Neurocognitive pattern analysis of a visuospatial task: rapidly-shifting foci of evoked correlations between electrodes.

Abstract

ABSTRACTSpatial patterns of correlation between pairs of electrodes in 15 channels of human scalp‐recorded brain potentials were determined by applying Neurocognitive Pattern (NCP) Analysis to single‐trial EEG data from 9 adults performing a visuospatial task. Spatial patterns of difference in inter‐electrode correlation between “move” and “no‐move’ trials of the task increased in magnitude through four successive 175‐ms wide analysis intervals. Just before stimulus onset, correlations of the midline frontal electrode with lateral central, parietal, and temporal electrodes distinguished the tasks (p<.01). In the interval spanning the N1, P2, and N2 averaged event‐related potential (ERP) peaks, the between‐task contrast was focused at the midline parietal electrode (p<.001), involving correlations of that electrode with temporal, precentral, and frontal electrodes. In the interval centered on the P3a peak, the major focus of difference was at the right parietal electrode, with higher correlation of the right parietal with midline occipital and precentral electrodes in the no‐move task, and with the right central electrode in the move task (p<5 × 10‐5). In the final interval 135 ms later, which included right‐handed response preparation and initiation, the major focus of contrast shifted to the left central electrode, with higher correlation of that electrode with midline frontal and occipital electrodes in the move task, and with the midline parietal electrode in the no‐move task (p<5 × 10‐6). These results are consistent with a distributed network model of neurocognitive function where parallel activity in many neural areas is integrated in a rapidly shifting pattern of focal activity.