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Gómez-Lombardi A, Costa BG, Gutiérrez PP, Carvajal PM, Rivera LZ, El-Deredy W. The cognitive triad network - oscillation - behaviour links individual differences in EEG theta frequency with task performance and effective connectivity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21482. [PMID: 39277643 PMCID: PMC11401920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72229-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024] Open
Abstract
We reconcile two significant lines of Cognitive Neuroscience research: the relationship between the structural and functional architecture of the brain and behaviour on the one hand and the functional significance of oscillatory brain processes to behavioural performance on the other. Network neuroscience proposes that the three elements, behavioural performance, EEG oscillation frequency, and network connectivity should be tightly connected at the individual level. Young and old healthy adults were recruited as a proxy for performance variation. An auditory inhibitory control task was used to demonstrate that task performance correlates with the individual EEG frontal theta frequency. Older adults had a significantly slower theta frequency, and both theta frequency and task performance correlated with the strengths of two network connections that involve the main areas of inhibitory control and speech processing. The results suggest that both the recruited functional network and the oscillation frequency induced by the task are specific to the task, are inseparable, and mark individual differences that directly link structure and function to behaviour in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Gómez-Lombardi
- Brain Dynamics Laboratory, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación del Desarrollo en Cognición y Lenguaje, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.
| | - Begoña Góngora Costa
- Centro de Investigación del Desarrollo en Cognición y Lenguaje, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Pavel Prado Gutiérrez
- Escuela de Fonoaudiología, Facultad de Odontología y Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Muñoz Carvajal
- Centro para la Investigación Traslacional en Neurofarmacología, Escuela de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lucía Z Rivera
- Centro Avanzado de Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Wael El-Deredy
- Brain Dynamics Laboratory, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Engineering, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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2
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Viviani G, Visalli A, Montefinese M, Vallesi A, Ambrosini E. The Stroop legacy: A cautionary tale on methodological issues and a proposed spatial solution. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:4758-4785. [PMID: 37620747 PMCID: PMC11289023 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02215-0] [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] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The Stroop task is a seminal paradigm in experimental psychology, so much that various variants of the classical color-word version have been proposed. Here we offer a methodological review of them to emphasize the importance of designing methodologically rigorous Stroop tasks. This is not an end by itself, but it is fundamental to achieve adequate measurement validity, which is currently hindered by methodological heterogeneity and limitations. Among the several Stroop task variants in the literature, our methodological overview shows that the spatial Stroop task is not only a potentially methodologically adequate variant, which can thus assure measuring the Stroop effect with the required validity, but it might even allow researchers to overcome some of the methodological limitations of the classical paradigm due to its use of verbal stimuli. We thus focused on the spatial Stroop tasks in the literature to verify whether they really exploit such inherent potentiality. However, we show that this was generally not the case because only a few of them (1) are purely spatial, (2) ensure both all the three types of conflicts/facilitations (at the stimulus, response, and task levels) and the dimensional overlaps considered fundamental for yielding a complete Stroop effect according to the multiple loci account and Kornblum's theory, respectively, and (3) controlled for low-level binding and priming effects that could bias the estimated Stroop effect. Based on these methodological considerations, we present some examples of spatial Stroop tasks that, in our view, satisfy such requirements and, thus, ensure producing complete Stroop effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Viviani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Maria Montefinese
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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3
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Knežević M. Temporal Course of Interference Control from Early to Late Young Adulthood: An ERP Study. Brain Sci 2024; 14:536. [PMID: 38928537 PMCID: PMC11202022 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060536] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we aimed to investigate the neural dynamics of interference control using event-related potentials (ERPs) to reveal time course of interference control from the beginning to the end of young adulthood. Three groups of participants aged 19-21, 23-27 and 28-44 performed a Stroop task. The results revealed age differences in both accuracy and ERP amplitudes during all aspects of interreference control processing that reflect selective attention (P2), conflict monitoring (N2), conflict evaluation (P3) and interference control (N450). Both younger groups made more errors on incongruent trials compared to participants in their early 30s. The presence of higher P2 and N2 amplitudes, diminished P3 and again higher N450 amplitudes in participants in their early 20s points to a shortage of available resources for top-down control at this age. These results are in accordance with structural and functional studies that show that development of the frontoparietal network, which underlies interference control, continues after adolescence. While brain mechanisms are still developing, the use of accompanying cognitive abilities is still not optimal. The findings that change in neural dynamics and related performance continues into early adulthood challenge current models of cognitive development and call for new directions in developmental theorizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Knežević
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia, Ilica 242, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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4
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Lévesque M, Arguin M. The oscillatory features of visual processing are altered in healthy aging. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1323493. [PMID: 38449765 PMCID: PMC10914935 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1323493] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The temporal features of visual processing were compared between young and elderly healthy participants in visual object and word recognition tasks using the technique of random temporal sampling. The target stimuli were additively combined with a white noise field and were exposed very briefly (200 ms). Target visibility oscillated randomly throughout exposure duration by manipulating the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Classification images (CIs) based on response accuracy were calculated to reflect processing efficiency according to the time elapsed since target onset and the power of SNR oscillations in the 5-55 Hz range. CIs differed substantially across groups whereas individuals of the same group largely shared crucial features such that a machine learning algorithm reached 100% accuracy in classifying the data patterns of individual participants into their proper group. These findings demonstrate altered perceptual oscillations in healthy aging and are consistent with previous investigations showing brain oscillation anomalies in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Lévesque
- Département de Psychologie, Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche sur le cerveau et l’apprentissage, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Martin Arguin
