 2019, 6 (5) ENEURO.0101-19.2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0101-19.2019
Jonas Misselhorn
Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Bettina C. Schwab
Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Till R. Schneider
Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Andreas K. Engel
Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Abstract

Rhythmic neuronal activity in the gamma range is a signature of cortical processing and its synchronization across distant sites has been proposed as a fundamental mechanism of network interactions. While this has been shown within sensory streams, we tested whether cross talk between the senses relies on similar mechanisms. Direct sensory interactions in humans (male and female) were studied with a visual–tactile amplitude matching paradigm. In this task, congruent stimuli are associated with behavioral benefits, which are proposed to be mediated by increased binding between sensory cortices through coherent gamma oscillations. We tested this hypothesis by applying 4-in-1 multi-electrode transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with 40 Hz over visual and somatosensory cortices. In phase stimulation (0°) was expected to strengthen binding and thereby enhance the congruence effect, while anti-phase (180°) stimulation was expected to have opposite effects. Gamma tACS was controlled by alpha (10 Hz) and sham stimulation, as well as by applying tACS unilaterally while visual–tactile stimuli were presented lateralized. Contrary to our expectations, gamma tACS over the relevant hemisphere delayed responses to congruent trials. Additionally, reanalysis of EEG data revealed decoupling of sensory gamma oscillations during congruent trials. We propose that gamma tACS prevented sensory decoupling and thereby limited the congruence effect. Together, our results favor the perspective that processing multisensory congruence involves corticocortical communication rather than feature binding. Furthermore, we found control stimulation over the irrelevant hemisphere to speed responses under alpha stimulation and to delay responses under gamma stimulation, consistent with the idea that contralateral alpha/gamma dynamics regulate cortical excitability.

  • coherence
  • communication
  • EEG
  • gamma
  • networks
  • tACS

Footnotes

  • The authors declare no competing financial interests.

  • This research was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Grants SFB 936/A3/Z1, SFB TRR 169/B1, SPP 1665/EN 533/13-1, and SPP 1665/SCHN 1511/1-2; European Research Council (ERC) Grant ERC-2010-AdG-269716.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium provided that the original work is properly attributed.

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eneuro: 6 (5)
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September/October 2019
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Synchronization of Sensory Gamma Oscillations Promotes Multisensory Communication
Jonas Misselhorn, Bettina C. Schwab, Till R. Schneider, Andreas K. Engel
eNeuro 10 October 2019, 6 (5) ENEURO.0101-19.2019; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0101-19.2019

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Synchronization of Sensory Gamma Oscillations Promotes Multisensory Communication
Jonas Misselhorn, Bettina C. Schwab, Till R. Schneider, Andreas K. Engel
eNeuro 10 October 2019, 6 (5) ENEURO.0101-19.2019; DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0101-19.2019
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Keywords

  • coherence
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