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Ghorbani F, Zhou X, Talebi N, Roessner V, Hommel B, Prochnow A, Beste C. Neural connectivity patterns explain why adolescents perceive the world as moving slow. Commun Biol 2024; 7:759. [PMID: 38909084 PMCID: PMC11193795 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06439-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
That younger individuals perceive the world as moving slower than adults is a familiar phenomenon. Yet, it remains an open question why that is. Using event segmentation theory, electroencephalogram (EEG) beamforming and nonlinear causal relationship estimation using artificial neural network methods, we studied neural activity while adolescent and adult participants segmented a movie. We show when participants were instructed to segment a movie into meaningful units, adolescents partitioned incoming information into fewer encapsulated segments or episodes of longer duration than adults. Importantly, directed communication between medial frontal and lower-level perceptual areas and between occipito-temporal regions in specific neural oscillation spectrums explained behavioral differences between groups. Overall, the study reveals that a different organization of directed communication between brain regions and inefficient transmission of information between brain regions are key to understand why younger people perceive the world as moving slow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foroogh Ghorbani
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Xianzhen Zhou
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nasibeh Talebi
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Veit Roessner
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hommel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China
| | - Astrid Prochnow
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
- School of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, China.
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2
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Wilken S, Böttcher A, Adelhöfer N, Raab M, Beste C, Hoffmann S. Neural oscillations guiding action during effects imagery. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115063. [PMID: 38777262 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Goal-directed acting requires the integration of sensory information but can also be performed without direct sensory input. Examples of this can be found in sports and can be conceptualized by feedforward processes. There is, however, still a lack of understanding of the temporal neural dynamics and neuroanatomical structures involved in such processes. In the current study, we used EEG beamforming methods and examined 37 healthy participants in two well-controlled experiments varying the necessity of anticipatory processes during goal-directed action. We found that alpha and beta activity in the medial and posterior cingulate cortex enabled feedforward predictions about the position of an object based on the latest sensorimotor state. On this basis, theta band activity seems more related to sensorimotor representations, while beta band activity would be more involved in setting up the structure of the neural representations themselves. Alpha band activity in sensory cortices reflects an intensified gating of the anticipated perceptual consequences of the to-be-executed action. Together, the findings indicate that goal-directed acting through the anticipation of the predicted state of an effector is based on accompanying processes in multiple frequency bands in midcingulate and sensory brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Wilken
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, & Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Adriana Böttcher
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Nico Adelhöfer
- Donders Institute of Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Markus Raab
- Performance Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany; School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Germany; Shandong Normal University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Sven Hoffmann
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, & Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany.
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3
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Li L, Ishida K, Mizuhara K, Barry RJ, Nittono H. Effects of the cardiac cycle on auditory processing: A preregistered study on mismatch negativity. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14506. [PMID: 38149745 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle are known to affect perception and cognition differently. Higher order processing tends to be facilitated at systole, whereas sensory processing of external stimuli tends to be impaired at systole compared to diastole. The current study aims to examine whether the cardiac cycle affects auditory deviance detection, as reflected in the mismatch negativity (MMN) of the event-related brain potential (ERP). We recorded the intensity deviance response to deviant tones (70 dB) presented among standard tones (60 or 80 dB, depending on blocks) and calculated the MMN by subtracting standard ERP waveforms from deviant ERP waveforms. We also assessed intensity-dependent N1 and P2 amplitude changes by subtracting ERPs elicited by soft standard tones (60 dB) from ERPs elicited by loud standard tones (80 dB). These subtraction methods were used to eliminate phase-locked cardiac-related electric artifacts that overlap auditory ERPs. The endogenous MMN was expected to be larger at systole, reflecting the facilitation of memory-based auditory deviance detection, whereas the exogenous N1 and P2 would be smaller at systole, reflecting impaired exteroceptive sensory processing. However, after the elimination of cardiac-related artifacts, there were no significant differences between systole and diastole in any ERP components. The intensity-dependent N1 and P2 amplitude changes were not obvious in either cardiac phase, probably because of the short interstimulus intervals. The lack of a cardiac phase effect on MMN amplitude suggests that preattentive auditory processing may not be affected by bodily signals from the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingjun Li
