Biology subjects

Gutteling, T. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Gutteling, T. P..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Beta burst waveform extraction using novel 4He-OPMs

Studying the electrophysiology of motor preparation and execution is challenging due to the restrictions often placed on the experimental paradigm by the imaging modality. MEG is well suited to track temporal brain dynamics while offering good spatial resolution, but requires an absence of head motion due to the fixed helmet and associated cryogenic cooling system. Here we used novel, room temperature, wearable optically pumped magnetometers using Helium to measure the MEG in a motor preparation and execution task and compare this with classic SQUID-MEG. Beta band activity (13-30Hz) is widely associated with motor activity, and it has become widely accepted that beta activity occurs in bursts rather than sustained activity. Here we used a novel beta burst extraction pipeline to look at not only the occurrence of the beta bursts across the timecourse of motor preparation and execution, but at the specific waveforms of the beta burst that evolve over time. Results show that specific beta burst waveforms show strong task relevant modulations of burst rate. Beta burst waveforms extracted using Helium-OPMs were very similar to those extracted using SQUID-MEG, with comparable modulations of burst rate over time for specific waveforms. This shows a promising step to obtaining high quality electrophysiological data in less restricted paradigms.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

The Mismatch Negativity compared: EEG, SQUID-MEG and novel 4Helium-OPMs

Magneto-encephalography (MEG) provides a higher spatial resolution than electro-encephalography (EEG) to measure human auditory responses. However, conventional cryogenic MEG systems (SQUID-MEG) suffer from severe technological restrictions limiting, for instance, routine clinical use. Fortunately, a new generation of MEG sensors, optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs), have been developed to bridge the gap, combining the wearability of EEG with the benefits of MEG signal acquisition. We aim to assess their potential for studying auditory mismatch processing. The auditory Mismatch Negativity (MMN) is a well-characterized evoked component observable using a passive oddball paradigm with two-tone sound sequences. It has been extensively described using both EEG and MEG and is part of many EEG-based clinical applications, such as the assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness. MMN is therefore a relevant candidate to evaluate OPM performance. We use recently developed Helium-OPMs, which are high dynamic range MEG sensors that operate at room temperature. We compare their performance with cryogenic SQUID-MEG and EEG in a passive frequency oddball paradigm. Results show a significant MMN across subjects in all modalities as well as a high temporal similarity between modalities. Signal-to-noise ratios were also similar, and detection of significant individual MMN (within-subjects) using the OPM system was equal or better than EEG. Given that the OPM system tested here is a prototype comprised of only five sensors, these results are a promising step towards wearable MEG that combines the advantages of MEG and EEG.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Alpha oscillations reflect suppression of distractors with increased perceptual load

Attention serves an essential role in cognition and behaviour allowing us to focus on behaviourally-relevant objects while ignoring distraction. Perceptual load theory states that attentional resources are allocated according to the requirements of the task, i.e. its load. The theory predicts that the resources left to process irrelevant, possibly distracting stimuli, are reduced when the perceptual load is high. However, it remains unclear how this allocation of attentional resources specifically relates to neural excitability and suppression mechanisms. In this magnetoencephalography (MEG) study, we show that brain oscillations in the alpha band (8-13Hz) implement the suppression of distracting objects when the perceptual load is high. In parallel, high load increased neuronal excitability for target objects, as reflected by rapid frequency tagging. We suggest that the allocation of resources in tasks with high perceptual load is implemented by a gain increase for targets, complemented by distractor suppression reflected by alpha band oscillations closing the gate for interference.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

No evidence for entrainment: endogenous gamma oscillations and responses to rhythmic visual stimulation coexist in visual cortex

Over the past decades, a plethora of studies have linked cortical gamma oscillations ([~]30-100 Hz) to neuro-computational mechanisms. Their functional relevance, however, is still passionately debated. Here, we asked if endogenous gamma oscillations in the human brain can be entrained by a rhythmic photic drive >50 Hz. A noninvasive modulation of endogenous brain rhythms allows conclusions about their causal involvement in neurocognition. To this end, we systematically investigated oscillatory responses to a rapid sinusoidal flicker in the absence and presence of endogenous gamma oscillations using magnetoencephalography (MEG) in combination with a high-frequency projector. The photic drive produced a robust response over visual cortex to stimulation frequencies of up to 80 Hz. Strong, endogenous gamma oscillations were induced using moving grating stimuli as repeatedly done in previous research. When superimposing the flicker and the gratings, there was no evidence for phase or frequency entrainment of the endogenous gamma oscillations by the photic drive. Unexpectedly, we did not observe an amplification of the flicker response around participants individual gamma frequencies; rather, the magnitude of the response decreased monotonically with increasing frequency. Source reconstruction suggests that the flicker response and the gamma oscillations were produced by separate, coexistent generators in visual cortex. The presented findings challenge the notion that cortical gamma oscillations can be entrained by rhythmic visual stimulation. Instead, the mechanism generating endogenous gamma oscillations seems to be resilient to external perturbation. Significance StatementWe aimed to investigate to what extent ongoing, high-frequency oscillations in the gamma band (30-100 Hz) in the human brain can be entrained by a visual flicker. Gamma oscillations have long been suggested to coordinate neuronal firing and enable inter-regional communication. Our results demonstrate that rhythmic visual stimulation cannot hijack the dynamics of ongoing gamma oscillations; rather, the flicker response and the endogenous gamma oscillations coexist in different visual areas. Therefore, while a visual flicker evokes a strong neuronal response even at high frequencies in the gamma-band, it does not entrain endogenous gamma oscillations in visual cortex. This has important implications for interpreting studies investigating the causal and neuroprotective effects of rhythmic sensory stimulation in the gamma band.

neuroscience↗