Werner Lutzenberger (1) (1994) Increased Gamma Power: new Data Against old Prejudices
. Psycoloquy: 5(67) Brain Rhythms (8)
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Psycoloquy 5(67): Increased Gamma Power: new Data Against old Prejudices
INCREASED GAMMA POWER: NEW DATA AGAINST OLD PREJUDICES
Reply to Klimesch on Brain-Rhythms
Werner Lutzenberger (1)
Friedemann Pulvermueller (1)
Thomas Elbert (2)
Niels Birbaumer (1,3)
(1) Institut fuer Medizinische Psychologie und
Verhaltensneurobiologie, Universitaet Tuebingen,
Gartenstrasse 29, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
(2) Institut fuer Experimentelle Audiologie,
Universitaet Muenster, Kardinal von Galen-Ring 10,
48149 Muenster, Germany
(3) Universita degli Studi, Padova, Italy
pumue@language01.medpsych.theoretische-medizin.uni-tuebingen.de
Abstract
Klimesch (1994) proposes that reduced spectral power in
various frequency bands (the gamma-band included) is an indicator
of increasing task difficulty. He argues against the possibility
that the enhancement of gamma power could be an indicator of
activation of a cortical cell assembly. Our response is the
following: (1) Klimesch needs to spell out his model in terms of
biological mechanisms. The result will probably be one within the
cell assembly framework. (2) In recent experiments, focal
enhancement of gamma-band power has been recorded in the EEG,
whereby the local distribution is a critical factor which
discriminates it clearly from the more unspecific type of
distributions commonly found in the alpha or beta range.
Keywords
brain theory, cell assembly, cognition, event related
potentials (ERP), electroencephalograph (EEG), gamma band, Hebb,
language, lexical processing, magnetoencephalography (MEG),
psychophysiology, periodicity, power spectral analysis, synchrony
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