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kai Ishida
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keita Mizuhara
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Robert J Barry
- School of Psychology, Brain & Behaviour Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hiroshi Nittono
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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4
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von Haugwitz L, Wascher E, Larra MF. Triggered by your heart: Effects of cardioafferent traffic and stress on automatic responses in a Simon task. Psychophysiology 2024:e14572. [PMID: 38520130 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Variations in cardioafferent traffic are relayed to the brain via arterial baroreceptors and have been shown to modulate perceptual processing. However, less is known about the cognitive-behavioral consequences of these effects and their role during stress. Here, we investigated in how far automatic responses during the Simon task were modulated by exposure to a laboratory stressor and the different phases of the cardiac cycle. In this study, 30 participants performed three blocks of a combined horizontal and vertical Simon task, which is characterized by either sensorimotor or cognitive response conflicts, respectively. Before each block, subjects were exposed to both the cold pressor test (CPT) and a control condition according to a within-subjects design. Target stimuli were presented during either systole or diastole. Behavioral and EEG-correlates of task processing were assessed along with subjective, cardiovascular, and endocrine measures of stress. The stress induction was successful yielding significant increases in all these measures compared to control. Moreover, we found the expected Simon effects: in incompatible compared to compatible trials performance was decreased and LRP latency as well as anterior N2 area increased. Importantly, accuracy was improved in compatible but reduced in incompatible trials during systole vs. diastole but only in the horizontal Simon condition. Stress dampened N2 area, however, no interactions with cardiac cycle were evident. These results indicate a faciliatory effect of cardioafferent traffic on automated sensorimotor processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon von Haugwitz
- Department of Ergonomics, IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Edmund Wascher
- Department of Ergonomics, IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mauro F Larra
- Department of Ergonomics, IfADo - Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
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5
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Rawish T, Wendiggensen P, Friedrich J, Frings C, Münchau A, Beste C. Neurophysiological processes reflecting the effects of the immediate past during the dynamic management of actions. Neuroimage 2024; 288:120526. [PMID: 38280691 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been many efforts to establish a comprehensive theoretical framework explaining the working mechanisms involved in perception-action integration. This framework stresses the importance of the immediate past on mechanisms supporting perception-action integration. The present study investigates the neurophysiological principles of dynamic perception-action bindings, particularly considering the influence of the immediate history on action control mechanisms. For this purpose, we conducted an established stimulus-response binding paradigm during EEG recording. The SR-task measures stimulus-response binding in terms of accuracy and reaction time differences depending on the degree of feature overlap between conditions. Alpha, beta and theta band activity in distinct time domains as well as associated brain regions were investigated applying time-frequency analyses, a beamforming approach as well as correlation analyses. We demonstrate, for the first time, interdependencies of neuronal processes relying on the immediate past. The reconfiguration of an action seems to overwrite immediately preceding processes. The analyses revealed modulations of theta (TBA), alpha (ABA) and beta band activity (BBA) in connection with fronto-temporal structures supporting the theoretical assumptions of the considered conceptual framework. The close interplay of attentional modulation by gating irrelevant information (ABA) and binding and retrieval processes (TBA) is reflected by the correlation of ABA in all pre-probe-intervals with post-probe TBA. Likewise, the role of BBA in maintaining the event file until retrieval is corroborated by BBA preceding the TBA-associated retrieval of perception-action codes. Following action execution, TBA shifted towards visual association cortices probably reflecting preparation for upcoming information, while ABA and BBA continue to reflect processes of attentional control and information selection for goal-directed behavior. The present work provides the first empirical support for concepts about the neurophysiological mechanisms of dynamic management of perception and action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Rawish
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Julia Friedrich
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian Frings
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Münchau
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany; Department of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, PR China.
