Fm Theta Research Articles

QEEG markers of superior shooting performance in skilled marksmen: An investigation of cortical activity on psychomotor efficiency hypothesis

For elite performers, psychomotor behavior's success or failure can be traced to differences in brain dynamics. The psychomotor efficiency hypothesis suggests refined cortical activity through 1) selective activation of task-relevant processes and 2) inhibition of non-essential processes. The use of electroencephalography (EEG) has been applied to investigate psychomotor performance's neural processes. The EEG markers that reflect an elevation of psychomotor efficiency include left temporal alpha (T3 alpha), frontal midline theta (Fm theta), sensorimotor rhythm (SMR), and the coherence between frontal and left temporal regions. However, the relationship between elite performers' task-relevant and non-essential neural processes is still not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how each task-relevant and inhibition of non-essential processes contribute to superior psychomotor behavior. Thirty-five highly skilled marksmen were recruited to perform 30 shots in the shooting task while the EEG was recorded. The marksmen were divided into two groups (superior & inferior) based on a median split of shooting performance. The superior group exhibited higher accuracy and precision, with a reduction in movement jerk. EEG measures revealed that the superior group exhibited higher SMR before the trigger pull than the inferior group. In addition, the superior group demonstrated reduced Fz-T3 coherence in their bull's eye shots than the missed shots. These results suggest that the superior group exhibited less effortful engagement of task-relevant processes and lower interference from non-essential cortical regions than the inferior group. The study's overall findings support the psychomotor efficiency hypothesis. When comparing highly skilled performers, the slight differences in brain dynamics ultimately contribute to the success or failure of psychomotor performance.

EEG-based neurofeedback in schizophrenia: Normalization of frontal-midline theta

Typical consequences in schizophrenia are work absence and early retirement. Such poor every day activities are associated with executive dysfunctioning. Under healthy conditions, successful executive functioning is associated to increased frontal-midline theta oscillations. Such event-related modulations are related to enhanced coupling between neuronal spikes and the phase of the population theta cycle. Crucially, fm-theta has been shown to be reduced in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy subjects and seems to underlie impaired executive functioning. From a rehabilitation perspective, the question arises if disturbed oscillations can be directly targeted with neuroscientific approaches in order to influence associated disturbed cognition in schizophrenia. In this regard EEG-neurofeedback represents a putative intervention to self-regulate oscillations. However, it is debated if this patient group can self-regulate their own oscillations at all. The current study aims first at exploring the specific fm-theta disturbances of schizophrenic patients in memory updating using a two-back experimental paradigm and comparing the results with healthy, matched subjects. Ultimately, the study tests a personalized five training session fm-theta neurofeedback with schizophrenic patients including an active control group. The study included 29 patients diagnosed as schizophrenic (F20, ICD-10) and 16 healthy control subjects. 16 patients were pseudo-randomized to either the experimental or active control group (the so-called pseudo group) for neurofeedback. With regard to the two-back task, reduced performance of schizophrenic patients was accompanied by a total loss of fm theta modulability. This was reflected by two deficits with respect to task-relevant stimuli and working memory load in the two-back task. With respect to the theta neurofeedback training, two main results were observed. First, patients in the experimental group showed indeed increased theta amplitudes over the course of the training compared to the pseudo group. And second, this increase transferred to one of the fm-theta modulation deficits in the n-back task, but (yet) did not lead to increased performance. Nevertheless, our data suggest that a non-invasive, low-cost EEG-neurofeedback training may represent a therapeutic tool also in psychiatric patients.

