The Functional Significance of Theta and Upper Alpha Oscillations

Recent findings are reviewed indicating that upper alpha oscillations - when analyzed with appropriate time/frequency resolution - show a similar physiological reactivity as theta in working memory tasks. Comparable to theta, a load dependent increase in power can be observed during retention and in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental psychology 2005, Vol.52 (2), p.99-108
Main Authors: Klimesch, Wolfgang, Schack, Bärbel, Sauseng, Paul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alpha Rhythm
Brain - physiology
Cognition - physiology
Cortical Synchronization - instrumentation
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials - physiology
Human
Human Information Storage
Humans
Long Term Memory
Memory
Memory - physiology
Short Term Memory
Theta Rhythm
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Summary:Recent findings are reviewed indicating that upper alpha oscillations - when analyzed with appropriate time/frequency resolution - show a similar physiological reactivity as theta in working memory tasks. Comparable to theta, a load dependent increase in power can be observed during retention and increased evoked activity during retrieval. During retrieval attempts theta behaves like a traveling wave spreading from anterior to posterior sites. During actual retrieval, however, evoked upper alpha becomes transiently nested in theta. We suggest that theta reflects working memory functions whereas upper alpha may be important for the reactivation of long-term memory codes in short-term memory.
ISSN:1618-3169
2190-5142
DOI:10.1027/1618-3169.52.2.99