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Distinct functions for beta and alpha bursts in gating of human working memory

Author

Listed:
  • Johan Liljefors

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Rita Almeida

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Stockholm University)

  • Gustaf Rane

    (Karolinska Institutet)

  • Johan N. Lundström

    (Karolinska Institutet
    Monell Chemical Senses Center)

  • Pawel Herman

    (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

  • Mikael Lundqvist

    (Karolinska Institutet)

Abstract

Multiple neural mechanisms underlying gating to working memory have been proposed with divergent results obtained in human and animal studies. Previous findings from non-human primates suggest prefrontal beta frequency bursts as a correlate of transient inhibition during selective encoding. Human studies instead suggest a similar role for sensory alpha power fluctuations. To cast light on these discrepancies we employed a sequential working memory task with distractors for human participants. In particular, we examined their whole-brain electrophysiological activity in both alpha and beta bands with the same single-trial burst analysis earlier performed on non-human primates. Our results reconcile earlier findings by demonstrating that both alpha and beta bursts in humans correlate with the filtering and control of memory items, but with region and task-specific differences between the two rhythms. Occipital beta burst patterns were selectively modulated during the transition from sensory processing to memory retention whereas prefrontal and parietal beta bursts tracked sequence order and were proactively upregulated prior to upcoming target encoding. Occipital alpha bursts instead increased during the actual presentation of unwanted sensory stimuli. Source reconstruction additionally suggested the involvement of striatal and thalamic alpha and beta. Thus, specific whole-brain burst patterns correlate with different aspects of working memory control.

Suggested Citation

  • Johan Liljefors & Rita Almeida & Gustaf Rane & Johan N. Lundström & Pawel Herman & Mikael Lundqvist, 2024. "Distinct functions for beta and alpha bursts in gating of human working memory," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53257-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53257-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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