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The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Appelbaum, LG; Boehler, CN; Davis, LA; Won, RJ; Woldorff, MG
Published in: J Cogn Neurosci
May 2014

In this study, we leveraged the high temporal resolution of EEG to examine the neural mechanisms underlying the flexible regulation of cognitive control that unfolds over different timescales. We measured behavioral and neural effects of color-word incongruency, as different groups of participants performed three different versions of color-word Stroop tasks in which the relative timing of the color and word features varied from trial to trial. For this purpose, we used a standard Stroop color identification task with equal congruent-to-incongruent proportions (50%/50%), along with two versions of the "Reverse Stroop" word identification tasks, for which we manipulated the incongruency proportion (50%/50% and 80%/20%). Two canonical ERP markers of neural processing of stimulus incongruency, the frontocentral negative polarity incongruency wave (NINC) and the late positive component (LPC), were evoked across the various conditions. Results indicated that color-word incongruency interacted with the relative feature timing, producing greater neural and behavioral effects when the task-irrelevant stimulus preceded the target, but still significant effects when it followed. Additionally, both behavioral and neural incongruency effects were reduced by nearly half in the word identification task (Reverse Stroop 50/50) relative to the color identification task (Stroop 50/50), with these effects essentially fully recovering when incongruent trials appeared only infrequently (Reverse Stroop 80/20). Across the conditions, NINC amplitudes closely paralleled RTs, indicating this component is sensitive to the overall level of stimulus conflict. In contrast, LPC amplitudes were largest with infrequent incongruent trials, suggesting a possible readjustment role when proactive control is reduced. These findings thus unveil distinct control mechanisms that unfold over time in response to conflicting stimulus input under different contexts.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Cogn Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

26

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1021 / 1038

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Reaction Time
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Brain
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Appelbaum, L. G., Boehler, C. N., Davis, L. A., Won, R. J., & Woldorff, M. G. (2014). The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain. J Cogn Neurosci, 26(5), 1021–1038. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00542
Appelbaum, L Gregory, C Nicolas Boehler, Lauren A. Davis, Robert J. Won, and Marty G. Woldorff. “The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain.J Cogn Neurosci 26, no. 5 (May 2014): 1021–38. https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00542.
Appelbaum LG, Boehler CN, Davis LA, Won RJ, Woldorff MG. The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain. J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 May;26(5):1021–38.
Appelbaum, L. Gregory, et al. “The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain.J Cogn Neurosci, vol. 26, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 1021–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00542.
Appelbaum LG, Boehler CN, Davis LA, Won RJ, Woldorff MG. The dynamics of proactive and reactive cognitive control processes in the human brain. J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 May;26(5):1021–1038.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Cogn Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1530-8898

Publication Date

May 2014

Volume

26

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1021 / 1038

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Reaction Time
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Cognition
  • Brain