EEG theta activity as integrative brain mechanism during working memory processes

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event EEG theta activity as integrative brain mechanism during working memory processes Birgit Griesmayr1*, Roman Freunberger1, 2, Barbara Berger1 and Paul Sauseng2 1 University of Salzburg, Austria 2 Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Germany It is well known that working memory (WM) involves a variety of cognitive processes that have to be coordinated and/or controlled in order to form a comprehensive, dynamic system. Considering the whole spectrum of electroencephalographic oscillatory activity, theta oscillations (4-7 Hz) have been most consistently linked to WM processes. Especially, executive (control) functions have been associated with theta oscillations. Moreover, evidence has been provided that the coordination and controlling of different WM sub-processes might be represented by interregional theta synchronization. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis whether long-range theta synchronization is more pronounced in tasks requiring more coordination of WM sub-processes (manipulation processes) compared to tasks requiring less coordination (pure retention processes). However, specific WM processes like maintenance of respective memory material should be represented in cross-frequency phase coupling between theta and higher frequencies (gamma). Results reveal higher local theta power in frontal regions during the delay period of a visuo-spatial WM task with increasing WM load, independently of the task (manipulation vs. retention) that is executed. Furthermore, local power is also higher in parieto-occipital regions for the gamma frequency band (45-70 Hz) with respect to higher WM load. In contrast to local theta and gamma amplitude estimates, phase coupling between frontal theta activity and distributed gamma oscillations responds to manipulation of retained information in WM. We conclude that analysis of theta activity on different spatial scales allows for the differentiation of single cognitive processes that are part of a WM system. Funding: Supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), P22084. Keywords: EEG, working memory Conference: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI), Palma, Mallorca, Spain, 25 Sep - 29 Sep, 2011. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Poster Sessions: Neurophysiology of Cognition and Attention Citation: Griesmayr B, Freunberger R, Berger B and Sauseng P (2011). EEG theta activity as integrative brain mechanism during working memory processes. Conference Abstract: XI International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience (ICON XI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2011.207.00320 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 22 Nov 2011; Published Online: 28 Nov 2011. * Correspondence: Dr. Birgit Griesmayr, University of Salzburg, Salzubrg, Austria, birgit.griesmayr@sbg.ac.at Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Birgit Griesmayr Roman Freunberger Barbara Berger Paul Sauseng Google Birgit Griesmayr Roman Freunberger Barbara Berger Paul Sauseng Google Scholar Birgit Griesmayr Roman Freunberger Barbara Berger Paul Sauseng PubMed Birgit Griesmayr Roman Freunberger Barbara Berger Paul Sauseng Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.