Transitions in neural oscillations reflect prediction errors generated in audiovisual speech

Overview & Synopsis

According to the predictive coding theory, top-down predictions are conveyed by backward connections, while prediction errors are propagated forward across the cortical hierarchy. Using MEG in humans, we show that violating (multisensory) predictions causes a fundamental and qualitative change in both the frequency and spatial distribution of cortical activity. When visual speech input correctly predicted auditory speech signals, a slow delta regime (3-4 Hz) developed in higher-order speech areas. In contrast, when auditory signals invalidated predictions inferred from vision, a low-beta (14-15 Hz) / high-gamma (60-80Hz) coupling regime appeared locally in a multisensory area (STS). This frequency shift in oscillatory responses scaled with the degree of audio-visual congruence and was accompanied by increased gamma activity in lower sensory regions. These findings are consistent with the notion that bottom-up prediction errors are communicated in predominantly high (gamma) frequency ranges, while top-down predictions are mediated by slower (beta) frequencies.