Neural synchrony in cortical networks: history, concept and current status

TLDR

Neural synchrony, first noted in the visual cortex, is now viewed as a general mechanism coordinating distributed neural activity. This paper updates the neural synchrony hypothesis by summarizing recent laboratory findings on its mechanisms, functions, and relevance, including its role in perceptual expectancy, conscious experience, and implications for future research. The authors present animal experiments and mathematical simulations that explain zero and nero‑zero phase‑lag synchronization, and discuss how synchrony underlies perceptual expectancy and conscious experience. Evidence shows that neural synchrony is abnormal in disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders, underscoring its importance for conscious cognition and highlighting critical issues for future research.

Abstract

Following the discovery of context-dependent synchronization of oscillatory neuronal responses in the visual system, the role of neural synchrony in cortical networks has been expanded to provide a general mechanism for the coordination of distributed neural activity patterns. In the current paper, we present an update of the status of this hypothesis through summarizing recent results from our laboratory that suggest important new insights regarding the mechanisms, function and relevance of this phenomenon. In the first part, we present recent results derived from animal experiments and mathematical simulations that provide novel explanations and mechanisms for zero and nero-zero phase lag synchronization. In the second part, we shall discuss the role of neural synchrony for expectancy during perceptual organization and its role in conscious experience. This will be followed by evidence that indicates that in addition to supporting conscious cognition, neural synchrony is abnormal in major brain disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. We conclude this paper with suggestions for further research as well as with critical issues that need to be addressed in future studies.