About this Research Topic
Contributions to the previous Frontiers Research Topic Understanding the Role of the Time Dimension in the Brain Information Processing shed light on the critical role of hierarchical neural oscillations in synchronous and asynchronous processing of sensory stimuli. Synchronous and asynchronous oscillatory processing further suggested a possible mechanistic role of timing in neural circuits during the detection of novel sensory stimuli, and showed an important relationship between brain oscillations in relevant frequency bands, and temporal structure in a working memory task. Additionally, experimental evidence was presented to support the plausibility of the maintenance of rhythmic time-duration by prior information. Further evidence helped to link time perception tasks and cognitive difficulty to a common network that shows decreased activity in schizophrenia.
A large of number of LFP, EEG, and MEG studies in recent years are further converging on a consensus that deficits of timing and specific alteration of rhythmicity are an important part of the spectrum of cognitive dysfunctions seen in a variety of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, which provides indirect, but crucial evidence that time-dimension is an integral component of information processing in the brain underlying cognitive functions. Moreover, temporal binding of the various functions of the brain, which is critical for consciousness, may be elucidated by the studies of temporal structure of neural processes.
We are now at an interesting intersection, amidst an ever-growing maze of neuroscience and psychology research, trying to address the role of time-dimension in cognitive functions. So far, the emphasis in past years has been only to directly study temporal structure of neuronal data at various scales of brain organization from single neurons at microscopic level, LFP at mesoscopic level, and EEG/MEG at macroscopic level. However, the mechanisms by which timing relationship of environment is entangled with the corresponding temporal structure of neural signals are not entirely clear. Important insights can be acquired and specific predictions about timing can be made by developing computational models of the brain dynamics and relating them to empirical observations.
In this Research Topic, we invite contributions based on clinical, experimental and theoretical evidence to support the hypothesis that time-dimension is an important bridge to integrate multi-scale observations of behavior and brain information processing where temporal patterns of activity in neural networks are critical to understanding the execution of sensory, motor and cognitive processes, as well as methodological contributions.
A large of number of LFP, EEG, and MEG studies in recent years are further converging on a consensus that deficits of timing and specific alteration of rhythmicity are an important part of the spectrum of cognitive dysfunctions seen in a variety of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, which provides indirect, but crucial evidence that time-dimension is an integral component of information processing in the brain underlying cognitive functions. Moreover, temporal binding of the various functions of the brain, which is critical for consciousness, may be elucidated by the studies of temporal structure of neural processes.
We are now at an interesting intersection, amidst an ever-growing maze of neuroscience and psychology research, trying to address the role of time-dimension in cognitive functions. So far, the emphasis in past years has been only to directly study temporal structure of neuronal data at various scales of brain organization from single neurons at microscopic level, LFP at mesoscopic level, and EEG/MEG at macroscopic level. However, the mechanisms by which timing relationship of environment is entangled with the corresponding temporal structure of neural signals are not entirely clear. Important insights can be acquired and specific predictions about timing can be made by developing computational models of the brain dynamics and relating them to empirical observations.
In this Research Topic, we invite contributions based on clinical, experimental and theoretical evidence to support the hypothesis that time-dimension is an important bridge to integrate multi-scale observations of behavior and brain information processing where temporal patterns of activity in neural networks are critical to understanding the execution of sensory, motor and cognitive processes, as well as methodological contributions.
Keywords: Temporal processing of sensory information, temporal coupling of action and perception, modular neural clock, neural oscillation, schizophrenia
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