Top-down control of visual cortex by the frontal eye fields through oscillatory realignment

Abstract Voluntary allocation of visual attention is controlled by top-down signals generated within the Frontal Eye Fields (FEFs) that can change excitability lower-level areas. However, mechanism through which this control achieved remains elusive. Here, we emulated generation an attentional signal using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation to activate FEFs and tracked its consequences over cortex. First, documented changes brain oscillations electroencephalography found evidence for a phase reset occipital sites at beta frequency. We then probed perceptual triggered assessed anatomical specificity. show FEF activation leads cyclic modulation perception extrastriate but not primary cortex excitability, again conclude originating in causally shape activity mechanisms oscillatory realignment.