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Clements, Grace M., Bowie, Daniel C., Gyurkovics, Mate 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4483-3736, Low, Kathy A., Fabiani, Monica and Gratton, Gabriele
(2021)
Spontaneous alpha and theta oscillations are related to complementary aspects of cognitive control in younger and older adults.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15.
ISSN 1662-5161
Abstract
The resting-state human electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum is dominated by alpha (8–12 Hz) and theta (4–8 Hz) oscillations, and also includes non-oscillatory broadband activity inversely related to frequency (1/f activity). Gratton proposed that alpha and theta oscillations are both related to cognitive control function, though in a complementary manner. Alpha activity is hypothesized to facilitate the maintenance of representations, such as task sets in preparation for expected task conditions. In contrast, theta activity would facilitate changes in representations, such as the updating of task sets in response to unpredicted task demands. Therefore, theta should be related to reactive control (which may prompt changes in task representations), while alpha may be more relevant to proactive control (which implies the maintenance of current task representations). Less is known about the possible relationship between 1/f activity and cognitive control, which was analyzed here in an exploratory fashion. To investigate these hypothesized relationships, we recorded eyes-open and eyes-closed resting-state EEG from younger and older adults and subsequently tested their performance on a cued flanker task, expected to elicit both proactive and reactive control processes. Results showed that alpha power and 1/f offset were smaller in older than younger adults, whereas theta power did not show age-related reductions. Resting alpha power and 1/f offset were associated with proactive control processes, whereas theta power was related to reactive control as measured by the cued flanker task. All associations were present over and above the effect of age, suggesting that these resting-state EEG correlates could be indicative of trait-like individual differences in cognitive control performance, which may be already evident in younger adults, and are still similarly present in healthy older adults.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Data Availability Statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation. Funding Information: This work was supported by National Institute on Aging (NIA) grant RF1AG062666 to GG and MF. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | aging,cognitive control,eeg alpha power,eeg theta power,proactive control,reactive control,neuropsychology and physiological psychology,neurology,psychiatry and mental health,biological psychiatry,behavioral neuroscience,sdg 3 - good health and well-being,2* ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3200/3206 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Psychology |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Aug 2024 12:30 |
| Last Modified: | 21 Oct 2024 00:52 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96224 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fnhum.2021.621620 |
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