- Département de Psychologie, Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche sur le cerveau et l’apprentissage, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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Soto-Icaza P, Soto-Fernández P, Kausel L, Márquez-Rodríguez V, Carvajal-Paredes P, Martínez-Molina MP, Figueroa-Vargas A, Billeke P. Oscillatory activity underlying cognitive performance in children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1320761. [PMID: 38384334 PMCID: PMC10879575 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1320761] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that exhibits a widely heterogeneous range of social and cognitive symptoms. This feature has challenged a broad comprehension of this neurodevelopmental disorder and therapeutic efforts to address its difficulties. Current therapeutic strategies have focused primarily on treating behavioral symptoms rather than on brain psychophysiology. During the past years, the emergence of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) has opened alternatives to the design of potential combined treatments focused on the neurophysiopathology of neuropsychiatric disorders like ASD. Such interventions require identifying the key brain mechanisms underlying the symptomatology and cognitive features. Evidence has shown alterations in oscillatory features of the neural ensembles associated with cognitive functions in ASD. In this line, we elaborated a systematic revision of the evidence of alterations in brain oscillations that underlie key cognitive processes that have been shown to be affected in ASD during childhood and adolescence, namely, social cognition, attention, working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility. This knowledge could contribute to developing therapies based on NIBS to improve these processes in populations with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Soto-Icaza
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Leonie Kausel
- Centro de Estudios en Neurociencia Humana y Neuropsicología (CENHN), Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Víctor Márquez-Rodríguez
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Patricio Carvajal-Paredes
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Paz Martínez-Molina
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Figueroa-Vargas
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Laboratory for Cognitive and Evolutionary Neuroscience (LaNCE), Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo Billeke
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia Social y Neuromodulación, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, (neuroCICS), Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
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Viviani G, Visalli A, Finos L, Vallesi A, Ambrosini E. A comparison between different variants of the spatial Stroop task: The influence of analytic flexibility on Stroop effect estimates and reliability. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:934-951. [PMID: 36894759 PMCID: PMC10830653 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-023-02091-8] [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] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
The spatial Stroop task measures the ability to resolve interference between relevant and irrelevant spatial information. We recently proposed a four-choice spatial Stroop task that ensures methodological advantages over the original color-word verbal Stroop task, requiring participants to indicate the direction of an arrow while ignoring its position in one of the screen corners. However, its peripheral spatial arrangement might represent a methodological weakness and could introduce experimental confounds. Thus, aiming at improving our "Peripheral" spatial Stroop, we designed and made available five novel spatial Stroop tasks (Perifoveal, Navon, Figure-Ground, Flanker, and Saliency), wherein the stimuli appeared at the center of the screen. In a within-subjects online study, we compared the six versions to identify which task produced the largest but also the most reliable and robust Stroop effect. Indeed, although internal reliability is frequently overlooked, its estimate is fundamental, also in light of the recently proposed reliability paradox. Data analyses were performed using both the classical general linear model analytical approach and two multilevel modelling approaches (linear mixed models and random coefficient analysis), which specifically served for more accurately estimating the Stroop effect by explaining intra-subject, trial-by-trial variability. We then assessed our results based on their robustness to such analytic flexibility. Overall, our results indicate that the Perifoveal spatial Stroop is the best alternative task for its statistical properties and methodological advantages. Interestingly, our results also indicate that the Peripheral and Perifoveal Stroop effects were not only the largest, but also those with highest and most robust internal reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giada Viviani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonino Visalli
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Livio Finos
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy.
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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7
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Toy S, Shafiei SB, Ozsoy S, Abernathy J, Bozdemir E, Rau KK, Schwengel DA. Neurocognitive Correlates of Clinical Decision Making: A Pilot Study Using Electroencephalography. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1661. [PMID: 38137109 PMCID: PMC10741622 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13121661] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of sound clinical reasoning, while essential for optimal patient care, can be quite an elusive process. Researchers typically rely on a self-report or observational measures to study decision making, but clinicians' reasoning processes may not be apparent to themselves or outside observers. This study explored electroencephalography (EEG) to examine neurocognitive correlates of clinical decision making during a simulated American Board of Anesthesiology-style standardized oral exam. Eight novice anesthesiology residents and eight fellows who had recently passed their board exams were included in the study. Measures included EEG recordings from each participant, demographic information, self-reported cognitive load, and observed performance. To examine neurocognitive correlates of clinical decision making, power spectral density (PSD) and functional connectivity between pairs of EEG channels were analyzed. Although both groups reported similar cognitive load (p = 0.840), fellows outperformed novices based on performance scores (p < 0.001). PSD showed no significant differences between the groups. Several coherence features showed significant differences between fellows and residents, mostly related to the channels within the frontal, between the frontal and parietal, and between the frontal and temporal areas. The functional connectivity patterns found in this study could provide some clues for future hypothesis-driven studies in examining the underlying cognitive processes that lead to better clinical reasoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Toy
- Departments of Basic Science Education & Health Systems and Implementation Science, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA;
| | - Somayeh B. Shafiei
- Intelligent Cancer Care Laboratory, Department of Urology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA;
| | | | - James Abernathy
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
| | - Eda Bozdemir
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
| | - Kristofer K. Rau
- Department of Basic Science Education, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA;
| | - Deborah A. Schwengel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;
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Visalli A, Ambrosini E, Viviani G, Sambataro F, Tenconi E, Vallesi A. On the relationship between emotions and cognitive control: Evidence from an observational study on emotional priming Stroop task. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294957. [PMID: 38011212 PMCID: PMC10681184 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence is discordant regarding how emotional processing and cognitive control interact to shape behavior. This observational study sought to examine this interaction by looking at the distinction between proactive and reactive modes of control and how they relate to emotional processing. Seventy-four healthy participants performed an emotional priming Stroop task. On each trial, target stimuli of a spatial Stroop task were preceded by sad or neutral facial expressions, providing two emotional conditions. To manipulate the requirement of both proactive and reactive control, the proportion of congruent trials (PC) was varied at the list-wide (LWPC) and item-specific (ISPC) levels, respectively. We found that sad priming led to behavioral costs only in trials with low proactive and reactive cognitive control demands. Our findings suggest that emotional processing affects cognitive processes other than cognitive control in the Stroop task. Moreover, both proactive and reactive control modes seem effective in overcoming emotional interference of priming stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giada Viviani
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Tenconi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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9
