Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

BESA Source Coherence: A New Method to Study Cortical Oscillatory Coupling

  • Published:
Brain Topography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper introduces source coherence, a new method for the analysis of cortical coherence using noninvasive EEG and MEG data. Brain electrical source analysis (BESA) is applied to create a discrete multiple source model. This model is used as a source montage to transform the recorded data from sensor level into brain source space. This provides source waveforms of the modeled brain regions as a direct measure for their activities on a single trial basis. The source waveforms are transformed into time-frequency space using complex demodulation. Magnitude-squared coherence between the brain sources reveals oscillatory coupling between sources. This procedure allows one to separate the time-frequency content of different brain regions even if their activities severely overlap at the surface. Thus, source coherence overcomes problems of localization and interpretation that are inherent to coherence analysis at sensor level. The principle of source coherence is illustrated using an EEG recording of an error-related negativity as an example. In this experiment the subject performed a visuo-motor task. Source coherence analysis revealed dynamical linking between posterior and central areas within the gamma-band around the time of button press at a post-stimulus latency of 200-300 ms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Gross, J., Kujala, J., Hämäläinen, M., Timmermann, L., Schnitzler, A. and Salmelin, R. Dynamic imaging of coherent sources: Studying neural interactions in the human brain. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 2001, 98: 646–699.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knyazeva, M.G. and Innocenti, G.M. EEG coherence studies in the normal brain and after early-onset cortical pathologies. Brain Res., 2001, 36: 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luu, P. and Tucker, D.M. Regulating action: alternating activation of midline frontal and motor cortical networks. Clin.Neurophysiol., 2001, 112: 1295–1306.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunez, P.L., Srinivasan, R., Westdorp, A.F., Wijesinghe, R.S., Tucker, D.M., Silberstein, R.B. and Cadusch, P.J. EEG coherency I: statistics, reference electrode, volume conduction, Laplacians, cortical imaging, and interpretation at multiple scales. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1997, 103: 499–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nunez, P.L., Silberstein, R.B., Shi, Z., Carpenter, M.R., Srinivasan, R., Tucker, D.M., Doran, S.M., Cadusch, P.J. and Wijesinghe, R.S. EEG coherency II: experimental comparisons of multiple measures. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1999, 110: 469–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papp, N. and Ktonas, P. Critical evaluation of complex demodulation techniques for the quantification of bioelectrical activity. Biomed. Sci. Instrum., 1977, 13: 135–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfurtscheller, G. and Lopes da Silva, F.H. Event-related EEG/MEG synchronization and desynchronization: basic principles. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1999, 110: 1842–1857.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherg, M. and Von Cramon, D. Evoked dipole source potentials of the human auditory cortex. Electroenceph. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1986, 65: 344–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherg, M. Fundamentals of dipole source potential analysis. In: F. Grandori, M. Hoke and G.L. Romani (Eds.), Auditory evoked magnetic fields and electric potentials. Advances in Audiology, Vol. 6. Karger, Basel, 1990: 40–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherg, M. and Ebersole, J.S. Brain source imaging of focal and multifocal epileptiform EEG activity. Neurophysiol. Clin., 1994, 24: 51–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherg, M. and Berg, P. New concepts of brain source imaging and localization. Electroencephal. Clin. Neurophysiol. Suppl., 1996, 46: 127–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherg, M., Ille, N., Bornfleth, H. and Berg, P. Advanced tools for digital EEG review: virtual source montages, whole-head mapping, correlation, phase analysis. J. Clin.Neurophysiol., 2002, 19: 91–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, W. and Gray, C.M. Visual feature integration and the temporal correlation hypothesis. Ann. Rev. Neurosci., 1995, 18: 555–586.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MEGIS Software GmbH, Munich, Germany

    Karsten Hoechstetter, Harald Bornfleth, Dieter Weckesser, Nicole Ille, Patrick Berg & Michael Scherg

  2. Section of Biomagnetism, University of Heidelberg, Germany

    Nicole Ille & Michael Scherg

  3. University of Konstanz, Germany

    Patrick Berg

Authors
  1. Karsten Hoechstetter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Harald Bornfleth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dieter Weckesser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicole Ille
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Patrick Berg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michael Scherg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoechstetter, K., Bornfleth, H., Weckesser, D. et al. BESA Source Coherence: A New Method to Study Cortical Oscillatory Coupling. Brain Topogr 16, 233–238 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000032857.55223.5d

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000032857.55223.5d

Search

Navigation