Beta oscillations and their functional role in movement perception

Abstract

Neuronal oscillations refer to periodic changes of neuronal activity. A prominent neuronal oscillation, especially in sensorimotor areas, is the beta-frequency-band (∼ 13-29 Hz). Sensorimotor beta oscillations are predominantly linked to motor-related functions such as preparation and/or execution of movements. In addition, beta oscillations have been suggested to play a role in long-range communication between multiple brain areas. In this review, we assess different studies that show that sensorimotor beta oscillations are additionally involved in the visual perception and imagery of biological movements. We propose that sensorimotor beta oscillations reflect a mechanism of attempted matching to internally stored representations of movements. We additionally, provide evidence that beta oscillations play a role for the integration of visual and sensorimotor areas to a functional network that incorporates perceptual components at specific spatial-temporal profiles and transmits information across different areas.