The brain’s response to incoming sensory information can be influenced by variations in α-power. Previous studies have suggested that lower α-power before stimulus presentation can enhance perceptual performance. However, there are conflicting findings that challenge this idea. To better understand these mixed results, researchers conducted a study using a spatial temporal-order judgment task with auditory and visual stimuli. They measured the power spectral density of different frequencies in the electroencephalogram (EEG) during veridical and non-veridical temporal-order judgments. Group-level analysis revealed specific patterns of modulation: higher β-band power over central electrodes for auditory judgments and higher β-band power over parieto-occipital electrodes for visual judgments. However, at the individual level, modulation patterns varied and sometimes contradicted the group mean. These individual differences caution against assuming generalizations from group-level effects and suggest that participants may employ different strategies consistently. The findings highlight the importance of considering variability in brain modulation directions both at the group and individual levels. The study’s implications extend to understanding probabilistic information processing and the complexity of brain activity. For a deeper dive into this intriguing research, read the full article!

The processing of incoming sensory information can be differentially affected by varying levels of α-power in the electroencephalogram (EEG). A prominent hypothesis is that relatively low prestimulus α-power is associated with improved perceptual performance. However, there are studies in the literature that do not fit easily into this picture, and the reasons for this are poorly understood and rarely discussed. To evaluate the robustness of previous findings and to better understand the overall mixed results, we used a spatial TOJ task in which we presented auditory and visual stimulus pairs in random order while recording EEG. For veridical and non-veridical TOJs, we calculated the power spectral density (PSD) for 3 frequencies (5 Hz steps: 10, 15, and 20 Hz). We found on the group level: (1) Veridical auditory TOJs, relative to non-veridical, were associated with higher β-band (20 Hz) power over central electrodes. (2) Veridical visual TOJs showed higher β-band (10, 15 Hz) power over parieto-occipital electrodes (3) Electrode site interacted with TOJ condition in the β-band: For auditory TOJs, PSD over central electrodes was higher for veridical than non-veridical and over parieto-occipital electrodes was lower for veridical than non-veridical trials, while the latter pattern was reversed for visual TOJs. While our group-level result showed a clear direction of prestimulus modulation, the individual-level modulation pattern was variable and included activations opposite to the group mean. Interestingly, our results at the individual-level mirror the situation in the literature, where reports of group-level prestimulus modulation were found in either direction. Because the direction of individual activation of electrodes over auditory brain regions and parieto-occipital electrodes was always negatively correlated in the respective TOJ conditions, this activation opposite to the group mean cannot be easily dismissed as noise. The consistency of the individual-level data cautions against premature generalization of group-effects and suggests different strategies that participants initially adopted and then consistently followed. We discuss our results in light of probabilistic information processing and complex system properties, and suggest that a general description of brain activity must account for variability in modulation directions at both the group and individual levels.

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