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Lü W, Huang Y. Quadratic associations between cardiovascular stress reactivity and development of cool and hot executive functions in adolescents. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38415399 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Stress affects executive functions and exploring the association between stress-induced physiological reactivity and executive functions could highlight the potential mechanism of the stress-cognitive function link. Our study examined the linear and nonlinear associations between cardiovascular stress reactivity and cool and hot executive functions among adolescents. In November 2021 (T1), 273 Chinese adolescents between 11 and 14 (Mage = 12.93, SDage = 0.79) underwent a speech task during which their cardiovascular data were recorded, and they completed a Flanker task and an Emotional Stroop task. In May 2023 (T2), 253 adolescents again completed the Flanker and Emotional Stroop tasks. Cool and hot executive functions were assessed using the intra-individual reaction time variability of the Flanker task and Emotional Stroop task, respectively. Results showed that cardiovascular stress reactivity was positively linearly associated with cool executive functions at T1 and quadratically (inverted U-shaped) associated with cool executive functions at T1 and hot executive functions at T1 and T2. These findings suggest that compared to very high and very low cardiovascular reactivity, moderate to high cardiovascular reactivity to a structured social challenge is associated with better cool and hot executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lü
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Shaanxi Key Research Center for Children Mental and Behavior Health, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yefei Huang
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Behavior and Cognitive Neuroscience, Shaanxi Key Research Center for Children Mental and Behavior Health, School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
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Pscherer C, Wendiggensen P, Mückschel M, Bluschke A, Beste C. Alpha and theta band activity share information relevant to proactive and reactive control during conflict-modulated response inhibition. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:5936-5952. [PMID: 37728249 PMCID: PMC10619371 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Response inhibition is an important instance of cognitive control and can be complicated by perceptual conflict. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these processes are still not understood. Especially the relationship between neural processes directly preceding cognitive control (proactive control) and processes underlying cognitive control (reactive control) has not been examined although there should be close links. In the current study, we investigate these aspects in a sample of N = 50 healthy adults. Time-frequency and beamforming approaches were applied to analyze the interrelation of brain states before (pre-trial) and during (within-trial) cognitive control. The behavioral data replicate a perceptual conflict-dependent modulation of response inhibition. During the pre-trial period, insular, inferior frontal, superior temporal, and precentral alpha activity was positively correlated with theta activity in the same regions and the superior frontal gyrus. Additionally, participants with a stronger pre-trial alpha activity in the primary motor cortex showed a stronger (within-trial) conflict effect in the theta band in the primary motor cortex. This theta conflict effect was further related to a stronger theta conflict effect in the midcingulate cortex until the end of the trial. The temporal cascade of these processes suggests that successful proactive preparation (anticipatory information gating) entails a stronger reactive processing of the conflicting stimulus information likely resulting in a realization of the need to adapt the current action plan. The results indicate that theta and alpha band activity share and transfer aspects of information when it comes to the interrelationship between proactive and reactive control during conflict-modulated motor inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Pscherer
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryFaculty of Medicine of the TU DresdenDresdenGermany
- University Neuropsychology CenterFaculty of Medicine, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Paul Wendiggensen
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryFaculty of Medicine of the TU DresdenDresdenGermany
- University Neuropsychology CenterFaculty of Medicine, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Moritz Mückschel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryFaculty of Medicine of the TU DresdenDresdenGermany
- University Neuropsychology CenterFaculty of Medicine, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Annet Bluschke
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryFaculty of Medicine of the TU DresdenDresdenGermany
- University Neuropsychology CenterFaculty of Medicine, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryFaculty of Medicine of the TU DresdenDresdenGermany
- University Neuropsychology CenterFaculty of Medicine, TU DresdenDresdenGermany
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8