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Huang G, Han C, Yang J, Ye C, Javed I, Liu F, Kong Z, Li Y, Zhu Y, Yi G, Ju C, Jia X, Yang M. Neural basis of the attention bias during addiction stroop task in methamphetamine-dependent patients with and without a history of psychosis: an ERP study. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1173711. [PMID: 37359853 PMCID: PMC10288148 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1173711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Attentional bias plays an important role in sustaining various types of drug addiction. No prior studies examined methamphetamine (MA)-associated psychosis (MAP) relationships between ERP time course and performance on an addiction Stroop task in MA abusers. The aim of the present study was to determine whether MA abusers with (MAP+) or without (MAP-) psychosis exhibit alterations of the ERP during the addiction Stroop task. Methods Thirty-one healthy controls (CTRL), 14 MAP-, and 24 MAP+ participants were recruited and completed the addiction Stroop task during EEG recording using 32 electrodes. Group variations were compared on measures of behavioral task performance and event-related potentials (ERP) of performance monitoring (N200, P300, N450). The Barratt impulsiveness scores were analyzed to investigate correlations with ERP changes. Results MA-related word stimulus elicited a more negative N200 amplitude over left-anterior electrodes in MAP- abusers; furthermore, a positive association between the N200 amplitude and Barratt attentional scores and non-planning scores was observed, while no such differences were found in MAP+ abusers. There were no significant differences in reaction time (RT) and error rate between each group. Conclusion This is the first study to examine psychosis relationships between ERP time course and performance on an addiction Stroop task in MA abusers with or without psychosis. These findings support the association between attentional bias measured by the MA addiction Stroop task and N200 component as well as indicate the possibility of using this cognitive task in combination with ERP technology to detect psychosis factors among abstinent MA abusers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengdi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanliang Han
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Modulation and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jihui Yang
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Caihong Ye
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Iqbal Javed
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fen Liu
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhi Kong
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingmei Zhu
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guangyong Yi
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chuanjia Ju
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojian Jia
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Addiction Medicine, Shenzhen Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, the School of Mental Health of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Anhui Medical University, and Jining Medical College, Shenzhen, China
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10
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Chernyshev BV, Pultsina KI, Tretyakova VD, Miasnikova AS, Prokofyev AO, Kozunova GL, Stroganova TA. Losses resulting from deliberate exploration trigger beta oscillations in frontal cortex. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1152926. [PMID: 37250414 PMCID: PMC10211346 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1152926] [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: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We examined the neural signature of directed exploration by contrasting MEG beta (16-30 Hz) power changes between disadvantageous and advantageous choices in the two-choice probabilistic reward task. We analyzed the choices made after the participants have learned the probabilistic contingency between choices and their outcomes, i.e., acquired the inner model of choice values. Therefore, rare disadvantageous choices might serve explorative, environment-probing purposes. The study brought two main findings. Firstly, decision making leading to disadvantageous choices took more time and evidenced greater large-scale suppression of beta oscillations than its advantageous alternative. Additional neural resources recruited during disadvantageous decisions strongly suggest their deliberately explorative nature. Secondly, an outcome of disadvantageous and advantageous choices had qualitatively different impact on feedback-related beta oscillations. After the disadvantageous choices, only losses-but not gains-were followed by late beta synchronization in frontal cortex. Our results are consistent with the role of frontal beta oscillations in the stabilization of neural representations for selected behavioral rule when explorative strategy conflicts with value-based behavior. Punishment for explorative choice being congruent with its low value in the reward history is more likely to strengthen, through punishment-related beta oscillations, the representation of exploitative choices consistent with the inner utility model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris V. Chernyshev
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Psychology, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Kristina I. Pultsina
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vera D. Tretyakova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleksandra S. Miasnikova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey O. Prokofyev
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Galina L. Kozunova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana A. Stroganova
- Center for Neurocognitive Research (MEG Center), Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
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11
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Liang J, Huang J, Luo Z, Wu Y, Zheng L, Tang Z, Li W, Ou H. Brain network mechanism on cognitive control task in the elderly with brain aging: A functional near infrared spectroscopy study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1154798. [PMID: 37007681 PMCID: PMC10050563 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1154798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo study the brain network mechanism of cognitive control in the elderly with brain aging.Materials and methods21 normal young people and 20 elderly people were included in this study. Mini-mental State Examination and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) synchronous judgment test (including forward tests and reverse judgment tests) were performed on all subjects. To observe and compare differences in brain region activation and brain functional connectivity between subjects and forward and reverse trials by recording functional connectivity (FC) in different task paradigms and calculating bilateral prefrontal and primary motor cortical (PMC) areas.ResultsIn the forward and reverse judgment tests, the reaction time of the elderly group was significantly longer than the young group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the correct rate. In the homologous regions of interest (ROI) data, the FC of PMC and prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the elderly group was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In the heterologous ROI data, except for left primary motor cortex (LPMC)-left prefrontal cortex (LPFC), the other PMC and PFC of the elderly group were significantly lower than the young group (P < 0.05) while processing the forward judgment test. However, the heterologous ROI data of LPMC-right prefrontal cortex (RPFC), LPMC-LPFC and RPFC-LPFC in the elderly group were significantly lower than the young group (P < 0.05) while processing the reverse judgment test.ConclusionThe results suggest that brain aging affected degeneration of whole brain function, which reduce the speed of information processing and form a brain network functional connection mode different from that of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Liang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiali Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiwei Luo
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuxi Wu
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingxiong Zheng
- Department of Rehabilitation, Guihang Group 302 Hospital, Anshun, China
| | - Zengquan Tang
- The Fifth Clinical College, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanying Li
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Wanying Li,
| | - Haining Ou
- Department of Rehabilitation, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy, and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Haining Ou,
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12
