TY - JOUR
T1 - Neural Mechanisms of Sustained Attention Are Rhythmic
AU - Helfrich, Randolph F.
AU - Fiebelkorn, Ian C.
AU - Szczepanski, Sara M.
AU - Lin, Jack J.
AU - Parvizi, Josef
AU - Knight, Robert T.
AU - Kastner, Sabine
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2018/8/22
Y1 - 2018/8/22
N2 - Classic models of attention suggest that sustained neural firing constitutes a neural correlate of sustained attention. However, recent evidence indicates that behavioral performance fluctuates over time, exhibiting temporal dynamics that closely resemble the spectral features of ongoing, oscillatory brain activity. Therefore, it has been proposed that periodic neuronal excitability fluctuations might shape attentional allocation and overt behavior. However, empirical evidence to support this notion is sparse. Here, we address this issue by examining data from large-scale subdural recordings, using two different attention tasks that track perceptual ability at high temporal resolution. Our results reveal that perceptual outcome varies as a function of the theta phase even in states of sustained spatial attention. These effects were robust at the single-subject level, suggesting that rhythmic perceptual sampling is an inherent property of the frontoparietal attention network. Collectively, these findings support the notion that the functional architecture of top-down attention is intrinsically rhythmic. Helfrich et al. demonstrate that the neural basis of sustained attention is rhythmic. Using human intracranial recordings, they show that attentional allocation and overt behavior are modulated by a ∼4 Hz theta rhythm that predicts endogenous excitability fluctuations.
AB - Classic models of attention suggest that sustained neural firing constitutes a neural correlate of sustained attention. However, recent evidence indicates that behavioral performance fluctuates over time, exhibiting temporal dynamics that closely resemble the spectral features of ongoing, oscillatory brain activity. Therefore, it has been proposed that periodic neuronal excitability fluctuations might shape attentional allocation and overt behavior. However, empirical evidence to support this notion is sparse. Here, we address this issue by examining data from large-scale subdural recordings, using two different attention tasks that track perceptual ability at high temporal resolution. Our results reveal that perceptual outcome varies as a function of the theta phase even in states of sustained spatial attention. These effects were robust at the single-subject level, suggesting that rhythmic perceptual sampling is an inherent property of the frontoparietal attention network. Collectively, these findings support the notion that the functional architecture of top-down attention is intrinsically rhythmic. Helfrich et al. demonstrate that the neural basis of sustained attention is rhythmic. Using human intracranial recordings, they show that attentional allocation and overt behavior are modulated by a ∼4 Hz theta rhythm that predicts endogenous excitability fluctuations.
KW - discrete perception
KW - electrocorticography
KW - frontoparietal attention network
KW - functional network parcellation
KW - high-frequency activity
KW - intracranial EEG
KW - perceptual cycles
KW - phase-dependent behavior
KW - rhythmic attention
KW - theta oscillations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051072155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85051072155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.07.032
DO - 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.07.032
M3 - Article
C2 - 30138591
SN - 0896-6273
VL - 99
SP - 854-865.e5
JO - Neuron
JF - Neuron
IS - 4
ER -