Neural oscillations are proposed to support a variety of behaviors, including long-term memory, yet their functional significance remains an active area of research. Here, we explore a potential functional role of low-frequency cortical oscillations in episodic memory formation. Recent theories suggest that low-frequency oscillations orchestrate rhythmic attentional sampling of the environment by dynamically modulating neural excitability across time. When these oscillations entrain to low-frequency rhythms present in the environment, such as speech or music, the brain can build temporal predictions about the onset of relevant events so that these events can be more efficiently processed. Building upon this literature, we propose that entrained low-frequency oscillations may similarly influence the temporal dynamics of episodic memory by rhythmically modulating encoding across time (mnemonic sampling). Central to this proposal is the phenomenon of cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling, whereby the amplitudes of faster (higher frequency) rhythms, such as gamma oscillations, couple to the phase of slower (lower-frequency) rhythms entrained to environmental stimuli. By imposing temporal structure on higher-frequency oscillatory activity previously linked to memory formation, entrained low-frequency oscillations could dynamically orchestrate memory formation and optimize encoding at specific moments in time. We discuss prior experimental and theoretical work relevant to this proposal.

神经振荡被提议用于支持各种行为，包括长期记忆，但它们的功能意义仍然是一个活跃的研究领域。在这里，我们探索低频皮质振荡在情景记忆形成中的潜在功能作用。最近的理论表明，低频振荡通过随时间动态调节神经兴奋性来协调环境的有节奏的注意采样。当这些振荡引入环境中存在的低频节奏时，例如语音或音乐，大脑可以建立有关相关事件开始的时间预测，以便可以更有效地处理这些事件。以这些文献为基础，我们提出，夹带的低频振荡可能会通过跨时间有节奏地调制编码（助记采样）来类似地影响情景记忆的时间动态。该提议的核心是交叉频率相位幅度耦合现象，即较快（较高频率）节奏的幅度，例如伽马振荡，耦合到环境刺激中夹带的较慢（较低频率）节奏的相位。通过对先前与记忆形成相关的高频振荡活动施加时间结构，夹带的低频振荡可以动态协调记忆形成并优化特定时刻的编码。我们讨论了与该提案相关的先前实验和理论工作。该提议的核心是交叉频率相位幅度耦合现象，即较快（较高频率）节奏的幅度，例如伽马振荡，耦合到环境刺激中夹带的较慢（较低频率）节奏的相位。通过对先前与记忆形成相关的高频振荡活动施加时间结构，夹带的低频振荡可以动态协调记忆形成并优化特定时刻的编码。我们讨论了与该提案相关的先前实验和理论工作。该提议的核心是交叉频率相位幅度耦合现象，即较快（较高频率）节奏的幅度，例如伽马振荡，耦合到环境刺激中夹带的较慢（较低频率）节奏的相位。通过对先前与记忆形成相关的高频振荡活动施加时间结构，夹带的低频振荡可以动态协调记忆形成并优化特定时刻的编码。我们讨论了与该提案相关的先前实验和理论工作。通过对先前与记忆形成相关的高频振荡活动施加时间结构，夹带的低频振荡可以动态协调记忆形成并优化特定时刻的编码。我们讨论了与该提案相关的先前实验和理论工作。通过对先前与记忆形成相关的高频振荡活动施加时间结构，夹带的低频振荡可以动态协调记忆形成并优化特定时刻的编码。我们讨论了与该提案相关的先前实验和理论工作。