The Role of Alpha-Band Brain Oscillations as a Sensory Suppression Mechanism during Selective Attention

Foxe, John J.; Snyder, Adam C.

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00154

Cited by 1,558Neural dynamics and brain functionMultisensory perception and integrationVisual perception and processing mechanisms

The Role of Alpha-Band Brain Oscillations as a Sensory Suppression Mechanism during Selective Attention

Open access

Foxe, John J., Snyder, Adam C.·2011·Frontiers in Psychology

DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00154PMC PMC3132683

Open this paper in CoChat — free account Open PDF

Abstract

Evidence has amassed from both animal intracranial recordings and human electrophysiology that neural oscillatory mechanisms play a critical role in a number of cognitive functions such as learning, memory, feature binding and sensory gating. The wide availability of high-density electrical and magnetic recordings (64-256 channels) over the past two decades has allowed for renewed efforts in the characterization and localization of these rhythms. A variety of cognitive effects that are associated with specific brain oscillations have been reported, which range in spectral, temporal, and spatial characteristics depending on the context. Our laboratory has focused on investigating the role of alpha-band oscillatory activity (8-14 Hz) as a potential attentional suppression mechanism, and this particular oscillatory attention mechanism will be the focus of the current review. We discuss findings in the context of intersensory selective attention as well as intrasensory spatial and feature-based attention in the visual, auditory, and tactile domains. The weight of evidence suggests that alpha-band oscillations can be actively invoked within cortical regions across multiple sensory systems, particularly when these regions are involved in processing irrelevant or distracting information. That is, a central role for alpha seems to be as an attentional suppression mechanism when objects or features need to be specifically ignored or selected against.

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00154

Cites

118 of 118 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.

Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Traditional interpretations treated alpha as an idling rhythm, but contemporary EEG research strongly supports the view that alpha oscillations regulate functional inhibition, sensory gating, attentional selection, and access to stored information.
“Traditional interpretations treated alpha as an idling rhythm, but contemporary EEG research strongly supports the view that alpha oscillations regulate functional inhibition, sensory gating, attentional selection, and access to stored information [224,225,226].”
From Electrophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Systematic and Mechanistic Review of EEG, ERP, and QEEG Evidence (2026) · cites this paper as [225]
Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Foxe and Snyder (2011) also emphasised alpha as a mechanism of sensory suppression during selective attention.
“Foxe and Snyder (2011) also emphasised alpha as a mechanism of sensory suppression during selective attention [225].”
From Electrophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Systematic and Mechanistic Review of EEG, ERP, and QEEG Evidence (2026) · cites this paper as [225]

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

The self-check needs the paper’s full text.

