Frequencies of gamma/beta oscillations are stably tuned to stimulus properties

Abstract

Stimulus-induced changes in oscillation frequencies may affect information flow in the brain. We investigated whether the oscillation frequency of spiking activity in cat area 17 changes as a function of the drifting direction of sinusoidal gratings. Oscillation frequencies were tuned to specific drifting directions, such that some directions induced higher oscillation frequencies than others. When activity from the same neurons was recorded at a later time point, the average oscillation frequency with which the neurons responded had also often changed. However, the direction tuning of the neurons' oscillation frequencies remained constant. Thus, while the overall oscillation frequency, across all drift directions, was state-dependent, the relative change in oscillation frequencies induced by stimulus properties was not, the tuning remaining stable.