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Wilken S, Böttcher A, Adelhöfer N, Raab M, Hoffmann S, Beste C. The neurophysiology of continuous action monitoring. iScience 2023; 26:106939. [PMID: 37332673 PMCID: PMC10275727 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring actions is essential for goal-directed behavior. However, as opposed to short-lasting, and regularly reinstating monitoring functions, the neural processes underlying continuous action monitoring are poorly understood. We investigate this using a pursuit-tracking paradigm. We show that beta band activity likely maintains the sensorimotor program, while theta and alpha bands probably support attentional sampling and information gating, respectively. Alpha and beta band activity are most relevant during the initial tracking period, when sensorimotor calibrations are most intense. Theta band shifts from parietal to frontal cortices throughout tracking, likely reflecting a shift in the functional relevance from attentional sampling to action monitoring. This study shows that resource allocation mechanisms in prefrontal areas and stimulus-response mapping processes in the parietal cortex are crucial for adapting sensorimotor processes. It fills a knowledge gap in understanding the neural processes underlying action monitoring and suggests new directions for examining sensorimotor integration in more naturalistic experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Wilken
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, and Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Adriana Böttcher
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nico Adelhöfer
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Donders Institute of Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Markus Raab
- Performance Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, UK
| | - Sven Hoffmann
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, and Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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9
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Konjusha A, Yu S, Mückschel M, Colzato L, Ziemssen T, Beste C. Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Specifically Enhances Working Memory Gate Closing Mechanism: A System Neurophysiological Study. J Neurosci 2023; 43:4709-4724. [PMID: 37221097 PMCID: PMC10286950 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2004-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Everyday tasks and goal-directed behavior involve the maintenance and continuous updating of information in working memory (WM). WM gating reflects switches between these two core states. Neurobiological considerations suggest that the catecholaminergic and the GABAergic are likely involved in these dynamics. Both of these neurotransmitter systems likely underlie the effects to auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (atVNS). We examine the effects of atVNS on WM gating dynamics and their underlying neurophysiological and neurobiological processes in a randomized crossover study design in healthy humans of both sexes. We show that atVNS specifically modulates WM gate closing and thus specifically modulates neural mechanisms enabling the maintenance of information in WM. WM gate opening processes were not affected. atVNS modulates WM gate closing processes through the modulation of EEG alpha band activity. This was the case for clusters of activity in the EEG signal referring to stimulus information, motor response information, and fractions of information carrying stimulus-response mapping rules during WM gate closing. EEG-beamforming shows that modulations of activity in fronto-polar, orbital, and inferior parietal regions are associated with these effects. The data suggest that these effects are not because of modulations of the catecholaminergic (noradrenaline) system as indicated by lack of modulatory effects in pupil diameter dynamics, in the inter-relation of EEG and pupil diameter dynamics and saliva markers of noradrenaline activity. Considering other findings, it appears that a central effect of atVNS during cognitive processing refers to the stabilization of information in neural circuits, putatively mediated via the GABAergic system.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Goal-directed behavior depends on how well information in short-term memory can be flexibly updated but also on how well it can be shielded from distraction. These two functions were guarded by a working memory gate. We show how an increasingly popular brain stimulation techniques specifically enhances the ability to close the working memory gate to shield information from distraction. We show what physiological and anatomic aspects underlie these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anyla Konjusha
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Shijing Yu
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Moritz Mückschel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Lorenza Colzato
- Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Tjalf Ziemssen
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, MS Centre, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
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10
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Yang X, Spangler DP, Jennings JR, Friedman BH. Cardiac timing and threatening stimuli influence response inhibition and ex-Gaussian parameters of reaction time in a Go/No-go task. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14260. [PMID: 36717691 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Sensorimotor responses vary as a function of the cardiac cycle phase. These effects, known as cardiac cycle time effects, have been explained by the inhibition of cardiac afferent signals on information processing. However, the validity of cardiac cycle time effects is challenged by mixed findings. Factors such as current information processing and affective context may modulate cardiac cycle time effects and account for inconsistencies in the literature. The current study examines the influence of cardiac cycle time and threatening stimuli on two aspects of sensorimotor processing, response speed and inhibition. Thirty-four participants (Mage = 19.35 years; 29 female) completed an auditory Go/No-go task in no face, neutral face, and fearful face conditions. Faces were presented at either cardiac diastole or systole. Participants' reaction times (RTs) during Go trials and failures in response inhibition during No-go trials were recorded. The ex-Gaussian model was fit to RT data in each condition deriving the parameters, mu (μ) and tau (τ), that indicate response speed and attentional lapses, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to analyze behavioral data. Results showed that cardiac systole prolonged μ but decreased τ, and that cardiac diastole reduced inhibition errors in the fearful face condition but not in other conditions. These findings indicate that cardiac timing differentially modulates sensory-perceptual and top-down attentional processes and cardiac timing interacts with threatening contexts to influence response inhibition. These results highlight the specificity of cardiac cycle time effects on sensorimotor processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yang
- Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Derek P Spangler
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - J Richard Jennings
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bruce H Friedman
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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11
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Böttcher A, Wilken S, Adelhöfer N, Raab M, Hoffmann S, Beste C. A dissociable functional relevance of theta- and beta-band activities during complex sensorimotor integration. Cereb Cortex 2023:7180375. [PMID: 37246154 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensorimotor integration processes play a central role in daily life and require that different sources of sensory information become integrated: i.e. the information related to the object being under control of the agent (i.e. indicator) and the information about the goal of acting. Yet, how this is accomplished on a neurophysiological level is contentious. We focus on the role of theta- and beta-band activities and examine which neuroanatomical structures are involved. Healthy participants (n = 41) performed 3 consecutive pursuit-tracking EEG experiments in which the source of visual information available for tracking was varied (i.e. that of the indicator and the goal of acting). The initial specification of indicator dynamics is determined through beta-band activity in parietal cortices. When information about the goal was not accessible, but operating the indicator was required nevertheless, this incurred increased theta-band activity in the superior frontal cortex, signaling a higher need for control. Later, theta- and beta-band activities encode distinct information within the ventral processing stream: Theta-band activity is affected by the indicator information, while beta-band activity is affected by the information about the action goal. Complex sensorimotor integration is realized through a cascade of theta- and beta-band activities in a ventral-stream-parieto-frontal network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Böttcher
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University Neuropsychology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Saskia Wilken
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, & Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Nico Adelhöfer
- Donders Institute of Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Raab
- Performance Psychology, Institute of Psychology, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sven Hoffmann
- General Psychology: Judgment, Decision Making, & Action, Institute of Psychology, University of Hagen, Hagen, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University Neuropsychology Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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12
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Wendiggensen P, Beste C. How Intermittent Brain States Modulate Neurophysiological Processes in Cognitive Flexibility. J Cogn Neurosci 2023; 35:749-764. [PMID: 36724399 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is an essential facet of everyday life, for example, when switching between different tasks. Neurophysiological accounts on cognitive flexibility have often focused on the task switch itself, disregarding preceding processes and the possible impact of "brain states" before engaging in cognitive flexibility. In a combined working memory/task-switching paradigm, we examined how neuronal processes during cognitive flexibility are interrelated to preceding neuronal processes across time and brain regions in a sample of n = 42 healthy adults. The interrelation of alpha- and theta-band-related processes over brain states ahead and during response selection was investigated on a functional neuroanatomical level using EEG-beamforming. The results showed that response selection processes (reflected by theta-band activity) seem to be strongly connected to "idling" and preparatory brain activity states (in both the theta- and alpha-band). Notably, the superior parietal cortex seems to play a crucial role by assembling alpha-band-related inhibitory processes from the rule- and goal-based actions during "idling" brain states, namely, short-term maintenance of rules (temporal cortex), task-set reconfiguration (superior frontal/precentral regions), and perceptual control (occipital cortex). This information is further relayed to response selection processes associated with theta-band activity. Notably, when the task has to be switched, theta-band activity in the superior frontal gyrus indicates a need for cognitive control in the "idling" brain state, which also seems to be relayed by BA7. The results indicate the importance of brain activity states ahead of response selection processes for cognitive flexibility.