Neural Mechanisms of Selective Visual Attention
Desimone, R., & Duncan, J. (1995) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.ne.18.030195.001205 · Cited by 8,388 · see citing works
The attention system of the human brain
Posner, M. I., & Petersen, S. E. (1990) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.ne.13.030190.000325 · Cited by 8,070 · cited 2× · see citing works
“We suggested that the enhanced parieto-occipital alphaband activity seen in our intersensory selective attention paradigm the attend-auditory instruction might reflect anticipatory gating of visual processing by parieto-occipital structures, which are known to be involved in attentional switching and disengagement wit…”
BackgroundMethod
Distributed hierarchical processing in the primate cerebral cortex
Felleman, D. J., & Van Essen, D. C. (1991) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/1.1.1 · Cited by 7,783 · see citing works
Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending, and a general theory
Shiffrin, R. M., & Schneider, W. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.2.127 · Cited by 7,335 · see citing works
Attention and Effort
Egeth, H. E., & Kahneman, D. J. (1975) · The American Journal of Psychology · doi:10.2307/1421603 · Cited by 6,976 · see citing works
Controlled and automatic human information processing: I. Detection, search, and attention.
Schneider, W., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1977) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.84.1.1 · Cited by 5,902 · see citing works
Perception and Communication
Lane, S. D. (2016) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315506173-8 · Cited by 4,707 · see citing works
Perception and communication.
Broadbent, D. E. (1958) · doi:10.1037/10037-000 · Cited by 4,337 · see citing works
Über das Elektrenkephalogramm des Menschen
Berger, H. (1929) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/bf01797193 · Cited by 4,266 · see citing works
Two cortical visual systems
Ungerleider, L. G. (1982) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 4,139 · see citing works
Attention and the detection of signals.
Posner, M. I., Snyder, C. R., & Davidson, B. J. (1980) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.109.2.160 · Cited by 3,778 · see citing works
Preface: Cerebral Cortex Has Come of Age
Goldman, P. S., & RAKIC, P. T. (1991) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/1.1.1-a · Cited by 3,412 · see citing works
Semantic priming and retrieval from lexical memory: Roles of inhibitionless spreading activation and limited-capacity attention.
Neely, J. H. (1977) · Journal of Experimental Psychology General · doi:10.1037/0096-3445.106.3.226 · Cited by 2,826 · see citing works
Modulation of Oscillatory Neuronal Synchronization by Selective Visual Attention
Fries, P., Reynolds, J. H., Rorie, A. E., & Desimone, R. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1055465 · Cited by 2,786 · see citing works
Neuronal Synchrony: A Versatile Code for the Definition of Relations?
Singer, W. (1999) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(00)80821-1 · Cited by 2,581 · see citing works
Selective Attention Gates Visual Processing in the Extrastriate Cortex
Moran, J., & Desimone, R. (1985) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.4023713 · Cited by 2,433 · see citing works
Controlled and automatic human information processing: I
Schneider, W. E., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1977) · Cited by 2,228 · see citing works
Effects of parietal injury on covert orienting of attention
Posner, M., Walker, J., Friedrich, F., & Rafal, R. (1984) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.04-07-01863.1984 · Cited by 2,191 · see citing works
Selective Attention Gates Visual Processing in the Extrastriate Cortex
Moran, J., & Desimone, R. (2003) · The MIT Press eBooks · doi:10.7551/mitpress/2834.003.0024 · Cited by 2,164 · see citing works
Synchronization of cortical activity and its putative role in information processing and learning
Singer, W. (1993) · Annual Review of Physiology · doi:10.1146/annurev.ph.55.030193.002025 · Cited by 1,685 · see citing works
Neural mechanisms of spatial selective attention in areas V1, V2, and V4 of macaque visual cortex
Luck, S. J., Chelazzi, L., Hillyard, S. A., & Desimone, R. (1997) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1997.77.1.24 · Cited by 1,615 · see citing works
Selective and divided attention during visual discriminations of shape, color, and speed: functional anatomy by positron emission tomography
Corbetta, M., Miezin, F. M., Dobmeyer, S., Shulman, G. L., & Petersen, S. (1991) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.11-08-02383.1991 · Cited by 1,590 · see citing works
Event-related brain potentials in the study of visual selective attention
Hillyard, S. A., & Anllo-Vento, L. (1998) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.95.3.781 · Cited by 1,525 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Until the past decade or so the vast majority of attention research had concentrated on the effects of attention on the processing of attended versus unattended stimuli that occurs subsequently, as a result of attentional biasing (see Desimone and Duncan, 1995; Hillyard and Anllo-Vento, 1998).”
Background
A PET study of visuospatial attention
Corbetta, M., Miezin, F. M., Shulman, G. L., & Petersen, S. (1993) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.13-03-01202.1993 · Cited by 1,522 · see citing works
α-Band Electroencephalographic Activity over Occipital Cortex Indexes Visuospatial Attention Bias and Predicts Visual Target Detection
Thut, G., Nietzel, A., Brandt, S. A., & Pascual‐Leone, Á. (2006) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0875-06.2006 · Cited by 1,473 · see citing works
THE BERGER RHYTHM: POTENTIAL CHANGES FROM THE OCCIPITAL LOBES IN MAN
ADRIAN, E. D., & MATTHEWS, B. H. C. (1934) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/57.4.355 · Cited by 1,396 · see citing works
