Oscillatory activity reflects the excitability of the human somatosensory system

The neuronal activity of the resting human brain is dominated by spontaneous oscillations in primary sensory and motor areas. These oscillations are thought to reflect the excitability of sensory and motor systems which can be modulated according to the actual behavioral demands. However, so far, evidence for an association between oscillatory activity and excitability has been inconsistent. Here, we used magnetoencephalography to reinvestigate the relationship between oscillatory activity and excitability in the somatosensory system on a single trial basis. We applied brief painful stimuli and related pain-indu…