LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATIONS OF VISUAL, AUDITORY AND SOMATOSENSORY CORTICAL-NEURONS EVOKED BY SENSORY STIMULATION

Low-frequency oscillations - LFOs - below 20 Hz in the activity of cor tical neurons are a commonly observed property across all sensory moda lities. However, the functional significance and potential role of the se intrinsic oscillations are not well understood. Here, we attempt to provide a general framework for the interpretation of this phenomenon by considering its properties across several sensory modalities. In t he first part, we provide a survey and a general description of low-fr equency oscillations (LFOs) at a cellular level observed following ade quate [Basar, and Schurmann, 1994]. Sensory stimulation of neurons rec orded in three sensory modalities of neocortices in higher mammals. Th e second part will address some functional aspects of low-frequency os cillations (LFOs) such as stimulus selectivity and so-called 'interfer ence' phenomena, specifically with findings related to 'resetting' and 'gating' of sensory processing streams. Finally, a hypotheses is outl ined in which the low-frequency oscillations are regarded as an organi zational principle by which continuity of sensory and motor states ove r time could be accomplished. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.