Successful memory encoding is associated with increased cross-frequency coupling between frontal theta and posterior gamma oscillations in human scalp-recorded EEG
Abstract
Although previous studies have established that successful memory encoding is associated with increased synchronization of theta-band and gamma-band oscillations, it is unclear if there is a functional relationship between oscillations in these frequency bands. Using scalp-recorded EEG in healthy human participants, we demonstrate that cross-frequency coupling between frontal theta phase and posterior gamma power is enhanced during the encoding of visual stimuli which participants later on remember versus items which participants subsequently forget ("subsequent memory effect," SME). Conventional wavelet analyses and source localizations revealed SMEs in spectral power of theta-, alpha-, and gamma-band. Successful compared to unsuccessful encoding was reflected in increased theta-band activity in right frontal cortex as well as increased gamma-band activity in parietal-occipital regions. Moreover, decreased alpha-band activity in prefrontal and occipital cortex was also related to successful encoding. Overall, these findings support the idea that during the formation of new memories frontal cortex regions interact with cortical representations in posterior areas.
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Theta/gamma coupling is functionally relevant for long-term memory processes and contributes to recall of stored information in rats and humans.
“The theta/gamma coupling has been shown to be functionally relevant for long-term memory processes (Tort et al., 2009) contributing to the recall of stored information both in rats (Shirvalkar et al., 2010) and in humans (Friese et al., 2013).”
From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Friese et al., 2013
Theta/gamma coupling occurs between frontal theta and posterior gamma oscillations.
“However, these studies revealed that the coupling occurs between the frontal theta and the posterior gamma oscillations (Friese et al., 2013).”
From The Functional Role of Dreaming in Emotional Processes (2019) · cites this paper as Friese et al., 2013
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- Authors
- Friese, U., Köster, M., Hassler, U., Martens, U., Trujillo-Barreto, N., & Gruber, T.
- Affiliations
- Osnabrück University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Friese, Uwe
- Venue
- NeuroImage
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-02
- Volume
- 66
- Pages
- 642-647
- ISSN
- 1053-8119 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2046550948
- Cited by
- 233
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 4.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- NeuroImage (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- German Research Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- memory encoding, cross-frequency coupling, theta oscillations, gamma oscillations, subsequent memory effect, frontal cortex, alpha band, EEG source localization, visual memory, neuronal synchronization
- MeSH terms
- Brain, Cortical Synchronization, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Scalp, Young Adult
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