Resting-state EEG activity predicts frontoparietal network reconfiguration and improved attentional performance

Abstract

Mounting evidence indicates that resting-state EEG activity is related to various cognitive functions. To trace physiological underpinnings of this relationship, we investigated EEG and behavioral performance of 36 healthy adults recorded at rest and during visual attention tasks: visual search and gun shooting. All measures were repeated two months later to determine stability of the results. Correlation analyses revealed that within the range of 2-45 Hz, at rest, beta-2 band power correlated with the strength of frontoparietal connectivity and behavioral performance in both sessions. Participants with lower global beta-2 resting-state power (gB2rest) showed weaker frontoparietal connectivity and greater capacity for its modifications, as indicated by changes in phase correlations of the EEG signals. At the same time shorter reaction times and improved shooting accuracy were found, in both test and retest, in participants with low gB2rest compared to higher gB2rest values. We posit that weak frontoparietal connectivity permits flexible network reconfigurations required for improved performance in everyday tasks.One of the main goals of neuroscience is to understand how neuronal activity organizes behavior. To elucidate this relationship, many studies have focused on the putative links between task-related neuronal electrical activity and behavioral performance 1-5 . In parallel, BOLD (blood-oxygen-level-dependent) imaging investigations have revealed that (i) resting-state (spontaneous) connectivity correlates with functionally activated networks 6-14 , and (ii) specifically with the performance of various cognitive functions, such as attention 15 , working memory 16,17 and fluid intelligence 18 . It has been further suggested that such correlations could be explained by the individual characteristics of brain networks 19,20 . However, the uncertain physiological origins of hemodynamic signals 21 provide limited insight into the mechanisms governing the relationship between resting-state and task-related activations and therefore behavioral outcomes.Recording electrophysiological activity is one way that the relationship between resting-state and behavioral performance can be directly assessed. Indeed, several investigations have already revealed correlations between specific EEG bands and different aspects of cognitive performance. For example, in the attentional domain, alpha oscillations have been proposed to clear sensory information from distractors 22 , the beta to gamma band ratio can assure critical-state dynamics for optimal information processing 23 and alpha and beta band activity can reduce attentional investment during rest 24 . Yet, none of the proposed mechanisms have characterized the intrinsic properties of resting-state networks such as power of EEG bands and connectivity, and how they could relate to functional connectivity underlying behavioral performance.We hypothesized that specific electrophysiological signatures of spontaneous, individual EEG activity in large-scale networks would predic...

Stronger connectivity and higher extraversion protect against stress-related deterioration of cognitive functions

“…Theoretical considerations indicate that strong EEG connectivity in the beta-2 band is highly stable 44 , 45 , less prone to disturbance 44 , 46 and consequently results in less dynamic processing and behavior 47 , 48 . This lower reconfiguration capability is also in line with our previous investigation which showed that subjects with stronger PLVs exhibited less flexible connection patterns 49 . Negative correlations between the strength of EEG connectivity and performance in attention and memory tasks has been confirmed in ADHD patients 50 – 52 .…”

“…These studies showed that strong parietal and occipital connectivity correlated with inattention type ADHD. In the context of the current study, the decision by Pandemics to continue engagement in the study, despite risk, could be reinforced by a lower reconfiguration capability of neuronal networks and subsequently, reduced capacity to adjust their behavior to current environmental conditions 49 . Thus, lower network reconfiguration capacity, combined with higher extraversion appear to be associated with the decision to continue participation in this study.…”

“…These seemingly contradictory observations may result from strong EEG connectivity specific for Pandemics and Matched Controls. Lower capability of behavioral adjustment caused by strong connectivity 49 could result in worse performance of Matched Controls under control conditions. Only strong stimulation by pandemic threat allowed network reconfiguration of the Pandemic group leading to outperformance of Matched Controls.…”

“…Spontaneous brain activity of the large-scale EEG and fMRI networks can predict cognitive performance 49 , 56 , 57 we seized the opportunity to investigate the effect of the threat on the EEG connectivity. As a proxy we used phase-locking value [PLV, 58 ].…”

Parietal Cortex Connectivity as a Marker of Shift in Spatial Attention Following Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation

“…For example, in non-human primates, a visual search task that engaged top-down attentional processes was associated with stronger high beta activity across frontal and parietal dorsal regions ( Buschman and Miller, 2007 ). Similarly, in humans, high beta oscillatory power correlated with frontoparietal connectivity and behavioral performance on a visual search and shooting task ( Rogala et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, using TMS bursts to increase synchronization of high beta oscillations, several studies have demonstrated stronger long-range high beta synchronization between both the bilateral parietal cortices and a network including the right frontal eye field and right parietal region led to increased visual perception and detection ( Quentin et al, 2015 ; Stengel et al, 2021 ).…”