Investigating the Human Brain's Integration of Internal and External Reference Frames: The Role of the Alpha and Beta Bands in a Modified Temporal Order Judgment Task

The integration of the internal and external reference frames of the human brain is crucial for achieving accurate tactile spatial localization. However, the mechanisms underlying this integration have yet to be fully elucidated. This study adopted a modified temporal order judgment paradigm with an advanced weighted phase lag index method to investigate brain network interactions when the internal and external reference frames were integrated. We found that when the brain integrated internal and external reference frames, alpha oscillations decreased, beta oscillations increased, and inter-hemispheric connectivity increased. Specifically, compared with the match condition: first, the alpha band oscillation predominantly contributed to processing the internal reference frame mismatch; second, the alpha and late beta band oscillation predominantly contributed to processing the external reference frame mismatch; third, the early alpha and late beta band oscillation predominantly contributed to processing the internal and external reference frame mismatch. These findings suggest that the neural oscillation of the alpha and beta bands plays an essential role in tactile spatial localization.