Frontoparietal theta oscillations during proactive control are associated with goal-updating and reduced behavioral variability

Patrick S Cooper; Aaron S W Wong; Montana McKewen; Patricia T Michie; Frini Karayanidis

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.09.008

Frontoparietal theta oscillations during proactive control are associated with goal-updating and reduced behavioral variability

Biol Psychol. 2017 Oct:129:253-264. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.09.008. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Authors

Patrick S Cooper¹, Aaron S W Wong², Montana McKewen³, Patricia T Michie³, Frini Karayanidis⁴

Affiliations

¹ Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
² Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Australia; School of Electrical Engineering and Computing, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
³ Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Australia.
⁴ Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Brain and Mental Health, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, The University of Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: Frini.Karayanidis@newcastle.edu.au.

PMID: 28923361
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.09.008

Abstract

Low frequency oscillations in the theta range (4-8Hz) are increasingly recognized as having a crucial role in flexible cognition. Such evidence is typically derived from studies in the context of reactive (stimulus-driven) control processes. However, little research has explored the role of theta oscillations in preparatory control processes. In the current study, we explored the extent of theta oscillations during proactive cognitive control and determined if these oscillations were associated with behavior. Results supported a general role of theta oscillations during proactive cognitive control, with increased power and phase coherence during the preparatory cue interval. Further, theta oscillations across frontoparietal electrodes were also modulated by proactive control demands, with increased theta phase synchrony and power for cues signaling the need for goal updating. Finally, we present novel evidence of negative associations between behavioral variability and both power and phase synchrony across many of these frontoparietal electrodes that were associated with the need for goal updating. In particular, greater consistency in frontoparietal theta oscillations, indicated by increased theta phase and power during mixed-task blocks, resulted in more consistent task-switching performance. Together, these findings provide new insight into the temporal dynamics and functional relevance of theta oscillations during proactive cognitive control.

Keywords: Cognitive control; EEG; Executive function; Inter-trial phase-coherence; Power; Proactive control; Task switching; Theta.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cues
Electroencephalography
Female
Frontal Lobe / physiology*
Goals*
Humans
Male
Parietal Lobe / physiology*
Reaction Time / physiology
Theta Rhythm / physiology*
Young Adult