Predicting States of Abstract Reasoning Using EEG Functional Connectivity Markers

Miasnikova, Aleksandra; Troshkov, Daniil; Baklushev, Mikhail; Perevoznyuk, Gleb

doi:10.1109/embc.2019.8857031

Cited by 2 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Assessment tools for Gƒ commonly include matrix reasoning and propositional analogy tests (Wright et al 2008;Ferrer et al 2009), which are also the types of tests most often employed in neuroimaging studies of Gƒ (e.g. Bagga et al 2014;Miasnikova et al 2019;Taylor et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation modulates performance and alpha/beta parieto‐frontal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

Arif

Spooner

Heinrichs‐Graham

et al. 2021

The Journal of Physiology

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Fluid intelligence (Gƒ) includes logical reasoning abilities and is an essential component of normative cognition. Despite the broad consensus that parieto‐prefrontal connectivity is critical for Gƒ (e.g. the parieto‐frontal integration theory of intelligence, P‐FIT), the dynamics of such functional connectivity during logical reasoning remains poorly understood. Further, given the known importance of these brain regions for Gƒ, numerous studies have targeted one or both of these areas with non‐invasive stimulation with the goal of improving Gƒ, but to date there remains little consensus on the overall stimulation‐related effects. To examine this, we applied high‐definition direct current anodal stimulation to the left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of 24 healthy adults for 20 min in three separate sessions (sham, left, and right active). Following stimulation, participants completed a logical reasoning task during magnetoencephalography (MEG). Significant neural responses at the sensor‐level were imaged using a beamformer, and peak task‐induced activity was subjected to dynamic functional connectivity analyses to evaluate the impact of distinct stimulation montages on network activity. We found that participants responded faster following right DLPFC stimulation vs. sham. Moreover, our neural findings followed a similar trajectory of effects such that left parieto‐frontal connectivity decreased following right and left DLPFC stimulation compared to sham, with connectivity following right stimulation being significantly correlated with the faster reaction times. Importantly, our findings are consistent with P‐FIT, as well as the neural efficiency hypothesis (NEH) of intelligence. In sum, this study provides evidence for beneficial effects of right DLPFC stimulation on logical reasoning. Key points Logical reasoning is an indispensable component of fluid intelligence and involves multispectral oscillatory activity in parietal and frontal regions. Parieto‐frontal integration is well characterized in logical reasoning; however, its direct neural quantification and neuromodulation by brain stimulation remain poorly understood. High‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) had modulatory effects on task performance and neural interactions serving logical reasoning, with right stimulation showing beneficial effects. Right DLPFC stimulation led to a decrease in the response time (i.e. better task performance) and left parieto‐frontal connectivity with a marginal positive association between behavioural and neural metrics. Other modes of targeted stimulation of DLPFC (e.g. frequency‐specific) can be employed in future studies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation modulates performance and alpha/beta parieto‐frontal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

