Previous studies emphasize the importance of prestimulus neural oscillations in shaping endogenous brain states that substantially impact perceptual outcomes. However, what features in such oscillations drive perception remains unknown. Furthermore, research has shown that non-oscillatory activity is also important for cognitive processing. However, their interaction prior to perceiving a multisensory stimulus remains unexplored. In this human EEG study (n=18, 10 males and 8 females), we investigated the role of prestimulus periodic power and aperiodic activity in modulating perception of the widely studied McGurk illusion on a trial-by-trial basis. Using logistic mixed-effect models, we reveal that the illusion perception is associated with reduced prestimulus alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (15–30 Hz) power over frontal and occipital regions, increased theta (4–7 Hz) power in parietal, central, and occipital regions, and increased gamma (31–45 Hz) power across the scalp. Furthermore, lower aperiodic offset and ...

Epileptic seizures involve the brain transitioning from a resting state to an abnormal state of synchronized bursting, akin to a bifurcation in dynamical systems where a parameter shift triggers a qualitative change in behavior. A comprehensive model was previously developed that used dynamical equations capable of simulating 16 “dynamotypes” of seizures that span the full range of theoretical first-order dynamics. The current work is a tool to understand and implement this model with the goal of generating a wide range of synthetic seizures. We present a dynamical atlas of all 16 possible onset-offset bifurcation combinations, each characterized by distinct features in simulated EEG-like recordings. We include a tutorial and GUI that generates diverse simulated seizures. In addition, we include methods to add realistic noise and filtering effects to enhance their resemblance to human EEG data. This toolbox has two purposes: it is a practical, educational demonstration of the dynamical principles underlyin...

Sensory attenuation of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs), particularly N1 and P2 components, has been widely demonstrated in response to simple, repetitive stimuli sequences of isolated synthetic sounds. It remains unclear, however, whether these effects generalize to complex soundscapes where temporal and acoustic features vary more broadly and dynamically. In this study, we investigated whether the inter-onset interval (IOI), the time between successive sound events, modulates AEP amplitudes in a complex auditory scene. We derived acoustic onsets from a naturalistic soundscape and applied temporal response function (TRF) analysis to EEG data recorded from normal hearing human listeners (N = 22, 16 females, 6 males). Our results showed that shorter IOIs are associated with attenuated N1 and P2 amplitudes, replicating classical adaptation effects in a naturalistic sound scape. These effects remained stable when controlling for other acoustic features such as intensity and envelope sharpness and across diff...

Victoria Prince is the dean for graduate affairs in the biological sciences division at the University of Chicago. As a co-PI on her university’s Broadening Experience in Science Training (BEST) Award, Prince works to ensure that trainees’ are well-equipped to pursue various career paths. Here, she discusses how.

Walt Gall, a strategy consultant for Biotechnology Enterprises, discusses the skills he developed during his PhD program and how they help him in his current role.

There is no shortage of “brain talk” in the public arena. If you watch TEDx talks, read blogs, or watch news programs, you will undoubtedly hear references to the brain. It’s exciting that neuroscience is being discussed and captivating the public’s interest — and that the public wants to know even more.

Sleep is an evolutionarily conserved behavioral state whose regulation is poorly understood.

Networking is about exploring career options and trajectories and, most importantly, about building relationships. Before you can see the tangible benefits of networking, you need to lay the groundwork. Here are three steps to get you started.

This event took place on July 12, 2021 and is no longer available on-demand.

These days, I eat lunch in empty conference rooms. I run experiments without inquisitive undergraduate or high school mentees peeking over my shoulder. I pass masked colleagues in the hallways at a distance—just making out their faces before narrowly missing the opportunity to wave. I think most of us have experienced the unique emotions of isolation and loneliness at some point, at the very least throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout my life, I wondered what makes us feel and act on emotions like loneliness. As a middle schooler, during an outreach program’s Neuro Night, the answer was placed in my hands: the brain! It was a plastinated human one. I soon also discovered that I could study it as a scientist.