Widespread theta coherence during spatial cognitive control

John C Myers; Lisa K Chinn; Sandeepa Sur; Edward J Golob

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107979

Widespread theta coherence during spatial cognitive control

Neuropsychologia. 2021 Sep 17:160:107979. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107979. Epub 2021 Jul 31.

Authors

John C Myers¹, Lisa K Chinn², Sandeepa Sur³, Edward J Golob⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. Electronic address: john.myers@bcm.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77004, USA.
³ Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.

PMID: 34339719
PMCID: PMC8405589
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.107979

Abstract

Cognitive control allows humans to process relevant sensory information while minimizing distractions from irrelevant stimuli. The neural basis of cognitive control is known to involve frontal regions of the brain such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), but the temporal dynamics of larger scale networks is unclear. Here we used EEG with source localization to identify how the neural oscillations localized to the mPFC and ACC coordinate with parietal, sensory, and motor areas during spatial cognitive control. Theta coherence (3-8 Hz) between the mPFC and ACC increased with task difficulty and predicted individual differences in reaction time. Individual differences in accuracy were predicted by earlier activation of ACC-motor coherence, highlighting the relationship between processing speed and task performance. Our results provide evidence that successful cognitive control requires dynamic coordination between a widespread network of brain regions. Long range theta coherence may be a key mechanism for efficient cognitive control across the neocortex.

Keywords: Cognitive control; Neuronal coherence; Spatial attention; Theta oscillations.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Brain
Cognition
Electroencephalography
Gyrus Cinguli*
Humans
Motor Cortex*
Reaction Time
Theta Rhythm

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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