RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Microsaccades transiently lateralise EEG alpha activity
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2022.09.02.506318
DO 10.1101/2022.09.02.506318
A1 Liu, Baiwei
A1 Nobre, Anna C.
A1 van Ede, Freek
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/09/05/2022.09.02.506318.abstract
AB The lateralisation of 8-12 Hz alpha activity is a canonical signature of human spatial cognition that is typically studied under strict fixation requirements. Yet, even during attempted fixation, the brain produces small involuntary eye movements known as microsaccades. Here we report how spontaneous microsaccades – made in the absence of incentives to look elsewhere – can themselves drive transient lateralisation of EEG alpha power according to microsaccade direction. This transient lateralisation of posterior alpha power occurs similarly following start and return microsaccades and is driven by increased alpha power ipsilateral to microsaccade direction. This reveals new links between spontaneous microsaccades and human electrophysiological brain activity, and highlights how microsaccades are an important factor to consider in studies relating alpha activity to spatial cognition.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.