title: A long-range fronto-parietal 5- to 10-Hz network predicts "top-down" controlled guidance in a task-switch paradigm.
abstract: The capacity to rapidly adjust behavioral strategies according to changing task demands is closely associated with coordinated activity in lateral and medial prefrontal cortices. Subdivisions within prefrontal cortex are implicated to encode attentional task sets and to update changing task rules, particularly when changing task demands require top-down control. Here, we tested whether these top-down processes precede stimulus processing and constitute a preparatory attentional state that functionally couples with parietal cortex. We examined this functional coupling by recording from intracranial EEG electrodes in macaques during performance of a task-switching paradigm that separates task performance that is based on controlled top-down guidance from automatic, stimulus-triggered processing modes. We identify a prefrontal-parietal network that phase synchronizes at 5-10 Hz, particularly during preparatory states that indicate top-down controlled task-processing modes. Phase relations in the network suggest that medial and lateral prefrontal cortices synchronize bidirectionally, with medial prefrontal cortex showing a phase-lead relative to left parietal recorded 5- to 10-Hz preparatory signals. These findings reveal a 5- to 10-Hz coordinated, long-range fronto-parietal network prior to actual task-relevant stimulus processing, particularly when subjects engage in controlled task processing modes.
authors: Graduate Program in Neuroscience and.
authors: Jessica M
authors: JM
authors: Phillips
authors: Cognitive and Systems Neuroscience Group, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Vinck
authors: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 5K8, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada N6A 5K8 and.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Everling
authors: Department of Biology, Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Canada.
authors: Thilo
authors: T
authors: Womelsdorf
mesh_terms: D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: anterior cingulate cortex; attention; cognitive control; prefrontal cortex; theta oscillations