Brain Oscillations and Cognitive Processes

Cognitive neuroscience now leaves little or no doubt that cognitive processes require the transient integration of numerous, widely distributed, constantly interacting areas of the brain. The most plausible mechanism for such a largescale integration is the formation of dynamic links mediated by synchrony over multiple frequency bands. Neurons can exhibit a wide range of oscillations (~4-70 Hz) which can enter into precise synchrony over a limited period of time (millisecond scale). Brain oscillatory systems have been proposed to act as possible communication networks with functional relations to memory and cognition. This paper presents recent findings on macroscopic brain electric oscillations as an index of cognitive processing.