Frequency Band-Specific Electrical Brain Stimulation Modulates Cognitive Control Processes

PLoS One. 2015 Sep 25;10(9):e0138984. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138984. eCollection 2015.

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alpha Rhythm / physiology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Theta Rhythm / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was made possible by an ERC StG (project 638589) and a Vidi grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (nwo.nl) awarded to MXC, and a Newton International Fellowship from the Royal Academy (raeng.org.uk) awarded to IGS. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.