Functional differences of low- and high-frequency oscillatory dynamics during illusory border perception

Abstract

Neuronal oscillations are an essential part of several brain processes like perception, memory and attention, but little is known about the simultaneous dynamics of different frequency bands in such processes. Here, we studied the low- and high-frequency dynamics of neuronal oscillations in a task that involves covert searching and visual perception of an illusory contour figure (Kanisza square). Subjects were cued to a particular region of the space, and then a matrix of illusory contour inductors appeared. Illusory contour could appear at the cued position, in a different position or not appear at all. We analyze the condition in which an illusory contour appears and those in which the illusory borders do not appear. During the visual perception of the illusory contour, we found a significant increase in a narrow and sustained gamma frequency band (55–65 Hz). We also found a transient increase in the theta band (4–10 Hz), 0.3 s after stimuli onset. This low-frequency power increase correlates strongly with the detection of the illusory contour and it is inversely correlated with the gamma-band response. When illusory contours were absent, a sustained low-frequency response in the same frequency range was present until appearance of the motor response. The intensity of this low-frequency power response was also related to the speed of the motor response. We hypothesize that theta and gamma interact to process different aspects of the task. Gamma would be related to perception of the stimuli, while theta would be involved in search mechanisms or the initiation of a motor response.