Fundamentals of Cortical and Subcortical Oscillations

Interwoven between many of our investigations is an interest in the oscillatory and rhythmic activity of the brain. These are features, which are obviously present during sleeping and dreaming but also during normal cognitive activity, make a fundamental component of active cognition and have gone pathologically askew during epilepsy. We are investigating the mechanisms and importance of different oscillatory activity during many different brain states and how this may reflect network activity. This issue also involves looking at where in the cortical laminar different oscillatory activities are generated. As in our other projects we use primarily intracranial recordings in patients — including both clinical electrodes and specialized research electrodes – to obtain data specific to humans on this issue.