Project background

Cognitive and sensorimotor processes are based on the activation of highly distributed networks in the brain involving numerous interacting modules and brain regions. It is widely assumed that neuronal network interaction, at multiple spatiotemporal scales, is one of the crucial determinants of cognition and behavior. It is the ability for flexible configuration of functional coupling that underlies the information processing capabilities of the brain and the complexity of its dynamics.

Indeed, functional coupling is a hallmark of brain networks, and there is a wealth of studies that have observed a relation between functional connectivity patterns and cognition or sensorimotor processing. However, despite the advances they have provided, the vast majority of studies available on this topic are still correlative in nature, revealing only associations between dynamic neural coupling and network functions.

Intrinsic coupling modes

The vast majority of functional connectivity patterns observed in the brain are intrinsically generated, i.e., they are not imposed by entrainment to external stimuli but emerge from network connectivity and brain-internal factors. We term these patterns intrinsic coupling modes (ICMs). ICMs can be studied with a broad variety of methods, ranging from single-cell and local field potential (LFP) recordings to electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG).

ICMs occur on a broad range of spatial and temporal scales and show two distinct types of dynamics. One type of ICMs reflects phase coupling of oscillatory signals with band-limited dynamics, which typically occur at frequencies between about 1 Hz and 150 Hz. The second type of ICMs corresponds to coupled fluctuations on slower time scales and can be uncovered by correlation of signal envelopes. We designate these two types as phase ICMs and envelope ICMs, respectively.

Relevant own previous studies (selection)

(* shared authorship)

  • Daume J, Gruber T, Engel AK, Friese U (2017) Phase-amplitude coupling and long-range phase synchronization reveal frontotemporal interactions during visual working memory. Journal of Neuroscience 37: 313-322. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2130-16.2016
  • Engel AK, Fries P (2010) Beta-band oscillations – signalling the status quo? Current Opinion in Neurobiology 20: 156-165. DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2010.02.015
  • Engel AK, Fries P, Singer W (2001) Dynamic predictions: oscillations and synchrony in top-down processing. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2: 704-716. DOI: 10.1038/35094565
  • Engel AK, Singer W (2001) Temporal binding and the neural correlates of sensory awareness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 5: 16-25. DOI: 10.1016/s1364-6613(00)01568-0
  • Engel AK, Gerloff C (2022) Dynamic functional connectivity – causative or epiphenomenal? Trends in Cognitive Sciences 26: 1020-1022. DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.021
  • Engel AK, Gerloff C, Hilgetag CC, Nolte G (2013) Intrinsic coupling modes: multiscale interactions in ongoing brain activity. Neuron 80: 867-886. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.09.038
  • Fiene M, Schwab BC, Misselhorn J, Herrmann CS, Schneider TR, Engel AK (2020) Phase-specific manipulation of rhythmic brain activity by transcranial alternating current stimulation. Brain Stimulation 13: 1254-1262. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.06.008
  • Galindo-Leon EE, Stitt I, Pieper F, Stieglitz T, Engler G, Engel AK (2019) Context-specific modulation of intrinsic coupling modes shapes multisensory processing. Science Advances 5: eaar7633. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar7633
  • Helfrich RF, Knepper H, Nolte G, Strüber D, Rach S, Herrmann CS*, Schneider TR*, Engel AK* (2014) Selective modulation of interhemispheric functional connectivity by HD-tACS shapes perception. PLoS Biology 12: e1002031. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002031
  • Hipp JF, Engel AK, Siegel M (2011) Oscillatory synchronization in large-scale cortical networks predicts perception. Neuron 69: 387-396. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.12.027
  • Hipp JF, Hawellek D, Corbetta M, Siegel M, Engel AK (2012) Large-scale cortical correlation structure of spontaneous oscillatory activity. Nature Neuroscience 15: 884-890. DOI: 10.1038/nn.3101
  • Nolte G, Galindo-Leon E, Li Z, Liu X, Engel AK (2020) Mathematical relations between measures of brain connectivity estimated from electrophysiological recordings for Gaussian distributed data. Frontiers in Neuroscience 14: 577574. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.577574
  • Schwab BC, Misselhorn J, Engel AK (2019) Modulation of large-scale cortical coupling by transcranial alternating current stimulation. Brain Stimulation 12: 1187-1196. DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2019.04.013
  • Siegel M*, Donner TH*, Engel AK (2012) Spectral fingerprints of large-scale neuronal interactions. NatureReviews Neuroscience 13: 121-134. DOI: 10.1038/nrn3137
  • Siegel M, Donner TH, Oostenveld R, Fries P, Engel AK (2008) Neuronal synchronization along the dorsal visual pathway reflects the focus of spatial attention. Neuron 60: 709-719. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2008.09.01
  • Stitt I, Galindo-Leon E, Pieper F, Engler G, Fiedler E, Stieglitz T, Engel AK (2015) Intrinsic coupling modes reveal the functional architecture of cortico-tectal networks. Science Advances 1: e1500229. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1500229
  • Stitt I*, Hollensteiner KJ*, Galindo-Leon E, Pieper F, Fiedler E, Stieglitz T, Engler G, Nolte G, Engel AK (2017) Dynamic reconfiguration of cortical functional connectivity across brain states. Scientific Reports 7: 8797. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08050-6