Phase synchronization

EEG-based functional connectivity is a suitable tool to study how different brain regions interact during specific cognitive tasks such as art perception. In this study, we aim to investigate the networks activated during the perception of artistic paintings. Twenty-six university students were presented with a random series of 40 abstract and 40 representational paintings. Each painting was shown for 8 seconds. During the experiment, scalp bioelectric activity was recorded using high-density (128-channel) EEG with a Biosemi ActiveTwo device. We calculated the functional connectivity networks

…that inter-areal coherence reflects phase-synchronization between local oscillations and flexibly gates communication. We reveal an alternative mechanism, where coherence results from and is not the cause of communication, and naturally emerges as a consequence of the fact that spiking activity in a sending area causes post-synaptic inputs both in the same area and in other areas. Consequently, coherence depends in a lawful manner