Synchrony: a neuronal mechanism for attentional selection?

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2002 Apr;12(2):190-4. doi: 10.1016/s0959-4388(02)00310-0.

Abstract

Attentional selection involves brain processes that select and control the flow of information into the mechanisms that underlie perception and consciousness. One theory proposes that the neural activity that represents the stimuli or events to be attended to is selected through modification of its synchrony. Recent experimental evidence supports this theory, by showing that changes in attentional focus increase the synchrony of neural firing in some neuron pairs and decrease it in others.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cortical Synchronization* / psychology
  • Haplorhini
  • Humans
  • Somatosensory Cortex / physiology