THETA-BAND POWER IN THE HUMAN SCALP EEG AND THE ENCODING OF NEW INFORMATION

TASK-related band power changes in the theta and alpha bands were exam ined during the encoding of new information in an implicit memory para digm. The results showed significantly higher theta power during the e ncoding of those words which could be remembered in the later recall t ask, compared with words which could not be remembered later. In contr ast to the theta band, alpha band power decreased during encoding. How ever, remembered words, compared with not remembered words did not sho w significant differences in the the alpha band. The increase in theta power during the successful encoding of new information is discussed with respect to a possible relationship with hippocampal theta, induce d in the cortex via hippocampo-cortical feedback loops.