# Frontal/Prefrontal control of cortical rhythms during auditory active sensi

> **NIH NIH P50** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $260,922

## Abstract

How do we extract salient information from an ever-changing and noisy environment? Project 3 addresses
this fundamental question in perception using direct brain recordings in humans (electrocorticography;
ECoG) to assess two models of sensory acquisition. The Active Sensing model posits that high-level inputs
act to rhythmically sample the sensory word and filter out noise. The related predictive coding model theory
posits that prior knowledge enhances perception with the brain making predictions about upcoming stimuli
to sharpen low-level sensory processing. We propose that both processes share similar neural substrates -
neuronal rhythm-based engagement of frontal, premotor, motor and sensory cortical networks to enable
active and predictive sampling of the world to enhance perception. We employ ECoG to measure neural
oscillations and high frequency activity (HG; 70-200 Hz; surrogate for intracortical SUA activity) and employ
network analysis approaches to define the role of top-down control of active sensing and predictive coding
in the human brain. Two or our proposed human ECoG studies are performed in monkeys in Project 4
permitting a rich inter-species comparison of the neural substrates of sensory acquisition. AIM 1 tests the
hypotheses that motor/premotor systems control auditory sampling rhythms and actively suppress
distracting information. This aim also explores whether lateral prefrontal regions provide additional control to
the motor/premotor-auditory active-sensing network. AIM 2 addresses how prior knowledge enhances
speech perception and `fills-in' degraded speech representations in auditory cortices. Given the use of
speech stimuli this study will only be performed in humans. This Aim directly tests the predictive coding
model and examines if similar neural substrates support both predictive coding and active sensing. AIM 3
compares our ECoG data to the laminar LFP/CSD and MUA profiles and network parameters obtained in
parallel monkey auditory Project 4. These unique cross-species data will be used to identify the cell
populations and physiological processes that generate ECoG components in monkeys and humans
providing unprecedented insights into cortical physiology in humans. We predict that active sensing
mechanisms are modality independent and will also compare our finding from the auditory monkey-man to
the visual human and monkey active sensing studies in Projects 1 and 2. Core C provides critical DTI and
resting state fMRI to correlate with our ECoG network and HG data and Core B provides for data
standardization and sharing. Finally, Project 5 provides the computational and modeling infrastructure
necessary to build and refine cell and systems level models of the world is sampled. Active sensing and
predictive coding are likely impaired in a host of disabling psychiatric, neurological and developmental
disorders making the understanding of these processes central to the mission of the NIMH.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9940904
- **Project number:** 5P50MH109429-04
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Robert Thomas Knight
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $260,922
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9940904

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9940904, Frontal/Prefrontal control of cortical rhythms during auditory active sensi (5P50MH109429-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9940904. Licensed CC0.

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