Anticipatory Biasing of Visuospatial Attention Indexed by Retinotopically Specific α-Bank Electroencephalography Increases over Occipital Cortex
Worden, M. S., Foxe, J. J., Wang, N., & Simpson, G. V. (2000) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.20-06-j0002.2000 · Cited by 1,268 · see citing works
Self-citation
Competitive Mechanisms Subserve Attention in Macaque Areas V2 and V4
Reynolds, J. H., Chelazzi, L., & Desimone, R. (1999) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.19-05-01736.1999 · Cited by 1,236 · see citing works
Basic mechanisms of cerebral rhythmic activities
Steriade, M., GLOOR, P., Llinás, R. R., Lopes, F. H. D. S., & Mesulam, M. M. (1990) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(90)90001-z · Cited by 1,131 · see citing works
Event-related cortical desynchronization detected by power measurements of scalp EEG
Pfurtscheller, G., & Aranibar, A. (1977) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(77)90235-8 · Cited by 1,118 · see citing works
Neural mechanisms underlying brain waves: from neural membranes to networks
Lopes da Silva, F. (1991) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(91)90044-5 · Cited by 1,112 · see citing works
Ionic basis for the electro‐responsiveness and oscillatory properties of guinea‐pig thalamic neurones in vitro.
Jahnsen, H., & Llinas, R. H. (1984) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1984.sp015154 · Cited by 1,081 · see citing works
Focal attention produces spatially selective processing in visual cortical areas V1, V2, and V4 in the presence of competing stimuli
Motter, B. C. (1993) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1993.70.3.909 · Cited by 1,055 · see citing works
To See or Not to See: Prestimulus α Phase Predicts Visual Awareness
Mathewson, K. E., Gratton, G., Fabiani, M., Beck, D. M., & Ro, T. (2009) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3963-08.2009 · Cited by 1,011 · see citing works
Event-related synchronization (ERS): an electrophysiological correlate of cortical areas at rest
Pfurtscheller, G. (1992) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(92)90133-3 · Cited by 981 · see citing works
The thalamus as a neuronal oscillator
Steriade, M., & Deschênes, M. (1984) · Brain Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/0165-0173(84)90017-1 · Cited by 916 · see citing works
Induced alpha band power changes in the human EEG and attention
Klimesch, W., Doppelmayr, M. M., Russegger, H., Pachinger, T., & Schwaiger, J. (1998) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(98)00122-0 · Cited by 895 · see citing works
A shift of visual spatial attention is selectively associated with human EEG alpha activity
Sauseng, P., Klimesch, W., Stadler, W., Schabus, M., Doppelmayr, M. M., Hanslmayr, S., Gruber, W. R., & Birbaumer, N. (2005) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04482.x · Cited by 847 · see citing works
Prestimulus Oscillatory Activity in the Alpha Band Predicts Visual Discrimination Ability
van Dijk, H., Schoffelen, J., Oostenveld, R., & Jensen, O. B. (2008) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1853-07.2008 · Cited by 831 · see citing works
Increases in alpha oscillatory power reflect an active retinotopic mechanism for distracter suppression during sustained visuospatial attention
Kelly, S. P., Lalor, E. C., Reilly, R. B., & Foxe, J. J. (2006) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.01234.2005 · Cited by 715 · see citing works
Self-citation
Neural Mechanisms of Selective Visual Attention
Desimone, R. (1995) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.18.1.193 · Cited by 706 · see citing works
Feature-Based Attention Increases the Selectivity of Population Responses in Primate Visual Cortex
Martinez-Trujillo, J. C., & Treue, S. (2004) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2004.04.028 · Cited by 697 · see citing works
Prestimulus oscillations predict visual perception performance between and within subjects
Hanslmayr, S., Aslan, A., Staudigl, T., Klimesch, W., Herrmann, C. S., & Bäuml, K. T. (2007) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.07.011 · Cited by 689 · see citing works
Spontaneous Fluctuations in Posterior -Band EEG Activity Reflect Variability in Excitability of Human Visual Areas
Romei, V., Brodbeck, V., Michel, C. M., Amedi, A., Pascual‐Leone, Á., & Thut, G. (2007) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhm229 · Cited by 678 · see citing works
Abolition of spindle oscillations in thalamic neurons disconnected from nucleus reticularis thalami
Steriade, M., Deschenes, M., Domich, L., & Mulle, C. (1985) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1985.54.6.1473 · Cited by 624 · see citing works
The Attention System Of The Human Brain
Posner, M. I. (1990) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.13.1.25 · Cited by 609 · see citing works
Mechanisms of selective inhibition in visual spatial attention are indexed by α‐band EEG synchronization
Rihs, T. A., Michel, C. M., & Thut, G. (2007) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05278.x · Cited by 586 · see citing works
On the Role of Prestimulus Alpha Rhythms over Occipito-Parietal Areas in Visual Input Regulation: Correlation or Causation?
Romei, V., Groß, J., & Thut, G. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0160-10.2010 · Cited by 577 · see citing works
Parieto-occipital ∼1 0Hz activity reflects anticipatory state of visual attention mechanisms
Foxe, J. J., Simpson, G. V., & Ahlfors, S. P. (1998) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/00001756-199812010-00030 · Cited by 543 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Intense World Theory – A Unifying Theory of the Neurobiology of Autism
Markram, H., & Markram, H. (2010) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2010.00224 · Cited by 521 · see citing works
Control of Spatiotemporal Coherence of a Thalamic Oscillation by Corticothalamic Feedback
