Rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT) does not evoke intermodulation components in the neural response

The human visual system performs nonlinear integrative operations at multiple stages of visual information processing. For instance, integrating parts of visual stimuli into a coherent object involves coordinated neural processing along the visual hierarchy. However, it remains uncertain whether visual integration manifests in a nonlinear neural response, particularly through intermodulation components in the power spectrum. In this study, we used a visual motion paradigm combined with rapid invisible frequency tagging (RIFT) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to explore nonlinear characteristics of neural responses associated with visual integration. In this paradigm, two grating patches were moving coherently or incoherently, and were modulated by RIFT at 56 and 63 Hz, respectively. The behavioural results revealed that the participants responded more accurately and faster to probes during coherent compared to incoherent motion. Moreover, the type of motion elicited differential effects on pupil dilation, with significantly larger pupil diameter observed during incoherent motion. To evaluate the neural response to coherent and incoherent motion stimuli, we assessed spectral coherence between MEG and RIFT. We observed a strong coherence at the tagging frequencies (f1 = 56 and f2 = 63 Hz) as well as at the higher harmonics at 112 Hz and 126 Hz, respectively. Importantly we did not observe a response at frequencies of the intermodulation (f2–f1, f2 + f1); nor did we observe a difference when comparing the coherence and incoherent motion. We conclude that in contrast to studies with low-frequency visible tagging, RIFT does not evoke intermodulation components and therefore, its applicability for investigating the neural mechanisms of visual integration might be limited.