Beta band oscillations engagement in human alertness process

We previously showed that neuronal activity in beta frequency might serve as a carrier for attentional arousal within the visual system of cat. In the present study, we adopted the animal paradigm for anticipatory attention to study alertness-related changes of beta activity in human subjects. The results indicated that increased alertness, manifested by faster responses to target visual stimuli, is accompanied by higher EEG activation in beta band.

► Beta frequency might serve as a carrier for attentional arousal within visual system.
► We adopted animal paradigm for evoking anticipatory attention to study it in humans.
► Increased alertness was manifested by faster responses to target visual stimuli.
► Faster responses were accompanied by higher EEG activation in beta band.