Distinct Oscillatory Dynamics Underlie Different Components of Hierarchical Cognitive Control

Abstract

Hierarchical cognitive control enables us to execute actions guided by abstract goals. Previous research has suggested that neuronal oscillations at different frequency bands are associated with top-down cognitive control, however, whether distinct neural oscillations have similar or different functions for cognitive control is not well understood. The aim of the current study was to investigate the oscillatory neuronal mechanisms underlying two distinct components of hierarchical cognitive control: the level of abstraction of a rule, and the number of rules that must be maintained (set-size). We collected electroencephalography (EEG) data in 31 men and women who performed a hierarchical cognitive control task that varied in levels of abstraction and set-size. Results from time-frequency analysis in frontal electrodes showed an increase in theta amplitude for increased set-size, whereas an increase in delta was associated with increased abstraction. Both theta and delta amplitude correlated with behavioral performance in the tasks but in an opposite manner: theta correlated with response time slowing when the number of rules increased whereas delta correlated with response time when rules became more abstract. Phase amplitude coupling analysis revealed that delta phase coupled with beta amplitude during conditions with a higher level of abstraction, whereby beta band may potentially represent motor output that was guided by the delta phase. These results suggest that distinct neural oscillatory mechanisms underlie different components of hierarchical cognitive control. Riddle 4 Significance Statement Cognitive control allows us to perform immediate actions while maintaining more abstract, overarching goals in mind and to choose between competing actions. We found distinct oscillatory signatures that correspond to two different components of hierarchical control: the level of abstraction of a rule and the number of rules in competition. An increase in the level of abstraction was associated with delta oscillations, whereas theta oscillations were observed when the number of rules increased. Oscillatory amplitude correlated with behavioral performance in the task. Finally, the expression of beta amplitude was coordinated via the phase of delta oscillations, and theta phase coupled with gamma amplitude. These results suggest that distinct neural oscillatory mechanisms underlie different components of hierarchical cognitive control.

Motor Interference, But Not Sensory Interference, Increases Midfrontal Theta Activity and Brain Synchronization during Reactive Control

“…The present study focused on reactive control during sensory and motor interference. Accordingly, our results cannot rule out that increases in midfrontal theta power can also occur in other behavioral task contexts (Hsieh and Ranganath, 2014;Kaiser et al, 2021;Riddle et al, 2020). Recent studies have found evidence that different neural generators project theta activity on the midfrontal cortex (Töllner et al, 2017;Zuure et al, 2020).…”

The development of theta and alpha neural oscillations from ages 3 to 24 years

“…As described above, posterior theta-band power may shift into alpha frequency as the dominant posterior oscillation ( Rodríguez-Martínez et al, 2017 ), while a frontal theta oscillation may mature separately during development ( Adam et al, 2020 ; Barriga-Paulino et al, 2011 ). This relatively late emergence of intrinsic, frontal-midline theta oscillation may be related to the development of cognitive functions known to recruit frontal-midline theta oscillations, for example feedback and error processing ( Cavanagh and Frank, 2014 ; Nigbur et al, 2011 ; Velanova et al, 2008 ) and hierarchical cognitive control ( Riddle et al, 2020c ; Unger et al, 2016 ). Specifically, many cognitive functions, for example working memory and top-down control are known to have a protracted development through adolescence ( Luna et al, 2004 ).…”

Reduction in left frontal alpha oscillations by transcranial alternating current stimulation in major depressive disorder is context-dependent in a randomized-clinical trial

“…Our follow-up analysis utilized the modulation index to normalize differences in magnitude of left frontal alpha oscillations across patients. Multiple comparisons were reduced by pre-registering our primary outcome, focusing on a single region of interest, defining a single time-frequency cluster from all trials in the emotional valence task (permutation-based cluster correction for mass [25]), and focusing on positive valence [3]. Exploratory analyses include topographic analysis with a significance threshold of three significant contiguous electrodes, individual differences analysis using depression severity, IAF-tACS effect as a function of antidepressant use, the relationship of IAF functional connectivity between left and right prefrontal cortex to depression severity, and the impact of IAF-tACS in healthy control participants.…”