Contreras, D., Destexhe, A., Sejnowski, T. J., & Steriade, M. (1996) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.274.5288.771 · Cited by 515 · see citing works
Frontoparietal Cortex Controls Spatial Attention through Modulation of Anticipatory Alpha Rhythms
Capotosto, P., Babiloni, C., Romani, G. L., & Corbetta, M. (2009) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0539-09.2009 · Cited by 487 · see citing works
Audiovisual links in exogenous covert spatial orienting
Spence, C., & Driver, J. (1997) · Perception & Psychophysics · doi:10.3758/bf03206843 · Cited by 475 · see citing works
Attentional Gain Control of Ongoing Cortical Speech Representations in a “Cocktail Party”
Kerlin, J. R., Shahin, A. J., & Miller, L. M. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3631-09.2010 · Cited by 447 · see citing works
State dependent activity in monkey visual cortex
Haenny, P. E., & Schiller, P. H. (1988) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00247569 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
Selective Attention in Vision
van der Heijden, A. H. C. (2003) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203359341 · Cited by 440 · see citing works
Neuronal Mechanisms of Cortical Alpha Oscillations in Awake-Behaving Macaques
Bollimunta, A., Chen, Y., Schroeder, C. E., & Ding, M. (2008) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2699-08.2008 · Cited by 434 · see citing works
Relative contributions of intracortical and thalamo-cortical processes in the generation of alpha rhythms, revealed by partial coherence analysis
Lopes, F. H. D. S., Vos, J. E., Mooibroek, J. J., & van Rotterdam, A. (1980) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/0013-4694(80)90011-5 · Cited by 425 · see citing works
Mechanisms Underlying the Synchronizing Action of Corticothalamic Feedback Through Inhibition of Thalamic Relay Cells
Alain Destexhe, A., Contreras, D., & Steriade, M. (1998) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1998.79.2.999 · Cited by 396 · see citing works
Contributions of the pulvinar to visual spatial attention
Petersen, S. E., Robinson, D. L., & Morris, J. D. (1987) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/0028-3932(87)90046-7 · Cited by 395 · see citing works
State dependent activity in monkey visual cortex
Haenny, P. E., Maunsell, J. H. R., & Schiller, P. H. (1988) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00247570 · Cited by 364 · see citing works
Selective visual-spatial attention alters induced gamma band responses in the human EEG
Gruber, T. (1999) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/s1388-2457(99)00176-5 · Cited by 341 · see citing works
Orienting Attention to an Upcoming Tactile Event Involves a Spatially and Temporally Specific Modulation of Sensorimotor Alpha- and Beta-Band Oscillations
van Ede, F., de Lange, F. P., Jensen, O. B., & Maris, E. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5630-10.2011 · Cited by 337 · see citing works
Parietal lobe mechanisms of spatial attention: Modality-specific or supramodal?
Farah, M. J., Wong, A. B., Monheit, M. A., & Morrow, L. A. (1989) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/0028-3932(89)90051-1 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Audiovisual links in endogenous covert spatial attention.
Spence, C. J., & Driver, J. (1996) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception & Performance · doi:10.1037//0096-1523.22.4.1005 · Cited by 296 · see citing works
Resting electroencephalogram alpha-power over posterior sites indexes baseline visual cortex excitability
Romei, V., Rihs, T., Brodbeck, V., & Thut, G. (2008) · NeuroReport · doi:10.1097/wnr.0b013e3282f454c4 · Cited by 285 · see citing works
Attention-dependent suppression of distracter visual input can be cross-modally cued as indexed by anticipatory parieto-occipital alpha-band oscillations
Fu, K.-M. G., Foxe, J. J., Murray, M. M., Higgins, B. A., Javitt, D. C., & Schroeder, C. E. (2001) · Cognitive Brain Research · doi:10.1016/s0926-6410(01)00034-9 · Cited by 280 · see citing works
Self-citation
Uncovering the Neural Signature of Lapsing Attention: Electrophysiological Signals Predict Errors up to 20 s before They Occur
O’Connell, R. G., Dockree, P. M., Robertson, I. H., Bellgrove, M. A., Foxe, J. J., & Kelly, S. P. (2009) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5967-08.2009 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Self-citation
Indexing the graded allocation of visuospatial attention using anticipatory alpha oscillations
Gould, I. C., Rushworth, M. F. S., & Nobre, A. C. (2011) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00653.2010 · Cited by 260 · see citing works
Cued Spatial Attention Drives Functionally Relevant Modulation of the Mu Rhythm in Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Jones, S. R., Kerr, C. E., Wan, Q., Pritchett, D. L., Hämäläinen, M., & Moore, C. I. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2969-10.2010 · Cited by 251 · see citing works
Audiovisual links in endogenous covert spatial attention.
Spence, C. J., & Driver, J. (1996) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception & Performance · doi:10.1037/0096-1523.22.4.1005 · Cited by 250 · see citing works
Anticipatory Attentional Suppression of Visual Features Indexed by Oscillatory Alpha-Band Power Increases:A High-Density Electrical Mapping Study
Snyder, A. C., & Foxe, J. J. (2010) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5684-09.2010 · Cited by 245 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Berger rhythm: potential changes from the occipital lobes in man, by E.D. Adrian and B.H.C. Matthews (From the Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge). Brain 1934: 57; 355-385.
Compston, A. (2010) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/awp324 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
