Beyond the Status Quo: A Role for Beta Oscillations in Endogenous Content (Re)Activation

Abstract

Among the rhythms of the brain, oscillations in the beta frequency range (∼13–30 Hz) have been considered the most enigmatic. Traditionally associated with sensorimotor functions, beta oscillations have recently become more broadly implicated in top-down processing, long-range communication, and preservation of the current brain state. Here, we extend and refine these views based on accumulating new findings of content-specific beta-synchronization during endogenous information processing in working memory (WM) and decision making. We characterize such content-specific beta activity as short-lived, flexible network dynamics supporting the endogenous (re)activation of cortical representations. Specifically, we suggest that beta-mediated ensemble formation within and between cortical areas may awake, rather than merely preserve, an endogenous cognitive set in the service of current task demands. This proposal accommodates key aspects of content-specific beta modulations in monkeys and humans, integrates with timely computational models, and outlines a functional role for beta that fits its transient temporal characteristics.

Brain dynamics for confidence-weighted learning

“…This result is in line with the previous proposal that higher beta-band power preserves the current state of networks, promoting a "status quo" rather than a change (Engel and Fries, 2010) which may also be true for lower (alpha) frequencies (Klimesch et al, 2007). Beta-band power in particular is associated with feedback signals (Bastos et al, 2015), stronger attention and top-down control (Buschman and Miller, 2007;Salazar et al, 2012), and the prioritization of the current brain states over new inputs (Spitzer and Haegens, 2017). In support to this view, stronger low frequency (<30 Hz) oscillations attenuate early evoked sensory responses (Iemi et al, 2019), increase the criterion of perceptual detection (resulting in fewer detections) by modulating baseline excitability (Limbach and Corballis, 2016;Benwell et al, 2017;Craddock et al, 2017;Iemi et al, 2017) and degrade performance in perceptual decisions (Haegens et al, 2011).…”

Temporal metacognition as the decoding of self-generated brain dynamics

“…Additionally, that the power of β oscillations determines the duration of network inhibition is . 19, 2017; consistent with the implication of β oscillations in predictive timing (Arnal & Giraud, 2012) and in the notion of an idle state until network updating or reorganization (Engel & Fries, 2010;Spitzer & Haegens, 2017). The power of β has been repeatedly shown to reflect explicit time estimation and prediction (Kononowicz & Van Rijn, 2015, Fujioka et al, 2010) not only in motor timing (Bartolo et al, 2015) but also in sensory-driven duration estimations (Kulashekhar et al, 2015).…”

Electrocorticography reveals continuous auditory and visual speech tracking in temporal and occipital cortex

“…If we consider the current task set to be unrelated to motor activity and follow this interpretation, we could speculate that LF suppression is related to disruption of the current perceptual set and predicts the probability of new processing demands. Alternatively, low-frequency inhibition might be due to endogenous working memory processing (Spitzer & Haegens, 2017), or termination of inhibition (Jensen & Mazaheri, 2010), in contrast to high gamma excitation due to population spiking (Whittingstall & Logothetis, 2009).…”