Summary
Since the beginning of the 20th century, oscillatory patterns have been identified in recordings of human brain activity. Neural oscillation research is a highly active area of investigation, with several competing hypotheses about the role oscillations might play in human cognition. Here we focus on the spatial dimension and look at the emergent topic of oscillations in the form of ‘traveling waves’. These have been detected in different cortical areas, but there is no clear computational role. In the proposed project, I will first develop the waveSCOPE toolbox for the spatiotemporal characterization of propagating events. This open source toolbox (WP1) uses a novel-to-the-research-field algorithm. The algorithm leverages the fact that we can record cortical activity with many sensors (e.g. using MEG or EEG) and arrive at multivariate estimation of phases across recording channels. This allows tracking traveling waves across many frequencies, without the selection of a prior frequency-of-interest. The procedure will be validated in resting state data and compared systematically to other state-of-the-art wave detection algorithms. I then will apply the novel methodology to speech processing data acquired via magnetoencephalography (WP2). During the processing of speech, one typically observes a complex coordinated hierarchy of rhythmic activity. We will investigate whether wave propagation direction is congruent to directions expected by functional anatomic organization and known auditory processing stages. The knowledge and skills gained from this interdisciplinary project, using a new recording modality as well as a new domain of study, will allow me to further develop a competitive scientific career as an independent researcher. In terms of scientific impact, the characterization of propagating activity will be helpful in the hunt for well-motivated abstractions in the amount of ever-increasing brain data and therefore of fundamental importance for neuroscience.
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| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101062497 |
| Start date: | 01-06-2022 |
| End date: | 31-05-2024 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 189 687,00 Euro |
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Original description
Since the beginning of the 20th century, oscillatory patterns have been identified in recordings of human brain activity. Neural oscillation research is a highly active area of investigation, with several competing hypotheses about the role oscillations might play in human cognition. Here we focus on the spatial dimension and look at the emergent topic of oscillations in the form of ‘traveling waves’. These have been detected in different cortical areas, but there is no clear computational role. In the proposed project, I will first develop the waveSCOPE toolbox for the spatiotemporal characterization of propagating events. This open source toolbox (WP1) uses a novel-to-the-research-field algorithm. The algorithm leverages the fact that we can record cortical activity with many sensors (e.g. using MEG or EEG) and arrive at multivariate estimation of phases across recording channels. This allows tracking traveling waves across many frequencies, without the selection of a prior frequency-of-interest. The procedure will be validated in resting state data and compared systematically to other state-of-the-art wave detection algorithms. I then will apply the novel methodology to speech processing data acquired via magnetoencephalography (WP2). During the processing of speech, one typically observes a complex coordinated hierarchy of rhythmic activity. We will investigate whether wave propagation direction is congruent to directions expected by functional anatomic organization and known auditory processing stages. The knowledge and skills gained from this interdisciplinary project, using a new recording modality as well as a new domain of study, will allow me to further develop a competitive scientific career as an independent researcher. In terms of scientific impact, the characterization of propagating activity will be helpful in the hunt for well-motivated abstractions in the amount of ever-increasing brain data and therefore of fundamental importance for neuroscience.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01Update Date
09-02-2023
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