Topic: beta band

The interaction between spontaneously and externally evoked neuronal activity is fundamental for a functional brain. Increasing evidence suggests that bursts of high-power oscillations in the 15-30 Hz beta-band represent activation of resting state networks and can mask perception of external cues. Yet demonstration of the effect of beta power modulation on perception in real-time is missing, and little is known about the underlying mechanism. In this talk I will present the methods we developed to fill this gap together with our recent results. We used a closed-loop stimulus-intensity adjustm

Motor imagery and overt movement have been hypothesized to be functionally equivalent. At the same time there is evidence that hints at distinct mechanisms of both processes. To explore this disparity, we investigated whether prior imagined movements had the same effect as prior overt movements on motor adaptation performance during a subsequent reach. Additionally, we aimed to identify neuronal correlates of motor imagery predicting such motor adaptation.Movement kinematics (exoskeleton robot, Kinarm Lab) and EEG of 60 participants were recorded to investigate direction-specific adaptation du

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a condition where pain is perceived as arising from a missing limb. Despite the high prevalence of PLP among individuals with amputation, the underlying mechanisms of this painful condition are poorly understood. The aim of the research presented here is to analyse high-resolution EEG data to differentiate oscillatory patterns in amputees who experience PLP from two control groups, amputees without PLP and individuals without amputation, and generate novel insights into the pathophysiology of PLP. This work expands on a previous investigation on the use of common spa

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive dopaminergic depletion in the striatum leading to motor deficits that often manifest with asymmetry. In this study, we investigated the role of optogenetic activation of the direct pathway in its ability to reestablish motor function and regulate oscillatory activity in cortex-basal ganglia loops. Rats received a unilateral injection of 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain bundle, followed by the delivery of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) that specifically transduced Dopamine-1-Receptor-positive medium spiny neurons (DRD1-neurons). Using th

Temporal prediction is the ability to anticipate the occurrence of events, and has been shown to optimize behavior, e.g., reducing reaction times. Recently, optimized behavior has been associated with a phase adjustment of ongoing neural oscillations aligning with the expected onset of upcoming stimuli. In ageing, there is some evidence that these mechanisms might be altered; however, findings are inconsistent. Thus, we aimed to investigate how anticipatory oscillatory markers of temporal prediction change with ageing, adapting a previously used temporal prediction task while measuring electro

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) exhibits prominent oscillatory activity already during early development. In the mouse PFC, these oscillations develop a beta band [15-30 Hz] component during the second postnatal week. These fast oscillations increase in frequency and amplitude with age until stabilizing in the adult-characteristic gamma band [30-80 Hz] during the fourth postnatal week. Abnormal development of fast prefrontal oscillations has been reported for mouse models of schizophrenia and autism. Here, we investigate potential drivers of PFC peak frequency acceleration through simulations of r