Mathematically gifted adolescents mobilize enhanced workspace configuration of theta cortical network during deductive reasoning

Previous studies have established the importance of the fronto-parietal brain network in the information processing of reasoning. At the level of cortical source analysis, this eletroencepalogram (EEG) study investigates the functional reorganization of the theta-band (4–8Hz) neurocognitive network of mathematically gifted adolescents during deductive reasoning. Depending on the dense increase of long-range phase synchronizations in the reasoning process, math-gifted adolescents show more significant adaptive reorganization and enhanced “workspace” configuration in the theta network as compared with average-ability control subjects. The salient areas are mainly located in the anterior cortical vertices of the fronto-parietal network. Further correlation analyses have shown that the enhanced workspace configuration with respect to the global topological metrics of the theta network in math-gifted subjects is correlated with the intensive frontal midline theta (fm theta) response that is related to strong neural effort for cognitive events. These results suggest that by investing more cognitive resources math-gifted adolescents temporally mobilize an enhanced task-related global neuronal workspace, which is manifested as a highly integrated fronto-parietal information processing network during the reasoning process.

Relationship between frontal midline theta activity in EEG and concentration.

The relationship between the appearance of EEG theta rhythm in the frontal midline area (Fm theta) and the level of concentration was investigated by using warning signals in simple reaction tasks on 6 male subjects. The result that Fm theta appeared in the foreperiods between the warning and the signal to respond suggests a relation between Fm theta and concentration. Fm theta also appeared, however, at other times. This suggests that a component of Fm theta may not be related to concentration.

Attention and concentration of senior citizen's mind and body's activity - A study of appearance rate of fm theta rhythm qualities area of task where brain wave assumed indicator-

Attention and concentration of senior citizen's mind and body's activity - A study of appearance rate of fm theta rhythm qualities area of task where brain wave assumed indicator-

Event-Related Desynchronization of Frontal-Midline Theta Rhythm during Preconscious Auditory Oddball Processing

The goal of this study was to explore the frontal-midline theta rhythm (Fm theta) generation mechanism employing event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS) analysis in relation to task-irrelevant external stimuli. A dual paradigm was employed: a videogame and the simultaneous presentation of passive auditory oddball stimuli. We analyzed the data concerning ERD/ERS using both Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and wavelet transform (WT). In the FFT data, during the periods with appearance of Fm theta, apparent ERD of the theta band was observed at Fz and Cz. ERD when Fm theta was present was much more prominent than when Fm theta was absent. In the WT data, as in the FFT data, ERD was seen again, but in this case the ERD was preceded by ERS during both the periods with and without Fm theta. Furthermore, the WT analysis indicated that ERD was followed by ERS during the periods without Fm theta. However, during Fm theta, no apparent ERS following ERD was seen. In our study, Fm theta was desynchronized by the auditory stimuli that were independent of the video game task used to evoke the Fm theta. The ERD of Fm theta might be reflecting the mechanism of "positive suppression" to process external auditory stimuli automatically and preventing attentional resources from being unnecessarily allocated to those stimuli. Another possibility is that Fm theta induced by our dual paradigm may reflect information processing modeled by multi-item working memory requirements for playing the videogame and the simultaneous auditory processing using a memory trace. ERS in the WT data without Fm theta might indicate further processing of the auditory information free from "positive suppression" control reflected by Fm theta.

Music and emotion: Electrophysiological correlates of the processing of pleasant and unpleasant music

Human emotion and its electrophysiological correlates are still poorly understood. The present study examined whether the valence of perceived emotions would differentially influence EEG power spectra and heart rate (HR). Pleasant and unpleasant emotions were induced by consonant and dissonant music. Unpleasant (compared to pleasant) music evoked a significant decrease of HR, replicating the pattern of HR responses previously described for the processing of emotional pictures, sounds, and films. In the EEG, pleasant (contrasted to unpleasant) music was associated with an increase of frontal midline (Fm) theta power. This effect is taken to reflect emotional processing in close interaction with attentional functions. These findings show that Fm theta is modulated by emotion more strongly than previously believed.

