EEG gamma-band phase synchronization between posterior and frontal cortex during mental rotation in humans

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Joydeep Bhattacharya - , Austrian Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Hellmuth Petsche - , University of Vienna (Author)
  • Ute Feldmann - , Austrian Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Brigitte Rescher - , University of Vienna (Author)

Abstract

The main purpose of the present paper was: (1) to study the phase synchronization pattern in the γ-band while performing the classical Shepard-Metzler task of mental rotation; (2) to investigate the role of musical training; and (3) to study hemispheric differences in the degree of synchronization during mental rotation. Multivariate electroencephalograph signals from 20 male subjects (ten musicians and ten non-musicians) were recorded while performing the mental rotation task and also at resting condition. Phase synchronization was measured by a recent index, mean phase coherence. It was found that synchronization between frontal cortex and right parietal cortex was significantly increased during mental rotation with respect to rest, whereby musicians showed significantly higher degrees of synchronization than non-musicians. Left hemispheric dominance in the degree of phase synchronization, stronger in the posterior right parietal and occipital regions, was observed in musicians. Right hemispheric dominance was generally observed in non-musicians.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)29-32
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience letters
Volume311
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 21 Sept 2001
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 11585560

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Cerebral asymmetry, Electroencephalograph, Gamma band, Mental rotation, Musical training, Phase synchronization