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Long-range synchronization and local desynchronization of alpha oscillations during visual short-term memory retention in children

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Abstract

Local alpha-band synchronization has been associated with both cortical idling and active inhibition. Recent evidence, however, suggests that long-range alpha synchronization increases functional coupling between cortical regions. We demonstrate increased long-range alpha and beta band phase synchronization during short-term memory retention in children 6–10 years of age. Furthermore, whereas alpha-band synchronization between posterior cortex and other regions is increased during retention, local alpha-band synchronization over posterior cortex is reduced. This constitutes a functional dissociation for alpha synchronization across local and long-range cortical scales. We interpret long-range synchronization as reflecting functional integration within a network of frontal and visual cortical regions. Local desynchronization of alpha rhythms over posterior cortex, conversely, likely arises because of increased engagement of visual cortex during retention.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grant R01 HD039783 from the Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD/NIH) to R.E.G. We thank Ivan Cepeda and Gisela Gosse for coordinating the study, Katia Jitlina and Julie Unterman for help with data collection, and John Gaspar for assistance with data analysis. We also thank Dr. Keiichi Kitajo, RIKEN Institute, and Dr. Kentaro Yamanaka, University of Tokyo, for help in developing the phase synchrony analysis program. R. E. G. is supported by a Distinguished Scholar award from the Child and Family Research Institute and a Senior Scholar award from the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP). S. M. D. is partially supported by the CIHR Pain in Child Health (PICH) Strategic Training Initiative in Health Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, L408-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6R 3V4, Canada

    Sam M. Doesburg & Ruth E. Grunau

  2. Developmental Neurosciences and Child Health, Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Sam M. Doesburg, Urs Ribary & Ruth E. Grunau

  3. Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Anthony T. Herdman, Urs Ribary, Hal Weinberg, Mario Liotti & Daniel Weeks

  4. Down Syndrome Research Foundation, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Urs Ribary, Teresa Cheung & Alexander Moiseev

  5. Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Teresa Cheung

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  1. Sam M. Doesburg
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Correspondence to Sam M. Doesburg.

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Doesburg, S.M., Herdman, A.T., Ribary, U. et al. Long-range synchronization and local desynchronization of alpha oscillations during visual short-term memory retention in children. Exp Brain Res 201, 719–727 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-2086-9

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