Traveling waves in the prefrontal cortex during working memory

2022/01/28 by Sayak Bhattacharya, Scott L. Brincat, Mikael Lundqvist +1 · 1 voice · 126 citations
Mathematics · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Cognition #Cortex (anatomy) #Geometry #Mathematical analysis #Mathematics #Memory and Neural Mechanisms #Neural dynamics and brain function #Neuroscience #Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research #Optics #Orientation (vector space) #Physics #Prefrontal cortex #Psychology #Traveling wave #Working memory

paper · pdf · doi:10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009827

published in PLoS Computational Biology 18(1), e1009827 (Public Library of Science)

openalex publication_date 2022/01/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04

Abstract

Neural oscillations are evident across cortex but their spatial structure is not well- explored. Are oscillations stationary or do they form "traveling waves", i.e., spatially organized patterns whose peaks and troughs move sequentially across cortex? Here, we show that oscillations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) organized as traveling waves in the theta (4-8Hz), alpha (8-12Hz) and beta (12-30Hz) bands. Some traveling waves were planar but most rotated. The waves were modulated during performance of a working memory task. During baseline conditions, waves flowed bidirectionally along a specific axis of orientation. Waves in different frequency bands could travel in different directions. During task performance, there was an increase in waves in one direction over the other, especially in the beta band.

Citations

• An Oscillatory Hierarchy Controlling Neuronal Excitability and Stimulus Processing in the Auditory Cortex

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Discussions

• Spiral waves are common in primate cortex doi.org/10.1371/jour... They "unspiral" under anesthesia doi.org/10.1162/jocn... They help with recovery from distractions doi.org/10.1162/JOCN... And also sh [bsky, 13 points, 1 comments]

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