The role of beta bursts in top-down inhibition of somatosensory cortex: an OPM-MEG study

The role of beta bursts in top-down inhibition of somatosensory cortex: an OPM-MEG study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article The role of beta bursts in top-down inhibition of somatosensory cortex: an OPM-MEG study Gonzalo Reina Rivero, Zoe Tanner, Lukas Rier, Ryan M. Hill, Vishal Shah, and 9 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4325286/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 19 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Human brain electrophysiology is characterised by rhythmic activity – neural oscillations – which play an important role in coordinating brain function. In the somatosensory cortices, the dominant oscillations occur in the beta (13-30 Hz) band and are thought to mediate top-down inhibition of primary cortices. The non-invasive measurement of such oscillations has traditionally been made possible using either electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG), yet both modalities have significant limitations. Here, we use a new MEG technology – based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG) – to measure attentional modulation of beta oscillations in the somatosensory cortex. Using piezo-electric crystal stimulators, we present ‘braille-like’ patterns to the left and right index fingers; participants are asked to respond to pre-specified target patterns presented to an attended hand, whilst ignoring patterns presented to their non-attended hand. In agreement with previous findings, we measure significantly decreased beta amplitude during attended stimuli relative to baseline, and to non-attended stimuli, with the most pronounced effect during an attentional cue. Moreover, we extend our analyses to demonstrate that attention has a similar effect on the occurrence of pan-spectral bursts (which are shown to underlie the beta rhythm). Specifically, we measure significant changes in the probability of burst occurrence in primary somatosensory cortices in a time window related to attentional shifts. In sum, our results provide evidence that attentional modulation of beta oscillations is driven by changes in pan-spectral burst occurrence and add weight to the argument that OPM-MEG is the technique of choice for non-invasive electrophysiological measurements. Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive neuroscience/Attention Physical sciences/Physics/Biological physics Beta oscillations Bursts Somatosensory Inhibition Optically pumped magnetometers Magnetoencephalography MEG Full Text Additional Declarations Competing interest reported. The authors declare the following competing interests: E.B. and M.J.B. are directors of Cerca Magnetics Limited, a spin-out company whose aim is to commercialise aspects of OPM-MEG technology. E.B., M.J.B., R.B., N.H. and R.H. hold founding equity in Cerca Magnetics Limited and R.B., N.H. and R.H. sit on the scientific advisory board. V.S. is the founding director of QuSpin, a commercial entity selling OPM magnetometers. J.O., D.B. and C.D. are employees of QuSpin. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 19 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 22 Apr, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 Apr, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2025 Reviews received at journal 15 Oct, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 30 Sep, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 06 May, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 06 May, 2024 Editor invited by journal 03 May, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 30 Apr, 2024 First submitted to journal 25 Apr, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4325286","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":299373868,"identity":"8dbb21b9-2bbd-46d8-81e1-103238e3f265","order_by":0,"name":"Gonzalo Reina Rivero","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Nottingham","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Gonzalo","middleName":"Reina","lastName":"Rivero","suffix":""},{"id":299373871,"identity":"aafc4851-8587-472e-93fe-e5f99dac8b99","order_by":1,"name":"Zoe Tanner","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Nottingham","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Zoe","middleName":"","lastName":"Tanner","suffix":""},{"id":299373874,"identity":"735e6461-8fc9-43d6-91c4-705be3542168","order_by":2,"name":"Lukas Rier","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Nottingham","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Lukas","middleName":"","lastName":"Rier","suffix":""},{"id":299373878,"identity":"e46f2ba0-ef63-4986-a34f-9e546da96a57","order_by":3,"name":"Ryan M. 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The authors declare the following competing interests: E.B. and M.J.B. are directors of Cerca Magnetics Limited, a spin-out company whose aim is to commercialise aspects of OPM-MEG technology. E.B., M.J.B., R.B., N.H. and R.H. hold founding equity in Cerca Magnetics Limited and R.B., N.H. and R.H. sit on the scientific advisory board. V.S. is the founding director of QuSpin, a commercial entity selling OPM magnetometers. J.O., D.B. and C.D. are employees of QuSpin.","formattedTitle":"The role of beta bursts in top-down inhibition of somatosensory cortex: an OPM-MEG study","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Beta oscillations, Bursts, Somatosensory, Inhibition, Optically pumped magnetometers, Magnetoencephalography, MEG","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4325286/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4325286/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Human brain electrophysiology is characterised by rhythmic activity – neural oscillations – which play an important role in coordinating brain function. In the somatosensory cortices, the dominant oscillations occur in the beta (13-30 Hz) band and are thought to mediate top-down inhibition of primary cortices. The non-invasive measurement of such oscillations has traditionally been made possible using either electroencephalography (EEG) or magnetoencephalography (MEG), yet both modalities have significant limitations. Here, we use a new MEG technology – based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG) – to measure attentional modulation of beta oscillations in the somatosensory cortex. Using piezo-electric crystal stimulators, we present ‘braille-like’ patterns to the left and right index fingers; participants are asked to respond to pre-specified target patterns presented to an attended hand, whilst ignoring patterns presented to their non-attended hand. In agreement with previous findings, we measure significantly decreased beta amplitude during attended stimuli relative to baseline, and to non-attended stimuli, with the most pronounced effect during an attentional cue. Moreover, we extend our analyses to demonstrate that attention has a similar effect on the occurrence of pan-spectral bursts (which are shown to underlie the beta rhythm). Specifically, we measure significant changes in the probability of burst occurrence in primary somatosensory cortices in a time window related to attentional shifts. In sum, our results provide evidence that attentional modulation of beta oscillations is driven by changes in pan-spectral burst occurrence and add weight to the argument that OPM-MEG is the technique of choice for non-invasive electrophysiological measurements.","manuscriptTitle":"The role of beta bursts in top-down inhibition of somatosensory cortex: an OPM-MEG study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-05-07 04:40:38","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4325286/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-04-22T09:22:09+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-04-18T11:43:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"7342661090009795910361103750668768645","date":"2025-03-28T10:19:28+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-10-15T14:15:43+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"178280911630848121899553924374109186616","date":"2024-09-30T08:31:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-05-06T08:50:58+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-05-06T08:47:15+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvited","content":"","date":"2024-05-03T20:12:13+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-04-30T11:42:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Scientific Reports","date":"2024-04-25T16:05:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"scientific-reports","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scirep","sideBox":"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Scientific Reports","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Scientific Reports","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"d0489ba7-1531-48d2-8eb9-987af5f30c35","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 7th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[{"id":31583057,"name":"Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive neuroscience/Attention"},{"id":31583058,"name":"Physical sciences/Physics/Biological physics"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-25T16:31:53+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-4325286","link":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08037-8","journal":{"identity":"scientific-reports","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Scientific Reports"},"publishedOn":"2025-08-19 16:28:58","publishedOnDateReadable":"August 19th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2024-05-07 04:40:38","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1038/s41598-025-08037-8","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08037-8","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4325286","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4325286","identity":"rs-4325286","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}