Working memory readout varies with frontal theta rhythms

Increasing evidence suggests that attention varies rhythmically, phase-locked to ongoing cortical oscillations. Here, we report that the phase of theta oscillations (3 to 6 Hz) in the frontal eye field (FEF) is associated with temporal and spatial variation of the read-out of information from working memory (WM). Non-human primates were briefly shown a sample array of colored squares. A short time later, they viewed a test array and were rewarded for identifying which square changed color (the target). Better performance (accuracy and reaction time) varied systematically with the phase of local field potential (LFP) theta at the time of test array onset as well as the target location. This is consistent with theta scanning across the FEF and thus visual space from top to bottom. Theta was coupled, on opposing phases, to both spiking and beta (12 to 20 Hz). These results could be explained by a wave of activity that moves across the FEF, modulating the readout of information from WM.