Neural oscillations track the maintenance and proceduralization of novel instructions

Abstract

Humans are extremely efficient in rapidly and flexibly converting complex symbolic instructions into novel behaviors. Previous evidence and theoretical models suggest that the implementation of a novel instruction requires the reformatting of its declarative content into an action-oriented code optimized for the execution of the instructed behavior. While neuroimaging research focused on identifying the brain areas involved in such process, its temporal profile and electrophysiological characteristics remain unknown. In the present study, we recorded EEG while we asked participants to either simply maintain declaratively the content of novel S-R mappings for recognition or to proactively prepare for their implementation. By means of time-frequency analyses, we isolated the oscillatory features specifically associated with the proceduralization of the encoded instruction. Before the onset of the implementation target, we observed stronger delta/low-theta activity over frontal electrodes and a significant suppression in mu and beta activity over central electrodes. On the contrary, activity in the alpha band showed no differences between the two tasks. Together, these results support the crucial role attributed to prefrontal regions in orchestrating complex task setting and further extend on it by characterizing the temporal and frequency profile of this process. Moreover, we highlight the critical involvement of motor activity in the proactive preparation for novel instruction implementation. Significance StatementHumans developed the unique ability of converting novel instructions in effective behavior. This skill is associated with activity in frontoparietal brain regions, whose interplay supports the reformatting of the declarative content of the instruction into an action-guiding representation. However, the time-resolved unfolding of such cognitive processes is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated how oscillatory brain activity differed between simple maintenance and reformatting of novel instructions. In preparation to the target, we observed differences in lower frequencies over frontal regions, and oscillatory features of motor preparation. Together, these results suggest that instruction implementation is mediated by the exertion of top-down cognitive control, reflected in theta dynamics, and motor-related activation.

Visual working memory and action: Functional links and bi-directional influences

“…In this way, when either item became relevant (probed), participants could access relevant visual and motor attributes at once, yielding memory-guided action that was not only precise (guided by memorized visual shape information) but also fast. Such prospective action planning alongside the retention of detailed visual information has been confirmed in complementary behavioural (González-García et al, 2020 ) and EEG (Boettcher et al, 2020 ; Formica et al, 2020 ; Schneider et al, 2017 ) studies.

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The effect of task demands on the neural patterns generated by novel instruction encoding

“…In the target screen, the words “different” and “same” also appeared to the right and left of the instructions, indicating the keys to press. The response mapping of these keys changed across trials to prevent any potential response preparation before target onset, similar to preceding studies (Formica et al, 2021). In the scanner, the main task was organized in 12 blocks (6 implementation, 6 memorization), each containing 16 trials (192 in total, 96 implementation and 96 memorization trials).…”

Busting of myths and misconceptions about breast feeding during COVID-19 pandemic and its societal importance: a brisk review

“…Among the cases of confirmed COVID-19 in children, most have experienced only mild or asymptomatic illness. 5,27 This is also the case with other zoonotic corona viruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), which seem to affect children less commonly and to cause fewer symptoms and less severe disease compared with adults. 6 Secretory IgA (SIgA) have been detected in breast milk of mothers with previous COVID-19 infection.…”