title: Oscillatory Dynamics of Prefrontal Cognitive Control.
abstract: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) provides the structural basis for numerous higher cognitive functions. However, it is still largely unknown which mechanisms provide the functional basis for flexible cognitive control of goal-directed behavior. Here, we review recent findings that suggest that the functional architecture of cognition is profoundly rhythmic and propose that the PFC serves as a conductor to orchestrate task-relevant large-scale networks. We highlight several studies that demonstrated that oscillatory dynamics, such as phase resetting, cross-frequency coupling (CFC), and entrainment, support PFC-dependent recruitment of task-relevant regions into coherent functional networks. Importantly, these findings support the notion that distinct spectral signatures reflect different cortical computations supporting effective multiplexing on different temporal channels along the same anatomical pathways.
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, 132 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: rhelfrich@berkeley.edu.
authors.forename: Randolph F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Helfrich
authors.affiliation: Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, 132 Barker Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Psychology, UC Berkeley, Tolman Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Knight
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010507:Periodicity; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex
keywords: cross-frequency coupling; large-scale networks; network connectivity; neuronal entrainment; neuronal oscillations; prefrontal cortex