Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control
Abstract Most neuroscientific studies investigating mental effort apply unspecific effort allocation paradigms. In contrast, the present EEG study targets specific effort allocation during task prioritization. Twenty-eight participants performed a cued number classification task during the retention...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19158-9 |
| _version_ | 1811273571114156032 |
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| author | Nathalie Liegel Daniel Schneider Edmund Wascher Stefan Arnau |
| author_facet | Nathalie Liegel Daniel Schneider Edmund Wascher Stefan Arnau |
| author_sort | Nathalie Liegel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Most neuroscientific studies investigating mental effort apply unspecific effort allocation paradigms. In contrast, the present EEG study targets specific effort allocation during task prioritization. Twenty-eight participants performed a cued number classification task during the retention interval of a working memory task including retrospective cues. One of two possible number classifications was done per trial. Each trial started with a cue indicating which of the two tasks would be more important in the upcoming trial. Subjects were told to engage in both tasks, but to concentrate on the important one. Feedback given at the end of each trial was calculated based on task performance, with scores obtained from the relevant task being tripled. Participants performed significantly better in either task when it was important compared to when not. Task prioritization modulates theta, alpha and beta oscillations, predominantly during task preparation. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed that the exact type of the two possible number classifications was decodable, however, decoding accuracy did not depend on task importance. Hemispheric alpha power asymmetries indicating attentional orienting between working memory representations also did not depend on task importance. The findings suggest that task prioritization primarily affects proactive cognitive control on a superordinate level. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:01:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7cf7075067d0493fae9d696d38618b9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:01:17Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7cf7075067d0493fae9d696d38618b9b2022-12-22T03:13:02ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-09-0112111510.1038/s41598-022-19158-9Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive controlNathalie Liegel0Daniel Schneider1Edmund Wascher2Stefan Arnau3Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human FactorsLeibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human FactorsLeibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human FactorsLeibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human FactorsAbstract Most neuroscientific studies investigating mental effort apply unspecific effort allocation paradigms. In contrast, the present EEG study targets specific effort allocation during task prioritization. Twenty-eight participants performed a cued number classification task during the retention interval of a working memory task including retrospective cues. One of two possible number classifications was done per trial. Each trial started with a cue indicating which of the two tasks would be more important in the upcoming trial. Subjects were told to engage in both tasks, but to concentrate on the important one. Feedback given at the end of each trial was calculated based on task performance, with scores obtained from the relevant task being tripled. Participants performed significantly better in either task when it was important compared to when not. Task prioritization modulates theta, alpha and beta oscillations, predominantly during task preparation. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed that the exact type of the two possible number classifications was decodable, however, decoding accuracy did not depend on task importance. Hemispheric alpha power asymmetries indicating attentional orienting between working memory representations also did not depend on task importance. The findings suggest that task prioritization primarily affects proactive cognitive control on a superordinate level.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19158-9 |
| spellingShingle | Nathalie Liegel Daniel Schneider Edmund Wascher Stefan Arnau Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control Scientific Reports |
| title | Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| title_full | Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| title_fullStr | Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| title_full_unstemmed | Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| title_short | Task prioritization modulates alpha, theta and beta EEG dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| title_sort | task prioritization modulates alpha theta and beta eeg dynamics reflecting proactive cognitive control |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19158-9 |
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