Work

Frequency of alpha oscillation predicts individual differences in perceptual stability during binocular rivalry

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: When ambiguous visual stimuli have multiple interpretations, human perception can alternate between them, producing perceptual multistability. There is a large variation between individuals in how long stable percepts endure, on average, between switches, but the underlying neural basis of this individual difference in perceptual dynamics remains obscure. Here, we show that in one widely studied multistable paradigm-binocular rivalry-perceptual stability in individuals is predicted by the frequency of their neural oscillations within the alpha range (7-13 Hz). Our results suggest revising models of rivalry to incorporate effects of neural oscillations on perceptual alternations, and raise the possibility that a common factor may influence dynamics in many neural processes.

Source: Human Brain Mapping

DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24533

Authors: Sucharit Katyal, Sheng He, Bin He, Stephen A. Engel

Institutions: University of Minnesota, Carnegie Mellon University

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute

Awards: G3404857265, G4498536115