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Stock AK, Wendiggensen P, Ghin F, Beste C. Alcohol-induced deficits in reactive control of response selection and inhibition are counteracted by a seemingly paradox increase in proactive control. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1097. [PMID: 36658291 PMCID: PMC9852446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28012-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
High-dose alcohol intoxication reduces cognitive control, including inhibition. Although inhibition deficits may contribute to the behavioral deficits commonly observed in alcohol use disorder (AUD), many questions about potentially modulating factors have remained unanswered. We examined the effects of experimentally induced high-dose alcohol intoxication (~ 1.1 ‰) on the interplay between controlled vs. automatic response selection and inhibition in healthy young men. A holistic EEG-based theta activity analysis that considered both reactive control during task performance and preceding proactive control processes was run. It revealed a previously unknown seesaw relationship, with decreased reactive control, but paradoxically increased proactive control. Most importantly, alcohol-induced increases in proactive occipital theta band power were associated with reductions in negative alcohol effects on reactive control processes associated with decreased activity in the SMA and medial frontal cortex. Our findings demonstrate that research should not solely focus on immediate effects during task performance. Aside from differential neurobiochemical and neuroanatomical effects of alcohol, it is also conceivable that proactive control may have been recruited in a (secondary) response to compensate for alcohol-induced impairments in reactive control. Against this background, it could be promising to investigate changes in such compensatory mechanisms in pronounced alcohol-associated inhibition deficits, like in AUD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kathrin Stock
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany. .,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany. .,Faculty of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Paul Wendiggensen
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Filippo Ghin
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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14
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Zhao X, Chen J, Chen T, Wang S, Liu Y, Zeng X, Liu G. Responses of functional brain networks in micro-expressions: An EEG study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:996905. [DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.996905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro-expressions (MEs) can reflect an individual’s subjective emotions and true mental state, and they are widely used in the fields of mental health, justice, law enforcement, intelligence, and security. However, one of the major challenges of working with MEs is that their neural mechanism is not entirely understood. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to use electroencephalography (EEG) to investigate the reorganizations of functional brain networks involved in MEs. We aimed to reveal the underlying neural mechanisms that can provide electrophysiological indicators for ME recognition. A real-time supervision and emotional expression suppression experimental paradigm was designed to collect video and EEG data of MEs and no expressions (NEs) of 70 participants expressing positive emotions. Based on the graph theory, we analyzed the efficiency of functional brain network at the scalp level on both macro and micro scales. The results revealed that in the presence of MEs compared with NEs, the participants exhibited higher global efficiency and nodal efficiency in the frontal, occipital, and temporal regions. Additionally, using the random forest algorithm to select a subset of functional connectivity features as input, the support vector machine classifier achieved a classification accuracy for MEs and NEs of 0.81, with an area under the curve of 0.85. This finding demonstrates the possibility of using EEG to recognize MEs, with a wide range of application scenarios, such as persons wearing face masks or patients with expression disorders.
