The posterior alpha (α) rhythm, seen in human electroencephalogram (EEG), is posited to
originate from cycling inhibitory/excitatory states of visual relay cells in the thalamus. These
cycling states are thought to lead to oscillating visual sensitivity levels termed the “neuronic
shutter effect.” If true, perceptual performance should be predictable by observed α phase (of
cycling inhibitory/excitatory states) relative to the timeline of afferentiation onto the visual
cortex. Here, we tested this hypothesis by presenting contrast changes at near perceptual …