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Abul Hasan M, Shahid H, Ahmed Qazi S, Ejaz O, Danish Mujib M, Vuckovic A. Underpinning the neurological source of executive function following cross hemispheric tDCS stimulation. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 185:1-10. [PMID: 36634750 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.01.004] [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: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising technique for enhancement of executive functions in healthy as well as neurologically disturbed patients. However, the evidence regarding the neuropsychological and behavioral change with neurophysiological shifts as well as the mechanism of tDCS action as evidenced by activation of neuronal sources important for executive functions have remained unaddressed. The study thereby endeavors to (1) determine the neuropsychological, behavioral, and neurophysiological change induced with five sessions of bilateral tDCS stimulation and (2) identify putative neuronal sources related to the executive functions responsible for neuropsychological and behavioral change. For this single blinded study, a total of 40 healthy participants, randomly allocated to active (n = 19) or sham (n = 21) groups completed five sessions of 2 mA tDCS stimulation administered over Dorso-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) (F3 as anode, F4 as cathode). Repeated measure analysis was performed on neuropsychological (Everyday Memory Questionnaire and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale), and behavioral assessment (n-Back and Stroop tests) to investigate within and between group differences. Pre and post neurophysiological (Electroencephalogram) results showed that bilateral tDCS stimulation activates cortical regions responsible for executive functions including updation (working memory) and inhibition (interference control or attention). Multiple sessions of bilateral tDCS stimulation results in a significant increase in theta, alpha, and beta-band activity in the DLPFC, cingulate and parietal cortex. This study provides evidence that tDCS can be used for performance enhancement of executive functions in able-bodied people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Abul Hasan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan; Neurocomputation Laboratory, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hira Shahid
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Karachi, Pakistan; Research Centre for Intelligent Healthcare, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom.
| | - Saad Ahmed Qazi
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Electrical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Osama Ejaz
- Neurocomputation Laboratory, National Center of Artificial Intelligence, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Danish Mujib
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Aleksandra Vuckovic
- Biomedical Engineering Division, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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13
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Chen Q, Meng Z, Xu L, Hou Y, Chen A. Effective connectivity analysis reveals the time course of the Stroop effect in manual responding. Biol Psychol 2023; 178:108526. [PMID: 36841469 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108526] [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: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Investigations of the time course of the Stroop effect have contributed to understanding of the mechanisms of cognitive control. However, previous studies have not reached a consistent conclusion regarding such mechanisms. The current study clarified the controversy by adopting a modified stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) manual Stroop task combined with effective connectivity analysis based on task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging data. The behavioral results showed a decreasing Stroop effect when the distractor was presented before the target stimulus. In addition, significant effective connectivity related to inhibitory control was observed, which decreased with the time interval between stimuli, including the connection from the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) to the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) and from the pre-SMA to the primary motor cortex (M1). Diversity of active patterns between different congruency types was also detected. The current results revealed that inhibitory control could be actively performed in response to distractors to reduce their interference and further decrease the Stroop effect, and that inhibition is more efficient the earlier it is started.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- School of Psychology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China
| | - Zong Meng
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - You Hou
- School of Psychology, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 010022, China.
| | - Antao Chen
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai 200438, China.
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14
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Popescu M, Popescu EA, DeGraba TJ, Hughes JD. Cognitive flexibility in post-traumatic stress disorder: Sustained interference associated with altered modulation of cortical oscillatory activity during task-switching. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103297. [PMID: 36563647 PMCID: PMC9795531 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility, with evidence suggesting that these deficits may be a risk factor for the development of core PTSD symptoms. Understanding the neurophysiological substrate of this association could aid the development of effective therapies for PTSD. In this study, we investigated the relationship between post-traumatic stress severity (PTSS) in service members with combat exposure and the modulation of cortical oscillatory activity during a test of cognitive flexibility. Participants were assigned to three groups based on PTSS scores: low (well below a threshold consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD, n = 30), moderate (n = 32), and high (n = 29) symptom severity. Magnetoencephalography data were recorded while participants performed a cued rule-switching task in which two matching rules were repeated or switched across consecutive trials. Participants with high PTSS had longer reaction times for both switch and repeat trials, and showed evidence of sustained residual interference during repeat trials. During the cue-stimulus interval, participants with moderate and high PTSS showed higher relative theta power in switch trials over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). After test-stimulus onset, participants with high PTSS showed less suppression of beta band activity, which was present over multiple prefrontal, parietal, and temporal regions in switch trials, but it was confined to ventromedial prefrontal cortex in repeat trials. Higher theta band activity is a marker of effortful voluntary shifting of attention, while lower suppression of beta band activity reflects difficulties with inhibition of competing perceptual information and courses of action. These findings are consistent with a role for altered suppression of beta band activity, which can be due to less effective top-down bias signals exerted by DLPFC, in the etiology of cognitive flexibility deficits in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Elena-Anda Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas J DeGraba
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John D Hughes
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA; Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
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15
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Executive Function-Related Improvements on a Commercial CBT-Based Weight Management Intervention: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148763. [PMID: 35886615 PMCID: PMC9320503 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Executive functioning is a key component involved in many of the processes necessary for effective weight management behavior change (e.g., setting goals). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and third-wave CBT (e.g., mindfulness) are considered first-line treatments for obesity, but it is unknown to what extent they can improve or sustain executive functioning in a generalized weight management intervention. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined if a CBT-based generalized weight management intervention would affect executive functioning and executive function-related brain activity in individuals with obesity or overweight. Participants were randomized to an intervention condition (N = 24) that received the Noom Weight program or to a control group (N = 26) receiving weekly educational newsletters. EEG measurements were taken during Flanker, Stroop, and N-back tasks at baseline and months 1 through 4. After 4 months, the intervention condition evidenced greater accuracy over time on the Flanker and Stroop tasks and, to a lesser extent, neural markers of executive function compared to the control group. The intervention condition also lost more weight than controls (−7.1 pounds vs. +1.0 pounds). Given mixed evidence on whether weight management interventions, particularly CBT-based weight management interventions, are associated with changes in markers of executive function, this pilot study contributes preliminary evidence that a multicomponent CBT-based weight management intervention (i.e., that which provides both support for weight management and is based on CBT) can help individuals sustain executive function over 4 months compared to controls.
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16
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Hoba S, Fink GR, Zeng H, Weidner R. View Normalization of Object Size in the Right Parietal Cortex. Vision (Basel) 2022; 6:41. [PMID: 35893758 PMCID: PMC9326632 DOI: 10.3390/vision6030041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior knowledge alters perception already on early levels of processing. For instance, judging the display size of an object is affected by its familiar size. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the neural processes involved in resolving ambiguities between familiar object size and physical object size in 33 healthy human subjects. The familiar size was either small or large, and the object was displayed as either small or large. Thus, the size of the displayed object was either congruent or incongruent with its internally stored canonical size representation. Subjects were asked to indicate where the stimuli appeared on the screen as quickly and accurately as possible, thereby ensuring that differential activations cannot be ascribed to explicit object size judgments. Incongruent (relative to congruent) object displays were associated with enhanced activation of the right intraparietal sulcus (IPS). These data are consistent with but extend previous patient studies, which found the right parietal cortex involved in matching visual objects presented atypically to prototypical object representations, suggesting that the right IPS supports view normalization of objects. In a second experiment, using a parametric design, a region-of-interest analysis supported this notion by showing that increases in size mismatch between the displayed size of an object and its familiar viewing size were associated with an increased right IPS activation. We conclude that the right IPS performs view normalization of mismatched information about the internally stored prototypical size and the current viewing size of an object.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Hoba
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-3, Research Center Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.H.); (G.R.F.)
| | - Gereon R. Fink
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-3, Research Center Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.H.); (G.R.F.)
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne University, 50937 Cologne, Germany
| | - Hang Zeng
- Center for Educational Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Ralph Weidner
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, INM-3, Research Center Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany; (S.H.); (G.R.F.)
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17
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Kim MJ, Kim YJ, Yum MS, Kim WY. Alpha-power in electroencephalography as good outcome predictor for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10907. [PMID: 35764807 PMCID: PMC9240023 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15144-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the utility of quantitative EEG biomarkers for predicting good neurologic outcomes in OHCA survivors treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) using power spectral density (PSD), event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP), and spectral entropy (SE). This observational registry-based study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Korea using data of adult nontraumatic comatose OHCA survivors who underwent standard EEG and treated with TTM between 2010 and 2018. Good neurological outcome at 1 month (Cerebral Performance Category scores 1 and 2) was the primary outcome. The linear mixed model analysis was performed for PSD, ESRP, and SE values of all and each frequency band. Thirteen of the 54 comatose OHCA survivors with TTM and EEG were excluded due to poor EEG quality or periodic/rhythmic pattern, and EEG data of 41 patients were used for analysis. The median time to EEG was 21 h, and the rate of the good neurologic outcome at 1 month was 52.5%. The good neurologic outcome group was significantly younger and showed higher PSD and ERSP and lower SE features for each frequency than the poor outcome group. After age adjustment, only the alpha-PSD was significantly higher in the good neurologic outcome group (1.13 ± 1.11 vs. 0.09 ± 0.09, p = 0.031) and had best performance with 0.903 of the area under the curve for predicting good neurologic outcome. Alpha-PSD best predicts good neurologic outcome in OHCA survivors and is an early biomarker for prognostication. Larger studies are needed to conclusively confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jee Kim
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea
| | - Youn-Jung Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea
| | - Mi-Sun Yum
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea.
| | - Won Young Kim
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Korea.
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18
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Güntekin B, Aktürk T, Arakaki X, Bonanni L, Del Percio C, Edelmayer R, Farina F, Ferri R, Hanoğlu L, Kumar S, Lizio R, Lopez S, Murphy B, Noce G, Randall F, Sack AT, Stocchi F, Yener G, Yıldırım E, Babiloni C. Are there consistent abnormalities in event-related EEG oscillations in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to other diseases belonging to dementia? Psychophysiology 2022; 59:e13934. [PMID: 34460957 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Cerebrospinal and structural-molecular neuroimaging in-vivo biomarkers are recommended for diagnostic purposes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias; however, they do not explain the effects of AD neuropathology on neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning cognitive processes. Here, an Expert Panel from the Electrophysiology Professional Interest Area of the Alzheimer's Association reviewed the field literature and reached consensus on the event-related electroencephalographic oscillations (EROs) that show consistent abnormalities in patients with significant cognitive deficits due to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's (PD), Lewy body (LBD), and cerebrovascular diseases. Converging evidence from oddball paradigms showed that, as compared to cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults, AD patients had lower amplitude in widespread delta (>4 Hz) and theta (4-7 Hz) phase-locked EROs as a function of disease severity. Similar effects were also observed in PD, LBD, and/or cerebrovascular cognitive impairment patients. Non-phase-locked alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) oscillations were abnormally reduced (event-related desynchronization, ERD) in AD patients relative to CU. However, studies on patients with other dementias remain lacking. Delta and theta phase-locked EROs during oddball tasks may be useful neurophysiological biomarkers of cognitive systems at work in heuristic and intervention clinical trials performed in AD patients, but more research is needed regarding their potential role for other dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Güntekin
- Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Clinical Electrophysiology, Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation Lab, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Biophysics, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tuba Aktürk
- Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Clinical Electrophysiology, Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation Lab, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Vocational School, Program of Electroneurophysiology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Bonanni
- Department of Neuroscience Imaging and Clinical Sciences and CESI, University G d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudio Del Percio
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Farina
- School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Lütfü Hanoğlu
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sanjeev Kumar
- Adult Neurodevelopmental and Geriatric Psychiatry Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Susanna Lopez
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Fiona Randall
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander T Sack
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Fabrizio Stocchi
- Institute for Research and Medical Care, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Görsev Yener
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ebru Yıldırım
- Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technologies (SABITA), Regenerative and Restorative Medicine Research Center (REMER), Clinical Electrophysiology, Neuroimaging and Neuromodulation Lab, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Vocational School, Program of Electroneurophysiology, Istanbul Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Claudio Babiloni
- Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Institute for Research and Medical Care, Hospital San Raffaele of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
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Lydon EA, Nguyen LT, Shende SA, Chiang HS, Spence JS, Mudar RA. EEG theta and alpha oscillations in early versus late mild cognitive impairment during a semantic Go/NoGo task. Behav Brain Res 2022; 416:113539. [PMID: 34416304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is marked by episodic memory deficits, which can be used to classify individuals into early MCI (EMCI) and late MCI (LMCI). Although mounting evidence suggests that individuals with aMCI have additional cognitive alterations including deficits in cognitive control, few have examined if EMCI and LMCI differ on processes other than episodic memory. Using a semantic Go/NoGo task, we examined differences in cognitive control between EMCI and LMCI on behavioral (accuracy and reaction time) and neural (scalp-recorded event-related oscillations in theta and alpha band) measures. Although no behavioral differences were observed between the EMCI and LMCI groups, differences in neural oscillations were observed. The LMCI group had higher theta synchronization on Go trials at central electrodes compared to the EMCI group. In addition, the EMCI group showed differences in theta power at central electrodes and alpha power at central and centro-parietal electrodes between Go and NoGo trials, while the LMCI group did not exhibit such differences. These findings suggest that while behavioral differences may not be observable, neural changes underlying cognitive control processes may differentiate EMCI and LMCI stages and may be useful to understand the trajectory of aMCI in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Lydon
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 901 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
| | - Lydia T Nguyen
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States
| | - Shraddha A Shende
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 901 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
| | - Hsueh-Sheng Chiang
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, United States; School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, United States
| | - Jeffrey S Spence
- Center for BrainHealth, The University of Texas at Dallas, 2200 West Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Raksha A Mudar
- Department of Speech and Hearing Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 901 South 6th Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, United States; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 405 North Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States.
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20
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Pereira Soares SM, Kubota M, Rossi E, Rothman J. Determinants of bilingualism predict dynamic changes in resting state EEG oscillations. BRAIN AND LANGUAGE 2021; 223:105030. [PMID: 34634607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandl.2021.105030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study uses resting state EEG data from 103 bilinguals to understand how determinants of bilingualism may reshape the mind/brain. Participants completed the LSBQ, which quantifies language use and crucially the division of labor of dual-language use in diverse activities and settings over the lifespan. We hypothesized correlations between the degree of active bilingualism with power of neural oscillations in specific frequency bands. Moreover, we anticipated levels of mean coherence (connectivity between brain regions) to vary by degree of bilingual language experience. Results demonstrated effects of Age of L2/2L1 onset on high beta and gamma powers. Higher usage of the non-societal language at home and society modulated indices of functional connectivity in theta, alpha and gamma frequencies. Results add to the emerging literature on the neuromodulatory effects of bilingualism for rs-EEG, and are in line with claims that bilingualism effects are modulated by degree of engagement with dual-language experiential factors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maki Kubota
- Department of Language and Culture, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
| | | | - Jason Rothman
- Department of Language and Culture, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway; Centro de Ciencia Cognitiva, Universidad Antonio De Nebrija, Spain.
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Hassanin O, Al-Shargie F, Tariq U, Al-Nashash H. Asymmetry of Regional Phase Synchrony Cortical Networks Under Cognitive Alertness and Vigilance Decrement States. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 29:2378-2387. [PMID: 34735348 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2021.3125420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates intra-regional connectivity and regional hemispheric asymmetry under two vigilance states: alertness and vigilance decrement. The vigilance states were induced on nine healthy subjects while performing 30 min in-congruent Stroop color-word task (I-SCWT). We measured brain activity using Electroencephalography (EEG) signals with 64-channels. We quantified the regional network connectivity using the phase-locking value (PLV) with graph theory analysis (GTA) and Support Vector Machines (SVM). Results showed that the vigilance decrement state was associated with impaired information processing within the frontal and central regions in delta and theta frequency bands. Meanwhile, the hemispheric asymmetry results showed that the laterality shifted to the right-temporal in delta, right-central, parietal, and left frontal in theta, right-frontal and left-central, temporal and parietal in alpha, and right-parietal and left temporal in beta frequency bands. These findings represent the first demonstration of intra-regional connectivity and hemispheric asymmetry changes as a function of cognitive vigilance states. The overall results showed that vigilance decrement is region and frequency band-specific. Our SVM model achieved the highest classification accuracy of 99.73% in differentiating between the two vigilance states based on the frontal and central connectivity networks measures.
