Transient interhemispheric neuronal synchrony correlates with object recognition.

Object recognition might be achieved by the recreation of a meaningful internal image from visual fragments. This recreation might be achieved by neuronal synchronization that has been proposed as a solution for the perceptual binding problem. In this study, we evaluated synchronization between the occipitotemporal regions bilaterally using electroencephalograms during several visual recognition tasks. Conscious recognition of familiar objects spanning the visual midline induced transient interhemispheric electroencephalographic coherence in the alpha band, which did not occur with meaningless objects or with passive viewing. Moreover, there was no interhemispheric coherence when midline objects were not recognized as meaningful or when familiar objects were presented in one visual hemifield. These data suggest a close link between site-specific interregional synchronization and object recognition.

Force level modulates human cortical oscillatory activities.

We studied the relationship between cortical and muscular oscillatory activities and muscular force level during a tonic contraction task using electroencephalography (EEG). Within the weak to moderate force level, the normalized power in the alpha band in the contralateral sensorimotor areas was inversely linearly correlated with the force. Cortical-muscular coherence was observed in the beta band and its magnitude was not affected by the force. In contrast, during strong contractions, EEG power in the gamma band increased and was partly correlated with the Piper rhythm in the electromyogram. Our results show that the multiple oscillatory activities in the cortex are correlated with the force level in different ways. Cortical gamma band oscillation may reflect both focused attention and the efferent drive to the muscle during very strong tonic contraction.