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Ren Q, Marshall AC, Kaiser J, Schütz-Bosbach S. Multisensory Integration of Anticipated Cardiac Signals with Visual Targets Affects Their Detection among Multiple Visual Stimuli. Neuroimage 2022; 262:119549. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Wendiggensen P, Adelhöfer N, Jamous R, Mückschel M, Takacs A, Frings C, Münchau A, Beste C. Processing of embedded response plans is modulated by an interplay of fronto-parietal theta and beta activity. J Neurophysiol 2022; 128:543-555. [PMID: 35894437 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00537.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Even simple actions like opening a door require integration/binding and flexible re-activation of different motor elements. Yet, the neural mechanisms underlying the processing of such 'embedded response plans' are largely elusive, despite theoretical frameworks, such as the Theory of Event Coding, describing the involved cognitive processes. In a sample of N = 40 healthy participants we combine time-frequency decomposition and various beamforming methods to examine neurophysiological dynamics of such action plans - with special emphasis on the interplay of theta and beta frequency activity during the processing of these plans. We show that the integration and rule-guided reactivation of embedded response plans is modulated by a complex interplay of theta and beta activity. Pre-trial BBA is related to different functional neuroanatomical structures which are activated in a consecutive fashion. Enhanced preparatory activity is positively associated with higher binding-related BBA in the precuneus/parietal areas, indicating that activity in the precuneus/parietal cortex facilitates the execution of an embedded action sequence. Increased preparation subsequently leads to reduced working memory retrieval demands. A cascading pattern of interactions between pre-trial and within-trial activity indicates the importance of preparatory brain activity. The study shows that there are multiple roles of beta and theta oscillations associated with different functional neuroanatomical structures during the integration and reactivation of motor elements during actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wendiggensen
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nico Adelhöfer
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Roula Jamous
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Mückschel
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Adam Takacs
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Münchau
- Institute of Systems Motor Science, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,University Neuropsychology Center, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Wendiggensen P, Ghin F, Koyun AH, Stock AK, Beste C. Pretrial Theta Band Activity Affects Context-dependent Modulation of Response Inhibition. J Cogn Neurosci 2022; 34:605-617. [PMID: 35061021 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
The ability to inhibit a prepotent response is a crucial prerequisite of goal-directed behavior. So far, research on response inhibition has mainly examined these processes when there is little to no cognitive control during the decision to respond. We manipulated the "context" in which response inhibition has to be exerted (i.e., a controlled or an automated context) by combining a Simon task with a go/no-go task and focused on theta band activity. To investigate the role of "context" in response inhibition, we also examined how far theta band activity in the pretrial period modulates context-dependent variations of theta band activity during response inhibition. This was done in an EEG study applying beamforming methods. Here, we examined n = 43 individuals. We show that an automated context, as opposed to a controlled context, compromises response inhibition performance and increases the need for cognitive control. This was also related to context-dependent modulations of theta band activity in superior frontal and middle frontal regions. Of note, results showed that theta band activity in the pretrial period, associated with the right inferior frontal cortex, was substantially correlated with context-dependent modulations of theta band activity during response inhibition. The direction of the obtained correlation provides insights into the functional relevance of a pretrial theta band activity. The data suggest that pretrial theta band activity reflects some form of attentional sampling to inform possible upcoming processes signaling the need for cognitive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Wendiggensen
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Filippo Ghin
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Helin Koyun
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Stock
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
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Ren Q, Marshall AC, Schütz-Bosbach S. Response Inhibition is Disrupted by Interoceptive Processing at Cardiac Systole. Biol Psychol 2022; 170:108323. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Marshall AC, Gentsch-Ebrahimzadeh A, Schütz-Bosbach S. From the inside out: Interoceptive feedback facilitates the integration of visceral signals for efficient sensory processing. Neuroimage 2022; 251:119011. [PMID: 35182753 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroscientific studies have mainly focused on the way humans perceive and interact with the external world. Recent work in the interoceptive domain indicates that the brain predictively models information from inside the body such as the heartbeat and that the efficiency with which this is executed can have implications for exteroceptive processing. However, to date direct evidence underpinning these hypotheses is lacking. Here, we show how the brain predictively refines neural resources to process afferent cardiac feedback and uses these interoceptive cues to enable more efficient processing of external sensory information. Participants completed a repetition-suppression paradigm consisting of a neutral repeating face. During the first face presentation, they heard auditory feedback of their heartbeat which either coincided with the systole of the cardiac cycle, the time at which cardiac events are registered by the brain or the diastole during which the brain receives no internal cardiac feedback. We used electroencephalography to measure the heartbeat evoked potential (HEP) as well as auditory (AEP) and visual evoked potentials (VEP). Exteroceptive cardiac feedback which coincided with the systole produced significantly higher HEP amplitudes relative to feedback timed to the diastole. Elevation of the HEP in this condition was followed by significant suppression of the VEP in response to the repeated neutral face and a stepwise decrease of AEP amplitude to repeated heartbeat feedback. Our results hereby show that exteroceptive heartbeat feedback coinciding with interoceptive signals at systole enhanced interoceptive cardiac processing. Furthermore, the same cue facilitating interoceptive integration enabled efficient suppression of a visual stimulus, as well as repetition suppression of the AEP across successive auditory heartbeat feedback. Our findings provide evidence that the alignment of external to internal signals can enhance the efficiency of interoceptive processing and that cues facilitating this process in either domain have beneficial effects for internal as well as external sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda C Marshall
- Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology Unit, LMU Munich, Germany.
