Increases in theta CSD power and coherence during a calibrated stop-signal task: implications for goal-conflict processing and the Behavioural Inhibition System

Abstract

Psychologists have identified multiple different forms of conflict, such as information processing conflict and goal conflict. As such, there is a need to examine the similarities and differences in neurology between each form of conflict. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis of Shadli, Glue, McIntosh, and McNaughton’s calibrated stop-signal task (SST) goal-conflict task. Specifically, we examined changes in scalp-wide current source density (CSD) power and coherence across a wide range of frequency bands during the calibrated SST (n = 34). We assessed differences in EEG between the high and low goal-conflict conditions using hierarchical analyses of variance (ANOVAs). We also related goal-conflict EEG to trait anxiety, neuroticism, Behavioural Inhibition System (BIS)-anxiety and revised BIS (rBIS) using regression analyses. We found that changes in CSD power during goal conflict were limited to increased midfrontocentral theta. Conversely, coherence increased across 23 scalp-wide theta region pairs and one frontal delta region pair. Finally, scalp-wide theta significantly predicted trait neuroticism but not trait anxiety, BIS-anxiety or rBIS. We conclude that goal conflict involves increased midfrontocentral CSD theta power and scalp-wide theta-dominated coherence. Therefore, compared with information processing conflict, goal conflict displays a similar EEG power profile of midfrontocentral theta but a much wider coherence profile. Furthermore, the increases in theta during goal conflict are the characteristic of BIS-driven activity. Therefore, future research should confirm whether these goal-conflict effects are driven by the BIS by examining whether the effects are attenuated by anxiolytic drugs. Overall, we have identified a unique network of goal-conflict EEG during the calibrated SST.

Event-related and oscillatory signatures of response inhibition: A magnetoencephalography study with subclinical high and low impulsivity adults

“…Revealing similar topographies as the NOGO trials, STOP trials also showed delta and theta band power to be significantly decreased in frontal sensors in the HI group compared to the LI group. This is consistent with a recent EEG study showing increased mid-frontocentral theta and increased delta in posterior sensors during STOP trials, in healthy participants (Lockhart et al, 2019). Present findings suggest reduced delta and theta band power in frontal regions might reflect reduced inhibitory processing in high impulsivity individuals during NOGO and STOP trials.…”

“…Increased theta band power has been proposed to be essential for response inhibition as an integrative mechanism of early stimulus detection and response selection processes (Cavanagh and Frank, 2014; Mückschel et al, 2017). Although the literature on spectral analysis of the SST is very limited, a recent EEG study using scalp-wide current source density transformation (CSD), found increased mid-frontocentral theta and frontal delta during STOP conditions (Lockhart et al, 2019). It could be argued that in individuals scoring high on impulsivity and showing worse task performance, delta and theta band power might be reduced in NOGO and STOP conditions, reflecting an impairment in motor inhibition, compared to those scoring low and performing better.…”

Personality neuroscience and psychopathology: should we start with biology and look for neural-level factors?

“…It also follows that, where they are ligands of the relevant receptors, drugs can be used to develop biomarkers for state (and so by derivation trait) measures of these systems. In the case of trait GIS (the basis for one possible "trait anxiety" factor), we already have at least one such biomarker (McNaughton, 2018;Shadli et al, 2019;Shadli et al, 2015) with others awaiting drug validation (Lockhart, Moore, Bard & Stafford, 2019;Moore, Gale, Morris & Forrester, 2008;Moore, Mills, Marsham & Corr, 2012).…”