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We demonstrate distinct α- (7-14 Hz) and β-band (15-30 Hz) rhythms in rat somatosensory cortex in vivo using epidural electrocorticography recordings. Moreover, we show in rats that a genuine β-rhythm coexists alongside β-activity that reflects the second harmonic of the arch-shaped somatosensory α-rhythm. This demonstration of a genuine somatosensory β-rhythm depends on a novel quantification of neuronal oscillations that is based on their rhythmic nature: lagged coherence. Using lagged coherence, we provide two lines of evidence that this somatosensory β-rhythm is distinct from the second harmonic of the arch-shaped α-rhythm. The first is based on the rhythms' spatial properties: the α- and β-rhythms are demonstrated to have significantly different topographies. The second is based on the rhythms' temporal properties: the lagged phase-phase coupling between the α- and β-rhythms is demonstrated to be significantly less than would be expected if both reflected a single underlying nonsinusoidal rhythm. Finally, we demonstrate that 1) the lagged coherence spectrum is consistent between signals from rat and human somatosensory cortex; and 2) a tactile stimulus has the same effect on the somatosensory α- and β-rhythms in both rats and humans, namely suppressing them. Thus we not only provide evidence for the existence of genuine α- and β-rhythms in rat somatosensory cortex, but also for their homology to the primate sensorimotor α- and β-rhythms.

Original publication

DOI

10.1152/jn.00507.2015

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurophysiol

Publication Date

01/06/2016

Volume

115

Pages

3030 - 3044

Keywords

barrel cortex, sensorimotor oscillations, somatosensory cortex, β-rhythm, μ-rhythm, Action Potentials, Alpha Rhythm, Animals, Beta Rhythm, Brain Mapping, Electrocorticography, Electrodes, Female, Fourier Analysis, Humans, Male, Periodicity, Physical Stimulation, Rats, Rats, Long-Evans, Somatosensory Cortex, Touch