# Project 5 The causal role of neocortical beta events in human sensory perception

> **NIH NIH P20** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $399,281

## Abstract

Beta rhythms (15-29 Hz) are one of the most dominant brain signals measured non-invasively in humans with 
magento- and electro-encephalography (MEG/EEG). They are strong predictors of perception and motor 
performance, and disrupted in disease states, such as Parkinson’s Disease. Yet, beta’s causal role in function 
is still unknown. In this proposal, we will combine human EEG, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and 
biophysically principled neural modeling to investigate a direct causal relationship between beta and perception 
and to define novel TMS paradigms that optimally impact perception. 
Our prior studies have shown that prestimulus beta activity measured with MEG in human primary 
somatosensory cortex (SI) “inhibits” tactile detection, such that the higher the averaged prestimulus beta power 
the less likely the subject detects a threshold level tap to the finger. Further, averaged beta power increases in 
non-attended regions, presumably as a means to filter distracting information to facilitate perception (Jones et 
al J. Neurosci. 2010). More recently, we reported that that high power beta activity emerges as brief “events” 
(<150ms) in unaveraged data, with a dominant peak lasting one beta period ~40-60ms (Sherman et al PNAS 
2016). Preliminary data suggests such beta events are intermittent and that the rate of beta events underlies 
beta’s shift with attention and impact on perception. Prestimulus beta event rates decrease in attended, and 
increase in non-attended somatotopic regions (areas of distraction), corresponding with a higher probability of 
detection. 
We predict detection of tactile stimulation in an attended location will be inhibited when tactile stimulation is 
delivered after high spontaneous EEG beta event rates in the corresponding somatotopic region, and 
enhanced when delivered after high beta event rates in the non-attended somatotopic region (area of 
distraction) (Aim 1). We further predict TMS protocols that mimic endogenous beta event patterns will impact 
perception more effectively than non-TMS conditions and standard functionally “inhibitory” TMS protocols (Aim 
2). Computational neural modeling specifically designed by our group to simulate macro-scale EEG signals will 
be used to intepret circuit mechanisms underlying observed data (Aim 3). 
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10246478
- **Project number:** 5P20GM103645-09
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** STEPHANIE Ruggiano JONES
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $399,281
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-08-15 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10246478

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10246478, Project 5 The causal role of neocortical beta events in human sensory perception (5P20GM103645-09). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10246478. Licensed CC0.

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