Recurrence network analysis of multiple local field potential bands from the orofacial portion of primary motor cortex

Local field potentials (LFPs), which have been considered as aggregate signals that reflect activities of a large number of neurons in the cerebral cortex, have been observed to mediate gross functional activities of a relatively small volume of the brain tissues. Historically there have been several frequency bands observed and defined across various brain areas. However, detailed analysis, either spectral analysis or any dynamical analysis of LFPs particularly in the orofacial part of the primary motor cortex (MIo) has not been done before. Here, we recorded LFPs from MIo using an electrode array from a non-human primate during feeding behavior. Then we performed spectral analysis during the whole feeding sequences and to characterize temporal evolution of spectrum around the time of swallow cycles. The spectrogram over the β range showed dynamical change in its power around the swallow cycle onsets. We then characterized dynamical behaviors of LFPs over multiple bands, α, β, low γ, and high γ using two measures from the recurrence network (RN) method, network transitivity, T and average path length L. Temporal profile of T in α and β indicated that there was a sudden change in the dynamical properties around the swallow cycle onsets, while temporal profile of L indicated that a range of −200 to −150 ms and 200ms to the swallow cycle onsets exhibited large changes both in α and β ranges. Therefore, to further understand the involvement of cortical oscillation to behavior, particularly swallowing, the combination of traditional spectral methods and various dynamical methods such as RN method would be essential.