Arif

Spooner

Heinrichs‐Graham

et al. 2021

The Journal of Physiology

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“…These oscillatory responses in parietal and occipital cortices were consistent with prior work from our laboratory that used the same abstract reasoning task to probe G f in independent populations (Arif et al, 2021; Taylor et al, 2020). Furthermore, in a recent study using EEG, Miasnikova et al (2019) associated alpha and theta oscillations with the functional connectivity underlying abstract thinking. These findings are in line with the P‐FIT model, which describes the involvement of the frontal and parietal regions as a key basis for intelligence and occipital areas as being crucial for sensory processing (Basten et al, 2015; Jung & Haier, 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Broadly, G f is closely tied to abstract reasoning and is thought to be an essential component of typical cognitive functioning (Carroll, 1993; Horn & Cattell, 1966). The reasoning abilities involved in G f allow for forming associations between representations of stimuli (Blair, 2006; Carroll, 1993; Deary et al, 2007; Marshalek et al, 1983; Miasnikova et al, 2019), thus, research often targets G f by utilizing abstract and relational tasks such as matrix reasoning or propositional analogy tasks (Carroll, 1993; Ferrer et al, 2009; Gągol et al, 2018; Horn & Cattell, 1966; Wright et al, 2008). Prior studies suggest that fluid cognitive abilities are highly correlated with success in academic and professional environments (Deary et al, 2007; Furnham & Monsen, 2009; Kuncel & Hezlett, 2007; Laidra et al, 2007; Ones et al, 2005; Salgado et al, 2003; Schmidt & Hunter, 1998), as individuals with higher G f tend to respond both faster and with higher accuracy on cognitive tasks probing executive function and working memory than those with lower G f (Ackerman et al, 2005; Grabner et al, 2004; Horn & Cattell, 1966; Kane & Engle, 2002; Vernon, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies utilizing EEG and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are critical for identifying how such oscillatory dynamics are changing on millisecond-level time scales during abstract reasoning. Of the existing EEG studies, alpha ($8-14 Hz) and theta ($4-8 Hz) have repeatedly been shown to support higher cognitive functions, and intelligence in particular (Dix et al, 2016;Langer et al, 2012;Miasnikova et al, 2019;Palva & Palva, 2011). Additional studies utilizing methods such as transcranial alternating-current stimulation (tACS) have suggested the additional involvement of gamma (30-70 Hz) oscillations in Gf abilities (Neubauer et al, 2017;Pahor & Jaušovec, 2014;Santarnecchi et al, 2013Santarnecchi et al, , 2016.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to this theory, interactions within a network of frontal and parietal association cortices, including bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices (DLPFCs) and superior and inferior parietal areas, are critical in supporting human reasoning and intelligence (Jung & Haier, 2007). Many functional MRI (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) studies have supported this view by showing activation in these brain areas when participants engage in Gf tasks (Christoff et al, 2001;Conway et al, 2002;Duncan, 2005;Duncan et al, 1995;Engle et al, 1999;Ischebeck et al, 2006Ischebeck et al, , 2007Kroger et al, 2002;Langer et al, 2012;Lee et al, 2006;Li et al, 2009;Miasnikova et al, 2019). Further, much of this previous work has also shown that an inverse relationship exists between activation of brain regions and performance on tasks targeting Gf, with decreased activation in these cortical networks being associated with better task performance (Haier et al, 1983(Haier et al, , 1988Neubauer & Fink, 2009;Parks et al, 1988).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Healthy aging alters the oscillatory dynamics and fronto‐parietal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

Penhale,

Arif,

Schantell

et al. 2024

Human Brain Mapping

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Fluid intelligence (Gf) involves logical reasoning and novel problem‐solving abilities. Often, abstract reasoning tasks like Raven's progressive matrices are used to assess Gf. Prior work has shown an age‐related decline in fluid intelligence capabilities, and although many studies have sought to identify the underlying mechanisms, our understanding of the critical brain regions and dynamics remains largely incomplete. In this study, we utilized magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate 78 individuals, ages 20–65 years, as they completed an abstract reasoning task. MEG data was co‐registered with structural MRI data, transformed into the time–frequency domain, and the resulting neural oscillations were imaged using a beamformer. We found worsening behavioral performance with age, including prolonged reaction times and reduced accuracy. MEG analyses indicated robust oscillations in the theta, alpha/beta, and gamma range during the task. Whole brain correlation analyses with age revealed relationships in the theta and alpha/beta frequency bands, such that theta oscillations became stronger with increasing age in a right prefrontal region and alpha/beta oscillations became stronger with increasing age in parietal and right motor cortices. Follow‐up connectivity analyses revealed increasing parieto‐frontal connectivity with increasing age in the alpha/beta frequency range. Importantly, our findings are consistent with the parieto‐frontal integration theory of intelligence (P‐FIT). These results further suggest that as people age, there may be alterations in neural responses that are spectrally specific, such that older people exhibit stronger alpha/beta oscillations across the parieto‐frontal network during abstract reasoning tasks.

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Predicting States of Abstract Reasoning Using EEG Functional Connectivity Markers

Cited by 2 publications

References 25 publications

High‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation modulates performance and alpha/beta parieto‐frontal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

High‐definition transcranial direct current stimulation modulates performance and alpha/beta parieto‐frontal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

Healthy aging alters the oscillatory dynamics and fronto‐parietal connectivity serving fluid intelligence

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