title: Frequency Band-Specific Electrical Brain Stimulation Modulates Cognitive Control Processes.
abstract: A large body of findings has tied midfrontal theta-band (4-8 Hz) oscillatory activity to adaptive control mechanisms during response conflict. Thus far, this evidence has been correlational. To evaluate whether theta oscillations are causally involved in conflict processing, we applied transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in the theta band to a midfrontal scalp region, while human subjects performed a spatial response conflict task. Conflict was introduced by incongruency between the location of the target stimulus and the required response hand. As a control condition, we used alpha-band (8-12 Hz) tACS over the same location. The exact stimulation frequencies were determined empirically for each subject based on a pre-stimulation EEG session. Behavioral results showed general conflict effects of slower response times (RT) and lower accuracy for high conflict trials compared to low conflict trials. Importantly, this conflict effect was reduced specifically during theta tACS, which was driven by slower response times on low conflict trials. These results show how theta tACS can modulate adaptive cognitive control processes, which is in accordance with the view of midfrontal theta oscillations as an active mechanism for cognitive control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joram
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Driel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Visual Experience Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ilja G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Sligte
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Linders
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Elport
authors.affiliation: Science Faculty and University Medical Center, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michael X
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult