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The Journal of Neuroscience, January 14, 2009, 29(2):426-435; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3688-08.2009

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Behavioral/Systems/Cognitive
Nonlinear Phase–Phase Cross-Frequency Coupling Mediates Communication between Distant Sites in Human Neocortex

Felix Darvas,¹ Kai J. Miller,³ Rajesh P. N. Rao,² and Jeffrey G. Ojemann¹

¹Department of Neurological Surgery and ²Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, and ³Department of Physics, Neural Systems Laboratory, Harborview Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98104

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Felix Darvas, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering, Box 352350, Seattle, WA 98195. Email: fdarvas{at}u.washington.edu

Human cognition is thought to be mediated by large-scale interactions between distant sites in the neocortex. Synchronization between different cortical areas has been suggested as one possible mechanism for corticocortical interaction. Here, we report robust, directional cross-frequency synchronization between distant sensorimotor sites in human neocortex during a movement task. In four subjects, electrocorticographic recordings from the cortical surface revealed a low-frequency rhythm (10–13 Hz) that combined with a higher frequency (77–82 Hz) in a ventral region of the premotor cortex to produce a third rhythm at the sum of these two frequencies in a distant motor site. Such cross-frequency coupling implies a nonlinear interaction between these cortical sites. These findings demonstrate that task-specific, phase–phase coupling can support communication between distant areas of the human neocortex.

Key words: synchronization; motor cortex; EEG; frequency; directional; human

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Received Aug. 4, 2008; revised Sept. 15, 2008; accepted Nov. 26, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Felix Darvas, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering, Box 352350, Seattle, WA 98195. Email: fdarvas{at}u.washington.edu

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