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Transition from reactive control to proactive control across conflict adaptation: An sLORETA study
1Department of Developmental Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), 4-1-1, Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan.
Brain and Cognition
|October 4, 2015
Summary
Cognitive control shifts from reactive to proactive during conflict adaptation. Enhanced prestimulus alpha activity and reduced N1 event-related potentials indicate this transition, improving task performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Experimental Psychology
Background:
- Behavioral performance in flanker tasks shows conflict adaptation, where previous trial compatibility influences response times.
- Cognitive control mechanisms underlying this adaptation are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of cognitive control during conflict adaptation.
- To examine the roles of prestimulus electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations and event-related potentials (ERPs) in conflict adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a flanker task while EEG was recorded.
- Analysis focused on prestimulus alpha (7-9 Hz and 10-13 Hz) activity and the N1 ERP component.
- Source localization was used to identify brain regions involved.
Main Results:
- Prestimulus frontal and posterior alpha activity was enhanced following incompatible trials.
- N1 amplitude was decreased following incompatible trials.
- Alpha activity modulation in the frontal cortex and N1 modulation in the right inferior frontal cortex were linked to proactive control, reducing demands.
Conclusions:
- Conflict adaptation involves a transition from reactive to proactive cognitive control.
- Prestimulus alpha activity reflects proactive attentional control, anticipating upcoming conflict.
- Reduced N1 amplitude suggests that proactive control lessens the need for transient reactive control.
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