Robust Gamma Coherence between Macaque V1 and V2 by Dynamic Frequency Matching

•Gamma frequency increases with stimulus contrast in both areas V1 and V2•Interareal coherence persists despite large frequency shifts•Matched gamma frequencies allow communication through coherence to be maintained•Layer-specific interareal coherence matches known anatomical connectivity

SummaryCurrent theories propose that coherence of oscillatory brain activity in the gamma band (30–80 Hz) constitutes an avenue for communication among remote neural populations. However, reports documenting stimulus dependency and time variability of gamma frequency suggest that distant neuronal populations may, at any one time, operate at different frequencies precluding synchronization. To test this idea, we recorded from macaque V1 and V2 simultaneously while presenting gratings of varying contrast. Although gamma frequency increased with stimulus contrast in V1 and V2 (by ∼25 Hz), V1-V2 gamma coherence was maintained for all contrasts. Moreover, while gamma frequency fluctuated by ∼15 Hz during constant contrast stimulation, this fluctuation was highly correlated between V1 and V2. The strongest coherence connections showed a layer-specific pattern, matching feedforward anatomical connectivity. Hence, gamma coherence among remote populations can occur despite large stimulus-induced and time-dependent changes in gamma frequency, allowing communication through coherence to operate without a stimulus independent, fixed-frequency gamma channel.