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22
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Multichannel anodal tDCS over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in a paediatric population. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21512. [PMID: 34728684 PMCID: PMC8563927 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00933-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Methodological studies investigating transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC) in paediatric populations are limited. Therefore, we investigated in a paediatric population whether stimulation success of multichannel tDCS over the lDLPFC depends on concurrent task performance and individual head anatomy. In a randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind crossover study 22 healthy participants (10–17 years) received 2 mA multichannel anodal tDCS (atDCS) over the lDLPFC with and without a 2-back working memory (WM) task. After stimulation, the 2-back task and a Flanker task were performed. Resting state and task-related EEG were recorded. In 16 participants we calculated the individual electric field (E-field) distribution. Performance and neurophysiological activity in the 2-back task were not affected by atDCS. atDCS reduced reaction times in the Flanker task, independent of whether atDCS had been combined with the 2-back task. Flanker task related beta oscillation increased following stimulation without 2-back task performance. atDCS effects were not correlated with the E-field. We found no effect of multichannel atDCS over the lDLPFC on WM in children/adolescents but a transfer effect on interference control. While this effect on behaviour was independent of concurrent task performance, neurophysiological activity might be more sensitive to cognitive activation during stimulation. However, our results are limited by the small sample size, the lack of an active control group and variations in WM performance.
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Vallesi A. The Quest for Hemispheric Asymmetries Supporting and Predicting Executive Functioning. J Cogn Neurosci 2021; 33:1679-1697. [PMID: 33135967 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
This narrative review addresses the neural bases of two executive functions: criterion setting, that is, the capacity to flexibly set up and select task rules and associations between stimuli, responses, and nonresponses, and monitoring, that is, the process of continuously evaluating whether task rules are being applied optimally. There is a documented tendency for criterion setting and monitoring to differentially recruit left and right lateral prefrontal regions and connected networks, respectively, above and beyond the specific task context. This model, known as the ROtman-Baycrest Battery to Investigate Attention (ROBBIA) model, initially sprung from extensive neuropsychological work led by Don Stuss. In subsequent years, multimodal lines of empirical investigation on both healthy individuals and patients with brain damage, coming from functional neuroimaging, EEG, neurostimulation, individual difference approaches, and, again, neuropsychology, so to "complete the circle," corroborated the functional mapping across the two hemispheres as predicted by the model. More recent electrophysiological evidence has further shown that hemispheric differences in intrinsic prefrontal dynamics are able to predict cognitive performance in tasks tapping these domain-general functions. These empirical contributions will be presented together with contrasting evidence, limits, and possible future directions to better fine-tune this model and extend its scope to new fields.
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Pscherer C, Bluschke A, Mückschel M, Beste C. The interplay of resting and inhibitory control-related theta-band activity depends on age. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:3845-3857. [PMID: 33982854 PMCID: PMC8288092 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Resting‐state neural activity plays an important role for cognitive control processes. Regarding response inhibition processes, an important facet of cognitive control, especially theta‐band activity has been the focus of research. Theoretical considerations suggest that the interrelation of resting and task‐related theta activity is subject to maturational effects. To investigate whether the relationship between resting theta activity and task‐related theta activity during a response inhibition task changes even in young age, we tested N = 166 healthy participants between 8 and 30 years of age. We found significant correlations between resting and inhibitory control‐related theta activity as well as behavioral inhibition performance. Importantly, these correlations were moderated by age. The moderation analysis revealed that higher resting theta activity was associated with stronger inhibition‐related theta activity in individuals above the age of ~10.7 years. The EEG beamforming analysis showed that this activity is associated with superior frontal region function (BA6). The correlation between resting and superior frontal response inhibition‐related theta activity became stronger with increasing age. A similar pattern was found for response inhibition performance, albeit only evident from the age of ~19.5 years. The results suggest that with increasing age, resting theta activity becomes increasingly important for processing the alarm/surprise signals in superior frontal brain regions during inhibitory control. Possible causes for these developmental changes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Pscherer
- Faculty of Medicine, Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Annet Bluschke
- Faculty of Medicine, Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Mückschel
- Faculty of Medicine, Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christian Beste
- Faculty of Medicine, Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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An ERP investigation of the working memory stroop effect. Neuropsychologia 2021; 152:107752. [PMID: 33453265 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to explore the neural activity associated with the Working Memory (WM) Stroop effect. Stroop facilitation and interference effects in WM were also investigated by adding a neutral condition to the WM Stroop paradigm. In each trial, participants were first asked to remember a word in WM, then respond to the color of the subsequent rectangle. The word meaning and rectangular color were congruent, incongruent, or irrelevant (neutral). Finally, a probe word appeared and participants judged whether it was the same as the first presented word. For the color decision task, behavioral results showed that 1) RTs were longer for the incongruent than congruent condition, indicating a WM Stroop effect; 2) RTs were shorter for the congruent than neutral condition, indicating a WM Stroop facilitation effect; and 3) RTs were shorter for the incongruent than neutral condition, indicating no Stroop interference effect in WM. ERPs locked to the rectangle revealed that 1) greater N2 and P3 activity was evoked for the incongruent than congruent condition, indicating more intensive conflict detection and conflict resolution processes for the incongruent condition; and 2) enhanced N2 but decreased P3 components were evoked for the neutral than the congruent and incongruent conditions, indicating a more intensive conflict monitoring process but decreased conflict resolution process for the neutral condition. These results demonstrate that when WM content is congruent with the attention task, it can facilitate attention, but WM content may not interfere with attention when they are incongruent.
