In a new review article, neuroscientists argue that studying bursts of brain rhythms with “beta” frequencies, ranging from about 14-30 Hz, is essential to understanding how the brain controls cognitive processes and potential disorders that may arise. These rhythms control where and when neurons in the cortex process sensory information and plan responses, playing a key role in organizing goal-directed thought and intentional thought. Researchers believe that by studying beta bursts, it is possible to gain insight into cognition, as well as aid in diagnosing and treating cognitive disorders such as ADHD, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Experimental studies have revealed key characteristics of beta waves in the cortex, including their occurrence in quick but powerful bursts, inhibition of higher frequency gamma rhythms, and precise regulation of gamma rhythm activity in specific locations of the cortex. Beta bursts have been shown to direct when sensory information is stored and read out in working memory tasks, as well as facilitate cognitive control by inhibiting learned associations or cues that are no longer relevant. The propagation of beta bursts across long distances in the brain may shed further light on how cognitive control is implemented spatially.
Beta rhythm bursts can vary in frequency, duration, amplitude, origin, and other characteristics, highlighting the complex nature of these neural signals. Neuroscientists must study and understand the different forms of beta bursts to harness more information from these oscillations. The transient nature of beta bursts challenges previous assumptions that oscillations are ongoing in cognitive processes, leading to new models of cognition and impacting experimental designs and data analysis. Future research should focus on how beta bursts emerge to perform their role in cognitive control, which remains largely unknown at this point.
The authors of the review acknowledge the need for further research to explore the real-time organization and execution of cognitive functions using beta bursts as a window into understanding cognition. Through new experimental paradigms, analytical methods, and modeling approaches, scientists can address outstanding questions and gain deeper insights into how beta rhythms regulate cognitive processes. By studying beta bursts and their role in cognition, researchers hope to unlock new knowledge about how the brain processes sensory information, plans responses, and maintains cognitive control in various contexts.
