Individual resting-state alpha peak frequency and within-trial changes in alpha peak frequency both predict visual dual-pulse segregation performance

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Jan Drewes - , Sichuan Normal University, University of Trento (Author)
  • Evelyn Muschter - , Clusters of Excellence CeTI: Centre for Tactile Internet, University of Trento (Author)
  • Weina Zhu - , University of Trento, Yunnan University (Author)
  • David Melcher - , University of Trento, NYU Abu Dhabi (Author)

Abstract

Although sensory input is continuous, information must be combined over time to guide action and cognition, leading to the proposal of temporal sampling windows. A number of studies have suggested that a 10-Hz sampling window might be involved in the "frame rate" of visual processing. To investigate this, we tested the ability of participants to localize and enumerate 1 or 2 visual flashes presented either at near-threshold or full-contrast intensities, while recording magnetoencephalography. The inter-stimulus interval (ISI) between the 2 flashes was varied across trials. Performance in distinguishing between 1 and 2 flashes was linked to the alpha frequency, both at the individual level and trial-by-trial. Participants with a higher resting-state alpha peak frequency showed the greatest improvement in performance as a function of ISI within a 100-ms time window, while those with slower alpha improved more when ISI exceeded 100 ms. On each trial, correct enumeration (1 vs. 2) performance was paired with faster pre-stimulus instantaneous alpha frequency. Our results suggest that visual sampling/processing speed, linked to peak alpha frequency, is both an individual trait and can vary in a state-dependent manner.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5455-5466
Number of pages12
JournalCerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
Volume32
Issue number23
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 35137008
ORCID /0000-0001-6870-5224/work/147142877

Keywords

Keywords

  • individual alpha frequency, instantaneous alpha frequency, temporal integration, temporal segregation, visual processing speed, Time Perception, Magnetoencephalography, Humans, Visual Perception, Time

Library keywords