Multi-level decoding of task sets in neurophysiological data during cognitive flexibility

Abstract

Summary Cognitive flexibility is essential to achieve higher level goals. Cognitive theories assume that the activation/deactivation of goals and task rules is central to understand cognitive flexibility. However, how this activation/deactivation dynamic is implemented on a neurophysiological level is unclear. Using EEG-based multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods, we show that activation of relevant information occurs parallel in time at multiple levels in the neurophysiological signal containing aspects of stimulus-related processing, response selection, and motor response execution, and relates to different brain regions. The intensity with which task sets are activated and processed dynamically decreases and increases. The temporal stability of these activations could, however, hardly explain behavioral performance. Instead, task set deactivation processes associated with left orbitofrontal regions and inferior parietal regions selectively acting on motor response task sets are relevant. The study shows how propositions from cognitive theories stressing the importance task set activation/deactivation during cognitive flexibility are implemented on a neurophysiological level.

Protocol to decode representations from EEG data with intermixed signals using temporal signal decomposition and multivariate pattern-analysis

“…We present a protocol combining RIDE and MVPA, as recently published by Petruo et al. (2021) and explain how RIDE can be combined with MVPA to obtain insights into the temporal stability of processes coded in distinct informational fractions of the EEG signal.…”

“…The participants whose anonymized data have recently published by Petruo et al. (2021) were treated in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and the study was approved by the ethics committee of the TU Dresden.…”

“…In this protocol, we describe pre-processing of human EEG data, followed by the set-up and use of MATLAB-based toolboxes for RIDE and MVPA analysis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Petruo et al. (2021) .…”

“…For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Petruo et al. (2021) .…”

Flexible engineering of advanced phase change materials

“…However, the flexibility of the supporting materials will be gradually destroyed with the increase of the content of PCMs. This is because PCMs tend to display a rigid state when solidified; the presence of a rigid component will restrict the flexible movement of supporting materials ( Lin et al., 2022 ; Petruo et al., 2021 ; Ren et al., 2022 ). Currently, the two main methods for developing flexible thermal regulation systems based on PCMs are encapsulating PCMs into flexible supporting materials, which is a physical approach based on capillarity or hydrogen bonding, and grafting PCMs onto the supporting materials, which is a chemical approach based on grafting reaction.…”