A bias for posterior α-band power suppression versus enhancement during shifting versus maintenance of spatial attention
Rihs, T. A., Michel, C. M., & Thut, G. (2008) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.08.022 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Spatial Attention Modulates Initial Afferent Activity in Human Primary Visual Cortex
Kelly, S. P., Gomez‐Ramirez, M., & Foxe, J. J. (2008) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhn022 · Cited by 219 · see citing works
Self-citation
Right hemisphere control of visuospatial attention: line-bisection judgments evaluated with high-density electrical mapping and source analysis☆
Foxe, J. J., McCourt, M. E., & Javitt, D. C. (2003) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/s1053-8119(03)00057-0 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Self-citation
Neural Integration of Top-Down Spatial and Feature-Based Information in Visual Search
Egner, T., Monti, J. M., Trittschuh, E., Wieneke, C. A., Joy Hirsch, C., & Mesulam, M. M. (2008) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1262-08.2008 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Concurrent automatic and controlled visual search: Can processing occur without resource cost?
Schneider, W., & Fisk, A. D. (1982) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition · doi:10.1037/0278-7393.8.4.261 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Oscillatory Alpha-Band Mechanisms and the Deployment of Spatial Attention to Anticipated Auditory and Visual Target Locations: Supramodal or Sensory-Specific Control Mechanisms?
Banerjee, S., Snyder, A. C., Molholm, S., & Foxe, J. J. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4660-10.2011 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Self-citation
State-dependent receptive-field restructuring in the visual cortex
Wörgötter, F., Suder, K., Zhao, Y., Kerscher, N., Eysel, U. T., & Funke, K. (1998) · Nature · doi:10.1038/24157 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
The strength of anticipatory spatial biasing predicts target discrimination at attended locations: a high‐density EEG study
Kelly, S. P., Gomez‐Ramirez, M., & Foxe, J. J. (2009) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06980.x · Cited by 188 · see citing works
Self-citation
ERP effects of intermodal attention and cross‐modal links in spatial attention
Eimer, M., & Schröger, E. (1998) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1017/s004857729897086x · Cited by 185 · see citing works
On measuring selective attention to an expected sensory modality
Spence, C. J., & Driver, J. (1997) · Perception & Psychophysics · doi:10.3758/bf03211906 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Auditory psychomotor coordination and visual search performance
Perrott, D. R., Saberi, K., Brown, K. M., & Strybel, T. Z. (1990) · Perception & Psychophysics · doi:10.3758/bf03211521 · Cited by 178 · see citing works
Attention-dependent Suppression of Metabolic Activity in the Early Stages of the Macaque Visual System
Vanduffel, W. (2000) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/10.2.109 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Modulation of the Parieto-Occipital Alpha Rhythm during Object Detection
Vanni, S., Revonsuo, A., & Hari, R. (1997) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.17-18-07141.1997 · Cited by 159 · see citing works
Attention, Awareness, and the Triangular Circuit
LaBerge, D. (1997) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1006/ccog.1997.0305 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Intracellular and Computational Characterization of the Intracortical Inhibitory Control of Synchronized Thalamic Inputs In Vivo
Contreras, D., Alain Destexhe, A., & Steriade, M. (1997) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.1997.78.1.335 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Pre-stimulus spectral EEG patterns and the visual evoked response
Brandt, M. E., Jansen, B. H., & Carbonari, J. P. (1991) · Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology/Evoked Potentials Section · doi:10.1016/0168-5597(91)90037-x · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Visual Search for a Tilted Target: Tests of Spatial Uncertainty Models
Morgan, M. J., Ward, R. M., & Castet, É. (1998) · The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A · doi:10.1080/713755766 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Optimal sustained attention is linked to the spectral content of background EEG activity: greater ongoing tonic alpha (∼10 Hz) power supports successful phasic goal activation
Dockree, P. M., Kelly, S. P., Foxe, J. J., Reilly, R. B., & Robertson, I. H. (2007) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05324.x · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Self-citation
Corticothalamic neurons and thalamocortical terminal fields: An investigation in rat using horseradish peroxidase and autoradiography
Jacobson, S., & Trojanowski, J. Q. (1975) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/0006-8993(75)90815-x · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Attentional shifts towards an expected visual target alter the level of alpha-band oscillatory activity in the human calcarine cortex
Yamagishi, N., Goda, N., Callan, D. E., Anderson, S. J., & Kawato, M. (2005) · Cognitive Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.09.006 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Interaction between inhibitory pathways to principal cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat
Ahls�n, G., Lindstr�m, S., & Lo, F. (1985) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00238961 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Thalamic metabolic rate predicts EEG alpha power in healthy control subjects but not in depressed patients
