Cognitive control in the intertrial interval: Evidence from EEG alpha power
- 15 September 2010
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Psychophysiology
- Vol. 48 (5) , 583-590
Abstract
This study used electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum analyses to characterize neural activity during the intertrial interval, a period during which online cognitive adjustments in response to errors or conflict are thought to occur. EEG alpha power was quantified as an inverse index of cerebral activity during the period between each response and the next stimulus in a Stroop task. Alpha power was significantly reduced following error responses compared to correct responses, indicating greater cerebral activity following errors. Reduced alpha power was also observed following Stroop conflict trials compared to no‐conflict trials, suggesting that conflict engages processes of mental adjustment. Finally, hemispheric differences in alpha power during the intertrial interval supported the complementary roles of the left and right hemispheres in behavioral activation and inhibition.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Alpha power is influenced by performance errorsPsychophysiology, 2009
- Sequential dependencies in the Eriksen flanker task: A direct comparison of two competing accountsPsychonomic Bulletin & Review, 2009
- Prelude to and Resolution of an Error: EEG Phase Synchrony Reveals Cognitive Control Dynamics during Action MonitoringThe Journal of Neuroscience, 2009
- Opposing influences on conflict-driven adaptation in the Eriksen flanker taskMemory & Cognition, 2008
- Neurocognitive components of the behavioral inhibition and activation systems: Implications for theories of self‐regulationPsychophysiology, 2007
- Asymmetric spatiotemporal patterns of event-related desynchronization preceding voluntary sequential finger movements: a high-resolution EEG studyClinical Neurophysiology, 2005
- Inhibition and the right inferior frontal cortexTrends in Cognitive Sciences, 2004
- Frontal EEG asymmetry and the behavioral activation and inhibition systemsPsychophysiology, 2003
- Right frontal brain activity, cortisol, and withdrawal behavior in 6-month-old infants.Behavioral Neuroscience, 2003
- Conflict monitoring and cognitive control.Psychological Review, 2001