title: Neural communication patterns underlying conflict detection, resolution, and adaptation.
abstract: In an ever-changing environment, selecting appropriate responses in conflicting situations is essential for biological survival and social success and requires cognitive control, which is mediated by dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). How these brain regions communicate during conflict processing (detection, resolution, and adaptation), however, is still unknown. The Stroop task provides a well-established paradigm to investigate the cognitive mechanisms mediating such response conflict. Here, we explore the oscillatory patterns within and between the DMPFC and DLPFC in human epilepsy patients with intracranial EEG electrodes during an auditory Stroop experiment. Data from the DLPFC were obtained from 12 patients. Thereof four patients had additional DMPFC electrodes available for interaction analyses. Our results show that an early θ (4-8 Hz) modulated enhancement of DLPFC γ-band (30-100 Hz) activity constituted a prerequisite for later successful conflict processing. Subsequent conflict detection was reflected in a DMPFC θ power increase that causally entrained DLPFC θ activity (DMPFC to DLPFC). Conflict resolution was thereafter completed by coupling of DLPFC γ power to DMPFC θ oscillations. Finally, conflict adaptation was related to increased postresponse DLPFC γ-band activity and to θ coupling in the reverse direction (DLPFC to DMPFC). These results draw a detailed picture on how two regions in the prefrontal cortex communicate to resolve cognitive conflicts. In conclusion, our data show that conflict detection, control, and adaptation are supported by a sequence of processes that use the interplay of θ and γ oscillations within and between DMPFC and DLPFC.
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Carina R
authors: CR
authors: Oehrn
authors: Department of Psychology-Zukunftskolleg, D-78457 Konstanz, Germany, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK-B15 2TT.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Hanslmayr
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Juergen
authors: J
authors: Fell
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands, and.
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Deuker
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Nico A
authors: NA
authors: Kremers
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Anne T
authors: AT
authors: Do Lam
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.
authors: Christian E
authors: CE
authors: Elger
authors: Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn, D-53105 Bonn, Germany, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, D-53175 Bonn, Germany nikolai.axmacher@ukb.uni-bonn.de.
authors: Nikolai
authors: N
authors: Axmacher
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Stroop; dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; dorsomedial prefrontal cortex; oscillations; γ; θ