Lindgren, K. A., Larson, C. L., Schaefer, S. M., Abercrombie, H. C., Ward, R. T., Oakes, T. R., Holden, J. E., Perlman, S. B., Benca, R. M., & Davidson, R. J. (1999) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(98)00350-3 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Synchronization of Cortical Activity and Its Putative Role in Information Processing and Learning
Singer, W. (1993) · Annual Review of Physiology · doi:10.1146/annurev.physiol.55.1.349 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Visual and auditory evoked phase resetting of the alpha EEG
Brandt, M. E. (1997) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/s0167-8760(97)00771-x · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Feature-based attentional set as a cause of traffic accidents
Most, S. B., & Astur, R. S. (2006) · Visual Cognition · doi:10.1080/13506280600959316 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
The Relationship Between Prestimulus Alpha Amplitude and Visual Evoked Potential Amplitude
Brandt, M. E., & Jansen, B. H. (1991) · International Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.3109/00207459108990744 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Prestimulus Eeg-Activity Strongly Influences the Auditory Evoked Vertex Response: A New Method for Selective Averaging
Rahn, E., & Başar, E. (1993) · International Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.3109/00207459309003331 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Jumping the Gun: Is Effective Preparation Contingent upon Anticipatory Activation in Task-relevant Neural Circuitry?
Wylie, G. R., Javitt, D. C., & Foxe, J. J. (2005) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhi118 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Self-citation
Chapter 31 Functional contributions of the primate pulvinar
Robinson, D. L. (1993) · Progress in brain research · doi:10.1016/s0079-6123(08)60382-9 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Aurally Aided Visual Search under Virtual and Free-Field Listening Conditions
Perrott, D. R., Cisneros, J., McKinley, R. L., & D’Angelo, W. R. (1996) · Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1518/001872096778827260 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Enhancement of Visual Evoked Potentials by Stimulation During Low Prestimulus Eeg Stages
Rahn, E., & Başar, E. (1993) · International Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.3109/00207459308991629 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Study of human occipital alpha rhythm: the alphon hypothesis and alpha suppression
Williamson, S. J., Kaufman, L., Lu, Z., Wang, J.-Z., & Karron, D. B. (1997) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/s0167-8760(97)00756-3 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
The retino-geniculo-cortical pathway in Callithrix. II. The geniculo-cortical projection
Spatz, W. B. (1979) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/bf00238512 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Don't think of a white bear: An fMRI investigation of the effects of sequential instructional sets on cortical activity in a task‐switching paradigm
Wylie, G. R., Javitt, D. C., & Foxe, J. J. (2004) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.20003 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citation
Can attention be directed to opposite locations in different modalities? An ERP study
Eimer, M. (1999) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/s1388-2457(99)00052-8 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Gamma-band MEG activity to coherent motion depends on task-driven attention
Sokolov, A. N., Lutzenberger, W., Pavlova, M. A., et al. (1999) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/00001756-199907130-00001 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Importance of attentional mechanisms in audiovisual links
Dufour, A. (1999) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s002210050731 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Attention changes the peak latency of the visual gamma-band oscillation of the EEG
Shibata, T., Shimoyama, I., Ito, T., Abla, D., Iwasa, H., 古関, 啓., Yamanouchi, N., Sato, T., & Nakajima, Y. (1999) · Neuroreport · doi:10.1097/00001756-199904260-00002 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Neurocognitive Problems in Attention Deficit Disorder
Armstrong, C. L., Hayes, K. M., & Martin, R. L. (2001) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb05780.x · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Shifting visual attention away from fixation is specifically associated with alpha band activity over ipsilateral parietal regions
Cosmelli, D. J., López, V., Lachaux, J.-P., López‐Calderón, J., Renault, B., Martinerie, J. M., & Aboitiz, F. (2010) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01066.x · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Correlated variations in EEG pattern and visual responsiveness of cat lateral geniculate relay cells
Li, B., Funke, K., Wörgötter, F., & Eysel, U. T. (1999) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-7793.1999.857ad.x · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Occurrence of the Electroencephalographic Alpha Rhythm with Eyes Open
Mulholland, T. B. (1965) · Nature · doi:10.1038/206746a0 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Nonattentional effects of nonpredictive central cues
Ivanoff, J., & Saoud, W. (2009) · Attention Perception & Psychophysics · doi:10.3758/app.71.4.872 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Indexing the Graded Allocation of Visuospatial Attention Using Anticipatory Alpha OscillationsPreprint
Gould, I. C., Rushworth, M. F. S., & Nobre, K. (2011) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4060180 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Visual Search for a Tilted Target: Tests of Spatial Uncertainty Models
Castet, M. J. M. R. M. W. E. (1998) · The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology Section A · doi:10.1080/027249898391666 · Cited by 9 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

Temporal coding organized by coupled alpha and gamma oscillations prioritize visual processing
Jensen, O., Gips, B., Bergmann, T. O., & Bonnefond, M. (2014) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2014.04.001 · Cited by 389 · see citing works
The development of theta and alpha neural oscillations from ages 3 to 24 years
Cellier, D., Riddle, J., Petersen, I., & Hwang, K. (2021) · Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.dcn.2021.100969 · Cited by 223 · see citing works
Adverse Listening Conditions and Memory Load Drive a Common Alpha Oscillatory Network
Obleser, J., Wöstmann, M., Hellbernd, N., Wilsch, A., & Maess, B. (2012) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4908-11.2012 · Cited by 224 · see citing works
“Enhanced alpha oscillations have become a welldocumented neural substrate of increased cognitive effort, in line with a functional, inhibitory role of alpha in controlling or gating local circuits of neural activity (Klimesch et al., 2007; Jensen and Mazaheri, 2010; Foxe and Snyder, 2011; Weisz et al., 2011).”
Background
Electroencephalography Correlates of Spatial Working Memory Deficits in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Vigilance, Encoding, and Maintenance
Lenartowicz, A., Delorme, A., Walshaw, P. D., Cho, A. L., Bilder, R. M., McGough, J. J., McCracken, J. T., Makeig, S., & Loo, S. K. (2014) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1765-13.2014 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Dynamic network structure of interhemispheric coordination
Doron, K. W., Bassett, D. S., & Gazzaniga, M. S. (2012) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1216402109 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
The Human Neural Alpha Response to Speech is a Proxy of Attentional Control
Wöstmann, M., Lim, S.-J., & Obleser, J. (2017) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bhx074 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Memorable Audiovisual Narratives Synchronize Sensory and Supramodal Neural Responses
Cohen, S. S., & Parra, L. C. (2016) · eneuro · doi:10.1523/eneuro.0203-16.2016 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Behavioral, Modeling, and Electrophysiological Evidence for Supramodality in Human Metacognition
Faivre, N., Filevich, E., Solovey, G., Kühn, S., & Blanke, O. (2018) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0322-17.2017 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives
Lindahl, J. R., Kaplan, C. T., Winget, E. M., & Britton, W. B. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00973 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Assessing the effects of caffeine and theanine on the maintenance of vigilance during a sustained attention task
Foxe, J. J., Morie, K. P., Laud, P. J., Rowson, M. J., de Bruin, E. A., & Kelly, S. P. (2012) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.01.020 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Self-citation
The Importance of Ignoring: Alpha Oscillations Protect Selectivity
Payne, L., & Sekuler, R. (2014) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0963721414529145 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Susceptibility to distraction in autism spectrum disorder: probing the integrity of oscillatory alpha-band suppression mechanisms
Murphy, J. W., Foxe, J. J., Peters, J. B., & Molholm, S. (2014) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.1374 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Self-citation
Content-free awareness: EEG-fcMRI correlates of consciousness as such in an expert meditator
Winter, U., LeVan, P., Borghardt, T. L., Akin, B., Wittmann, M., Leyens, Y., & Schmidt, S. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.03064 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Attending to the heart is associated with posterior alpha band increase and a reduction in sensitivity to concurrent visual stimuli
Villena‐González, M., Moënne‐Loccoz, C., Lagos, R. A., Alliende, L. M., Billeke, P., Aboitiz, F., López, V., & Cosmelli, D. (2017) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.12894 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Oscillatory alpha-band suppression mechanisms during the rapid attentional shifts required to perform an anti-saccade task
Belyusar, D., Snyder, A. C., Frey, H.-P., Harwood, M. R., Wallman, J., & Foxe, J. J. (2013) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.09.061 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citation
A data augmentation scheme for geometric deep learning in personalized brain–computer interfaces.
Kalaganis, F. P., Laskaris, N. A., Chatzilari, E., Nikolopoulos, S., & Kompatsiaris, I. (2020) · IEEE Access · doi:10.1109/access.2020.3021580 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Alpha desynchronization/synchronization during working memory testing is compromised in acute mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI
Arakaki, X., Shoga, M., Li, L., Zouridakis, G., Tran, T., Fonteh, A. N., Dawlaty, J., Goldweber, R., Pogoda, J. M., & Harrington, M. G. (2018) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0188101 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Modulation of Attention and Stress with Arousal: The Mental and Physical Effects of Riding a Motorcycle
Vaughn, D. A., Maggiora, M. B., Vaughn, K. J., Maggiora, C. J., Tavakoli, A.-V., Liang, W., Zava, D., Cohen, M. S., & Lenartowicz, A. (2021) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147203 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
“posterior alpha power have been associated reliably with visual attention, thought to reflect mechanisms that gate sensory inputs (Foxe and Snyder, 2011; Jensen and Mazaheri, 2010; Klimesch, 2012; Pfurtscheller et al., 1996; da Silva and da Silva, 1991).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
A Network Approach to Understanding the Role of Executive Functioning and Alpha Oscillations in Inattention and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms of ADHD
Vera, J. D., Freichel, R., Michelini, G., Loo, S. K., & Lenartowicz, A. (2024) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/10870547241253999 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Functional Brain Activity Changes after 4 Weeks Supplementation with a Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Combination: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Exploring Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials during Working Memory
White, D. J., Cox, K. H. M., Hughes, M. E., Pipingas, A., Peters, R., & Scholey, A. B. (2016) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2016.00288 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Electrophysiological Correlates of Cognitive Dysfunction in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A Systematic and Mechanistic Review of EEG, ERP, and QEEG Evidence
Chmiel, J., & Kładna, A. (2026) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm15155994

