Novelty modulates proactive and reactive cognitive control modes: Evidence from ERP and EEG data

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Psychology

Background:

• Novelty, defined as newness or unusualness, impacts cognitive functions like arousal and working memory.
• Previous research has not directly examined novelty's effect on the balance between proactive and reactive cognitive control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how novelty influences proactive and reactive cognitive control modes.
• To explore the neural mechanisms underlying novelty's impact on cognitive control using electroencephalography (EEG).

Main Methods:

• An adapted AX Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) was used to assess cognitive control.
• Electroencephalography (EEG) was employed to record brain activity during the task.
• Participants completed the task under both novel and common stimulus conditions.

Main Results:

• Behavioral data indicated longer reaction times in the BX trials under novel conditions, suggesting a shift in control strategies.
• EEG results revealed decreased cue-P3 and cue-locked theta event-related synchronization (ERS) under novelty, pointing to reduced proactive control.
• Novelty enhanced probe-locked theta-ERS and reduced probe-P3 effects, indicating increased reactive control, conflict monitoring, and decreased response inhibition costs.

Conclusions:

• Novelty exposure alters the balance between proactive and reactive cognitive control.
• Findings suggest a potential bias towards reactive control when individuals encounter novelty.
• Novelty may decrease the proactive maintenance and utilization of contextual information while enhancing reactive conflict monitoring.