title: Attentional switching-related human EEG alpha oscillations.
abstract: Alpha oscillations during cognitive performance have mostly been studied in memory and/or basic attention tasks. This study investigates task-related alpha power desynchronization during an attentional switching task requiring higher executive attentional control. Low 8-10 Hz and high 10-12 Hz alpha power responses are studied in good versus poor performers based upon normative data. Accurate, fast and stable performers showed significant task-related desynchronization in the 8-10 Hz range during attentional switching, whereas inaccurate performers hypersynchronized in the 10-12 Hz range, and slow and unstable performers did not demonstrate significant alpha reactivity. These preliminary findings indicate, in agreement with previous research, functional differences in these narrow frequency bands. The 8-10 Hz power decrease is likely to be related to phasic arousal or alertness, whereas the 10-12 Hz power increase appears to be associated with inaccurate attentional switching.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Physiological Psychology, Laboratory for CNS Research: Cognition, Neuropsychology, & Sleep, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cluydts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric