Anticipatory biasing of visuospatial attention indexed by retinotopically specific alpha-band electroencephalography increases over occipital cortex

alpha-Band (8-14 Hz) oscillatory EEG activity was examined with high-densit y scalp electrical recording during the cue-stimulus interval of an endogen ous spatial cueing paradigm. In different blocks, cued spatial locations (l eft or right) were in either the upper or lower visual field, and attended stimuli were either oriented Ts or moving dots. Distractor stimuli were equ ally likely in the uncued hemifield. Sustained focal increases of alpha-ban d activity were seen over occipital cortex contralateral to the direction o f the to-be-ignored location (ipsilateral to the cued direction of attentio n) before onset of the to-be-attended stimulus. The focus of alpha-band act ivity also moved depending on whether cued locations were in the upper or l ower field. Results are consistent with active gating of uncued spatial loc ations.