What does neuronal coherence tell us about neuronal communication? Does coherence between field potentials (e.g. LFP, EEG, MEG) reflect spiking entrainment or coupling between oscillators? Is it a mechanism for communication between brain areas, or a byproduct of interareal connectivity? We hypothesized that interareal coherence is explained by the fact that outputs from one cortical area give rise to synaptic inputs in the same brain area, and correlated synaptic inputs in another area. Our mathematical analysis demonstrates that coherence between a sending and receiving area is precisely predicted from only two parameters: Interareal connectivity and oscillatory synchronization in the sending area. This model predicts narrow-band coherence even in case of a flat transfer function and in the absence of spiking entrainment in a downstream area, and reproduces frequency-specific Granger-causality patterns between brain areas (gamma feedforward, beta feedback). In general, we find that Granger-causality between field potentials is dominated by oscillatory synchronization in the sending area, whereas spiking entrainment is determined by the resonant properties of the receiver. We apply this model to multi-area macaque recordings. Our model accurately reproduces LFP-LFP beta-coherence between macaque areas 7B and F5 in the absence of beta phase-locking within area F5. Together, these findings uncover a precise mechanistic model of interareal coherence as a (by)product of connectivity and power.

中文翻译：

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大脑区域之间一致性的一般理论

关于神经元交流，神经元一致性能告诉我们什么？场电势（例如LFP，EEG，MEG）之间的相干性是否反映了尖峰夹带或振荡器之间的耦合？它是大脑区域之间交流的机制，还是区域间连接的副产品？我们假设区域间的连贯性是由一个皮层区域的输出在同一大脑区域产生突触输入，而在另一区域的突触输入相关的事实来解释的。我们的数学分析表明，仅通过两个参数即可准确预测发送和接收区域之间的相干性：区域间连接性和发送区域中的振荡同步。即使在传递函数平坦且下游区域没有尖峰夹带的情况下，该模型仍可预测窄带相干性，并在大脑区域之间重现特定于频率的格兰杰因果关系模式（伽玛前馈，β反馈）。通常，我们发现场电位之间的格兰杰因果关系主要由发送区域中的振荡同步决定，而尖峰夹带则由接收器的谐振特性决定。我们将此模型应用于多区域猕猴录音。我们的模型可以准确地在猕猴区域7B和F5之间重现LFP-LFPβ相干性，而在区域F5中不存在β锁相。这些发现共同揭示了区域间连贯性的精确机制模型，这是连通性和功率的（副产品）。我们发现场电位之间的格兰杰因果关系主要由发送区域的振荡同步决定，而尖峰夹带则由接收器的共振特性决定。我们将此模型应用于多区域猕猴录音。我们的模型准确地再现了猕猴区域7B和F5之间的LFP-LFPβ相干性，而区域F5中没有β锁相。这些发现共同揭示了区域间连贯性的精确机制模型，这是连通性和功率的（副产品）。我们发现场电位之间的格兰杰因果关系主要由发送区域的振荡同步决定，而尖峰夹带则由接收器的共振特性决定。我们将此模型应用于多区域猕猴录音。我们的模型可以准确地在猕猴区域7B和F5之间重现LFP-LFPβ相干性，而在区域F5中不存在β锁相。这些发现共同揭示了区域间连贯性的精确机制模型，这是连通性和功率的（副产品）。