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Vallesi A, Del Felice A, Capizzi M, Tafuro A, Formaggio E, Bisiacchi P, Masiero S, Ambrosini E. Natural oscillation frequencies in the two lateral prefrontal cortices induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Neuroimage 2020; 227:117655. [PMID: 33333318 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Different cortical regions respond with distinct rhythmic patterns of neural oscillations to Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). We investigated natural frequencies induced by TMS in left and right homologous dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFC) and related hemispheric differences. In 12 healthy young adults, single-pulse TMS was delivered in different blocks close to F3 and F4 channels to target left and right DLPFC. An occipital site near PO3 was stimulated as control. TMS-related spectral perturbation analyses were performed on recorded EEG data. A widespread unspecific increase in theta power was observed for all stimulation sites. However, occipital TMS induced greater alpha activity and a 10.58 Hz natural frequency, while TMS over the left and right DLPFC resulted in similar beta band modulations and a natural frequency of 18.77 and 18.5 Hz, respectively. In particular, TMS-related specific increase in beta activity was stronger for the right than the left DLPFC. The right DLPFC is more specifically tuned to its natural beta frequency when it is directly stimulated by TMS than with TMS over the left counterpart (or a posterior region), while the left DLPFC increases its beta activity more similarly irrespective of whether it is directly stimulated or through right homologous stimulation. These results yield important implications for both basic neuroscience research on inter-hemispheric prefrontal interactions and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS, San Camillo Hospital, Venice Italy.
| | - Alessandra Del Felice
- Section of Rehabilitation Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Mariagrazia Capizzi
- Section of Rehabilitation Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Formaggio
- Section of Rehabilitation Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Bisiacchi
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; EA 4556 EPSYLON, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier 3, France
| | - Stefano Masiero
- Section of Rehabilitation Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, University of Padua, Padua, Italy; Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
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Capizzi M, Ambrosini E, Arbula S, Vallesi A. Brain oscillatory activity associated with switch and mixing costs during reactive control. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13642. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ettore Ambrosini
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center University of Padova Padova Italy
- Department of General Psychology University of Padova Padova Italy
| | | | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center University of Padova Padova Italy
- Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group IRCCS San Camillo Hospital Venice Italy
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You J, Xu M, Li R, Wang Z, Liu S, Ming D. 40-Hz Rhythmic Visual Stimulation Facilitates Attention by Reshaping the Brain Functional Connectivity. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2020; 2020:2873-2876. [PMID: 33018606 DOI: 10.1109/embc44109.2020.9175356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Recently, rhythmic visual stimulation (RVS) has been demonstrated to affect the brain function by entraining neural oscillations. However, less is known about how RVS influences the functional connectivity across the whole brain. Here, we applied a graph theoretical approach to analyze the electroencephalography (EEG) connections of 60 nodes when subjects deployed their attention on visual task with different background stimulation, i.e. no background flicker, jittered flicker, and RVS of 6, 10, 15 and 40 Hz, respectively. Thirty-three subjects participated in this study. As a result, the 40-Hz rhythm led to the significantly fastest reaction among all conditions. Furthermore, significantly higher clustering coefficient (C) and small worldness (σ) of θ-band brain network were observed for higher-frequency RVS, which were significantly negatively correlated with reaction time (RT) (C-RT: r =-0.917, p =0.010; σ-RT: r =-0.894, p =0.016). In addition, we found an increase in the connections between dorsolateral prefrontal and visual cortices under RVS compared to no flicker. Our results indicate that RVS can improve the efficiency of brain cortical functional network to facilitate attention.
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Borges U, Knops L, Laborde S, Klatt S, Raab M. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation May Enhance Only Specific Aspects of the Core Executive Functions. A Randomized Crossover Trial. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:523. [PMID: 32523510 PMCID: PMC7262369 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals are able to perform goal-directed behaviors thanks to executive functions. According to the neurovisceral integration model, executive functions are upregulated by brain areas such as the prefrontal and cingulate cortices, which are also crucially involved in controlling cardiac vagal activity. An array of neuroimaging studies already showed that these same brain areas are activated by transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS). Despite evidence toward effects of tVNS on specific executive functions such as inhibitory control, there have been no studies investigating what type of inhibition is improved by tVNS by systematically addressing them within the same experiment. Furthermore, the effect of tVNS on another core executive function, cognitive flexibility, has not yet been investigated. Objective We investigated the effects of tVNS on core executive functions such as inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. Methods Thirty-two participants (nine women, M age = 23.17) took part in this study. Vagally mediated heart rate variability parameters (root mean square of successive differences, RMSSD, and high frequency, HF) were measured while participants performed four different cognitive tasks that mainly rely on different aspects of both the aforementioned executive functions. Results Despite clear conflict effects in the four tasks, only performance on the task used to measure set-shifting paradigm was improved by tVNS, with switch costs being lower during tVNS than during sham stimulation. Furthermore, HF increased during each of the cognitive flexibility tasks, although HF during tVNS did not differ from HF during sham stimulation. Conclusion The results indicate for the first time (a) that tVNS can increase cognitive flexibility in a set-shifting paradigm, and (b) that tVNS may exert a stronger effect on cognitive flexibility than inhibition. The present study provides only partial evidence for the neurovisceral integration model. Future studies should address further paradigms that demand cognitive flexibility, thus investigating this new hypothesis on the specificity of the tVNS effects on cognitive flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uirassu Borges
- Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Laura Knops
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Sylvain Laborde
- Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.,UFR STAPS, Université de Caen Normandie, Caen, France
| | - Stefanie Klatt
- Institute of Exercise Training and Sport Informatics, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.,Institute of Sports Science, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Markus Raab
- Institute of Psychology, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.,School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
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