Multi-level decoding of task sets in neurophysiological data during cognitive flexibility
iScience, vol. 24, pp. 103502
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility is essential to achieve higher level goals. Cognitive theories assume that the activation/deactivation of goals and task rules is central to understand cognitive flexibility. However, how this activation/deactivation dynamic is implemented on a neurophysiological level is unclear. Using EEG-based multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods, we show that activation of relevant information occurs parallel in time at multiple levels in the neurophysiological signal containing aspects of stimulus-related processing, response selection, and motor response execution, and relates to different brain regions. The intensity with which task sets are activated and processed dynamically decreases and increases. The temporal stability of these activations could, however, hardly explain behavioral performance. Instead, task set deactivation processes associated with left orbitofrontal regions and inferior parietal regions selectively acting on motor response task sets are relevant. The study shows how propositions from cognitive theories stressing the importance task set activation/deactivation during cognitive flexibility are implemented on a neurophysiological level.
Authors 5
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University of Southern California
Affiliation as printed
Brain and Creativity Institute, Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, University of Southern California, 3620A McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Technische Universität Dresden
Affiliation as printed
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309 Dresden, Germany
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Technische Universität Dresden
Affiliation as printed
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309 Dresden, Germany
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Leiden University · Shandong Normal University · Technische Universität Dresden
Affiliation as printed
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309 Dresden, Germany
Cognitive Psychology Unit & Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, C-2-S LIBC P.O. Box 9600, Leiden, Netherlands
Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Qianfoshan Campus, No. 88 East Wenhua Road, Lixia District, Ji'nan 250014, China
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Christian Beste corresponding
Shandong Normal University · Technische Universität Dresden
Affiliation as printed
Cognitive Neurophysiology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Schubertstrasse 42, 01309 Dresden, Germany
Cognitive Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University, Qianfoshan Campus, No. 88 East Wenhua Road, Lixia District, Ji'nan 250014, China
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