Data from: Cross-frequency synchronization connects networks of fast and slow oscillations during visual working memory maintenance

Neuronal activity in sensory and fronto-parietal (FP) areas underlies the representation and attentional control, respectively, of sensory information maintained in visual working memory (VWM). Within these regions, beta/gamma phase-synchronization supports the integration of sensory functions, while synchronization in theta/alpha bands supports the regulation of attentional functions. A key challenge is to understand which mechanisms integrate neuronal processing across these distinct frequencies and thereby the sensory and attentional functions. We investigated whether such integration could be achieved by cross-frequency phase synchrony (CFS). Using concurrent magneto- and electroencephalography, we found that CFS was load-dependently enhanced between theta and alpha–gamma and between alpha and beta-gamma oscillations during VWM maintenance among visual, FP, and dorsal attention (DA) systems. CFS also connected the hubs of within-frequency-synchronized networks and its strength predicted individual VWM capacity. We propose that CFS integrates processing among synchronized neuronal networks from theta to gamma frequencies to link sensory and attentional functions.感觉皮层与额顶叶（fronto-parietal, FP）区域的神经元活动，分别介导视觉工作记忆（visual working memory, VWM）中维持的感觉信息的表征与注意控制过程。在上述脑区中，β/γ频段的相位同步化（phase-synchronization）支持感觉功能的整合，而θ/α频段的同步化则参与注意功能的调控。当前亟待阐明的核心科学问题是：何种机制能够整合不同频段的神经元加工过程，进而实现感觉与注意功能的协同运作。本研究探讨了跨频段相位同步（cross-frequency phase synchrony, CFS）是否能够介导此类整合过程。借助同步采集的脑磁图与脑电图（magneto- and electroencephalography）数据，我们发现：在视觉、FP以及背侧注意（dorsal attention, DA）系统的视觉工作记忆维持阶段，CFS在θ与α-γ频段、α与β-γ频段的振荡间呈现负载依赖性增强。此外，CFS还连接了频段内同步化网络的核心节点，且其强度可预测个体的视觉工作记忆容量。本研究提出，CFS能够整合θ至γ频段的同步化神经元网络活动，从而实现感觉与注意功能的联结。