| | | | - Simone Schütz-Bosbach
- Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology Unit, LMU Munich, Germany
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van Noordt S, Heffer T, Willoughby T. A developmental examination of medial frontal theta dynamics and inhibitory control. Neuroimage 2021; 246:118765. [PMID: 34875380 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medial frontal theta-band oscillations are a robust marker of action-outcome monitoring. In a large developmental sample (n = 432, 9-16 years), we examined whether phase and non-phase locked medial frontal theta power were related to inhibitory control among children and adolescents. Our results showed that the well-established increase in medial frontal theta power during inhibitory control was captured largely by non-phase locked dynamics, which partially mediated the positive effect of age on task performance. A person-centered approach also revealed latent classes of individuals based on their multivariate theta power dynamics (phase locked/non-phase locked, GO/NOGO). The class of individuals showing low phase locked and high non-phase locked medial frontal theta were significantly older, had better inhibitory control, scored higher on measures of general cognitive function, and were more efficient in their behavioural responses. The functional significance of phase and non-phase locked theta dynamics, and their potential changes, could have important implications for action-outcome monitoring and cognitive function in both typical and atypical development, as well as related psychopathology .
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefon van Noordt
- Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Taylor Heffer
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| | - Teena Willoughby
- Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Giller F, Aggensteiner PM, Banaschewski T, Döpfner M, Brandeis D, Roessner V, Beste C. Affective Dysregulation in Children Is Associated With Difficulties in Response Control in Emotional Ambiguous Situations. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2021; 7:66-75. [PMID: 33857639 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Affective dysregulation (AD), or synonymously "irritability," is a transdiagnostic construct that serves as a diagnostic criterion in various childhood mental disorders. It is characterized by severe or persistent outbursts of anger and aggression. Emotional self-regulation is highly dependent on the ability to process relevant and ignore conflicting emotional information. Understanding neurophysiological mechanisms underlying impairment in AD may provide a starting point for research on pharmacological treatment options and evaluation of psychotherapeutic intervention. METHODS A total of 120 children 8 to 12 years of age (63 with AD and 57 typically developing) were examined using an emotional Stroop task. Signal-decomposed electroencephalographic recordings providing information about the affected sensory-perceptual, response selection, or motor information processing stage were combined with source localization. RESULTS Behavioral performance revealed dysfunctional cognitive-emotional conflict monitoring in children with AD, suggesting difficulties in differentiating between conflicting and nonconflicting cognitive-emotional information. This was confirmed by the electroencephalographic data showing that they cannot intensify response selection processes during conflicting cognitive-emotional situations. Typically developing children were able to do so and activated a functional-neuroanatomical network comprising the left inferior parietal cortex (Brodmann area 40), right middle frontal (Brodmann area 10), and right inferior/orbitofrontal (Brodmann area 47) regions. Purely sensory-perceptual selection and motor execution processes were not modulated in AD, as evidenced by Bayesian analyses. CONCLUSIONS Behavioral and electroencephalogram data suggest that children with AD cannot adequately modulate controlled response selection processes given emotionally ambiguous information. Which neurotransmitter systems underlie these deficits and how they can be improved are important questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Giller
- Department of Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pascal-M Aggensteiner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Tobias Banaschewski
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Manfred Döpfner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany; School for Child and Adolescent Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Brandeis
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zürich, University and Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Department of Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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