Comparing the quality of signals recorded with a rapid response EEG and conventional clinical EEG systems
Kamousi, B., Grant, A. M., Bachelder, B., et al. (2019) · Clinical Neurophysiology Practice · doi:10.1016/j.cnp.2019.02.002 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Which electroencephalography (EEG) for epilepsy? The relative usefulness of different EEG protocols in patients with possible epilepsy
Leach, J. P. (2006) · Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry · doi:10.1136/jnnp.2005.084871 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Time Series of Awake Background EEG Generated by a Model Reflecting the EEG Report
Nishida, S., Nakamura, M., Ikeda, A., et al. (2007) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-4-431-30962-8_43
Sleep stage detection using chaotic feature analysis of Electroencephalography (EEG) signals
Zarei, F. (2022) · International Journal of Health Sciences · doi:10.53730/ijhs.v6ns7.13647
Rapid Response Electroencephalography for Urgent Evaluation of Patients in Community Hospital Intensive Care Practice
Yazbeck, M. F., Sra, P., & Parvizi, J. (2019) · Journal of Neuroscience Nursing · doi:10.1097/jnn.0000000000000476 · Cited by 40 · see citing works

Authors: Foxe, J. J., & Snyder, A. C.
Affiliations: City College of New York (US)
Corresponding author: Foxe, John J.
ORCID: Foxe, John J.
Snyder, Adam C.
Venue: Frontiers in Psychology
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Published: 2011
Volume: 2
Pages: 154-154
ISSN: 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00154
PMC: PMC3132683
OpenAlex: W2005105933
Cited by: 1,558
References: 118
Citations by year: 2026: 169 · 2025: 177 · 2024: 148 · 2023: 206 · 2022: 111 · 2021: 124 · 2020: 116 · 2019: 108 · 2018: 91 · 2017: 86 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 48 · 2014: 54 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 29
FWCI: 19.82
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
Locations: Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Multisensory perception and integration
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords: alpha oscillations, selective attention, sensory suppression, attentional suppression, sensory gating, spatial attention, feature-based attention, visual attention, auditory attention, tactile attention, distractor suppression, neural oscillations

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

The Role of Alpha-Band Brain Oscillations as a Sensory Suppression Mechanism during Selective Attention

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Self-check

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks