Stimulus-induced Gamma Power Predicts the Amplitude of the Subsequent Visual Evoked Response

Abstract

The efficiency of neuronal information transfer in activated brain networks may affect behavioral performance. Gamma-band synchronization has been proposed to be a mechanism that facilitates neuronal processing of behaviorally relevant stimuli. In line with this, it has been shown that strong gamma-band activity in visual cortical areas leads to faster responses to a visual go cue. We investigated whether there are directly observable consequences of trial-by-trial fluctuations in non-invasively observed gamma-band activity on the neuronal response. Specifically, we hypothesizedthat the amplitude of the visual evoked response to a go cue can be predicted by gamma power in the visual system, in the window preceding the evoked response. Thirty-three human subjects (22 female) performed a visual speeded response task while their magnetoencephalogram (MEG) was recorded. The participants had to respond to a pattern reversal of a concentric moving grating. We estimated single trial stimulus-induced visual cortical gamma power, and correlated this with the estimated single trial amplitude of the most prominent event-related field (ERF) peak within the first 100 ms after the pattern reversal. In parieto-occipital cortical areas, the amplitude of the ERF correlated positively with gamma power, and correlated negatively with reaction times. No effects were observed for the alpha and beta frequency bands, despite clear stimulus onset induced modulation at those frequencies. These results support a mechanistic model, in which gamma-band synchronization enhances the neuronal gain to relevant visual input, thus leading to more efficient downstream processing and to faster responses.\n\nSignificance statementGamma-band activity has been associated with many cognitive functions and improved behavioral performance. For example, high amplitude gamma-band activity in visual cortical areas before a go cue leads to faster reaction times. However, it remains unclear through which neural mechanism(s) gamma-band activity eventually affects behavior. We tested whether the strength of induced gamma-band activity affects evoked activity elicited by a subsequent visual stimulus. We found enhanced amplitudes of early visual evoked activity, and faster responses with higher gamma power. This suggests that gamma-band activity affects the neuronal gain to new sensory input, and thus these results bridge the gap between gamma power and behavior, and support the putative role of gamma-band activity in the efficiency of cortical processing.