Oscillations in neuronal activity are known to play a crucial role in information processing and cortical communication (Başar, 2012; Buzsáki, 2006; Cardin et al., 2009; Cho et al., 2015; Jokisch, & Jensen, 2007; and Marín, 2012; Pandey et al., 2016; Uhlhaas, & Singer, 2010). Oscillations of different frequencies are thought to subserve different roles in neural processing. The dominant alpha oscillations (8–10 Hz) reflect the inhibition of cortical structures that are not needed for the task at hand (Jensen & Mazaheri, 2010; Mazaheri et al., 2014), whereas beta band oscillations (∼20 Hz) may reflect a “hold” function, delaying behavior when beta oscillations are present. For example, beta oscillations measured in human subthalamic nucleus during deep‐brain electrode implantations for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease have a movement‐prohibitive role (Engel & Fries, 2010). Recently, a more causal involvement of oscillations in driving behavior was shown (Cho et al., 2015). In this study, restoring oscillatory activity via optogenetic driving of GABA interneurons at gamma frequencies resulted in normal behavioral flexibility in Dlx5/6+/− transgenic mice that are otherwise affected in both frontal cortical oscillations as well as behavioral flexibility.
