Noninvasive modulation of predictive coding in humans: causal evidence for frequency-specific temporal dynamics.
Metodi Draganov1, Jordi Galiano-Landeira1, Deniz Doruk Camsari2
1Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona 08193, Spain.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|May 8, 2023
Summary
The brain uses predictive coding to interpret sensory input. Noninvasive brain stimulation confirmed that 20 Hz stimulation of the prefrontal cortex enhances predictions, offering causal evidence for predictive processing mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
Background:
- The brain actively predicts sensory input based on past experiences, a framework known as predictive coding.
- Current research often relies on theoretical models or correlational data, lacking causal evidence for predictive processing mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural basis of predictive processing using noninvasive brain stimulation.
- To provide causal evidence for frequency-specific modulations in human predictive coding.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 20 Hz (top-down predictions), 50 Hz (bottom-up prediction errors), or sham.
- Stimulation targeted the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a social perception task involving facial expression prediction and violation.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure brain activity.
Main Results:
- 20 Hz tACS significantly reinforced stereotypical predictions, demonstrating a causal effect on predictive processing.
- 50 Hz tACS and sham stimulation did not produce significant behavioral effects.
- EEG data corroborated the behavioral findings, showing boosted brain activity at the stimulated frequency band.
Conclusions:
- Noninvasive brain stimulation, specifically 20 Hz tACS, causally modulates predictive processing in the human brain.
- These findings offer a framework for understanding disruptions in brain-related conditions and potential restoration via noninvasive methods.
