Abstract
Frequency tagging has been widely used to study the role of visual selective attention. Presenting a visual stimulus flickering at a specific frequency generates so-called steady-state visually evoked responses. However, frequency tagging is mostly done at lower frequencies (<30 Hz). This produces a visible flicker, potentially interfering with both perception and neuronal oscillations in the theta, alpha and beta band. To overcome these problems, we used a newly developed projector with a 1440 Hz refresh rate allowing for frequency tagging at higher frequencies. We asked participants to perform a cued spatial attention task in which imperative pictorial stimuli were presented at 63 Hz or 78 Hz while measuring whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG). We found posterior sensors to show a strong response at the tagged frequency. Importantly, this response was enhanced by spatial attention. Furthermore, we reproduced the typical modulations of alpha band oscillations, i.e., decrease in the alpha power contralateral to the attentional cue. The decrease in alpha power and increase in frequency tagged signal with attention correlated over subjects. We hereby provide proof-of-principle for the use of high-frequency tagging to study sensory processing and neuronal excitability associated with attention.
Highlights
Frequency tagging has been successfully used to study selective stimulus processing in EEG studies (e.g. (Müller et al, 2006, 2003; 1998; Norcia et al, 2015; Vialatte et al, 2010),)
We set out to investigate the feasibility of rapid frequency tagging to study the role of sensory processing in the visual cortex
These findings provide important proof-of-principle that rapid frequency tagging can be used to measure neuronal excitability of visual cortex in a stimulus specific manner to for instance investigate spatial attention
Summary
Frequency tagging has been successfully used to study selective stimulus processing in EEG studies (e.g. (Müller et al, 2006, 2003; 1998; Norcia et al, 2015; Vialatte et al, 2010),). A stimulus (usually visual or auditory) is presented at a fixed frequency, which produces robust steady-state visually evoked potentials or fields (respectively SSVEPs or SSVEFs for EEG and MEG), resulting in a power increase at the tagged frequency (Vialatte et al, 2010). These responses are for instance enhanced by attention (Morgan et al, 1996; Müller et al, 2006) and reflect subjective perception in a bi-stable perception task (Parkkonen et al, 2008). We use a newly developed projector that allows us to perform frequency tagging at higher frequencies and to investigate neuronal excitability and visual attention in relation to endogenous oscillations in the alpha band
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