Direct Recording of Theta Oscillations in Primate Prefrontal and Anterior Cingulate Cortices

Recent evidence has suggested that theta-frequency (4-7 Hz) oscillations around the human anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and frontal cortex--that is, frontal midline theta (Fm theta) oscillations--may be involved in attentional processes in the brain. However, little is known about the physiological basis of Fm theta oscillations because invasive study in the human is allowed in only limited cases. In the present study, we developed a monkey model for Fm theta oscillations and located the generators of theta waves using electrodes implanted in various cortical areas. Monkeys were engaged in a self-initiated hand-movement task with a waiting period. The theta power in area 9 (the medial prefrontal cortex) and area 32 (the rostral ACC) was gradually increased from a few seconds before the movement and reached a peak immediately after the movement. When the movement was rewarded, the theta power attained a second peak, whereas it swiftly decreased in the unrewarded trials. Theta oscillations in areas 9 and 32 were coherent and phase locked together. This theta activity may be associated with "executive attention" including self-control, internal timing, and assessment of reward. It is probably a homologue of human Fm theta oscillations, as judged from the similar localization, corresponding frequency, and dependency on attentional processes. The monkey model would be useful for studying executive functions in the frontal cortex.

A long-range cortical network emerging with theta oscillation in a mental task.

Human scalp EEG has demonstrated that global coherence among distant areas increases during cognitive tasks, suggesting that oscillating neural activities work to generate global neuronal assemblies for cognitive functions. The theta oscillation in a frequency range of 4-8 Hz with large amplitudes which emerges during mental tasks around the frontal midline region is called fm theta. If theta oscillation concerns the global neuronal assemblies, fm theta should be associated with regional activities that depend on task conditions. In the present study, we examine the EEG-related brain activities by developing simultaneous EEG and fMRI during a mental calculation task. EEG-related negative BOLD was dominant over anterior medial regions, suggesting a major contribution of negative BOLD to fm theta. Negative and positive BOLD were found over distant regions. Functional connectivity analyses revealed that the connectivity varied remarkably according to mental conditions. In the rest condition, the connectivity was localized, whereas in the task condition, a long-range coherent network was formed by the anterior midline, posterior cingulate and right middle temporal cortices with linking between the right middle temporal and left lateral cortices during numerical processing. Further EEG analyses indicate that the long-range coherent network executing cognitive functions is coordinated in the time window of theta oscillations.

Prefrontal theta oscillations associated with hand movements triggered by warning and imperative stimuli in the monkey

In order to investigate the functional significance of theta oscillations in the brain, we recorded the cortical field potential in monkeys engaged in a visually-initiated hand movement task. In each trial a warning signal (S1) was followed 3 s later by an imperative signal (S2) to which the monkey had to respond to get a reward. The theta power in the prefrontal area 9 and the prelimbic area 32 was higher in the S1–S2 interval than in the pre-S1 period. This theta activity may be related to attentional processes and is probably a homologue of the human frontal midline theta (Fm theta) rhythms.

Frontal midline theta rhythm is correlated with cardiac autonomic activities during the performance of an attention demanding meditation procedure

Frontal midline theta rhythm (Fm theta), recognized as distinct theta activity on EEG in the frontal midline area, reflects mental concentration as well as meditative state or relief from anxiety. Attentional network in anterior frontal lobes including anterior cingulate cortex is suspected to be the generator of this activity, and the regulative function of the frontal neural network over autonomic nervous system (ANS) during cognitive process is suggested. However no studies have examined peripheral autonomic activities during Fm theta induction, and interaction of central and peripheral mechanism associated with Fm theta remains unclear. In the present study, a standard procedure of Zen meditation requiring sustained attention and breath control was employed as the task to provoke Fm theta, and simultaneous EEG and ECG recordings were performed. For the subjects in which Fm theta activities were provoked (six men, six women, 48% of the total subjects), peripheral autonomic activities were evaluated during the appearance of Fm theta as well as during control periods. Successive inter-beat intervals were measured from the ECG, and a recently developed method of analysis by Toichi et al. (J. Auton. Nerv. Syst. 62 (1997) 79–84) based on heart rate variability was used to assess cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic functions separately. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic indices were increased during the appearance of Fm theta compared with control periods. Theta band activities in the frontal area were correlated negatively with sympathetic activation. The results suggest a close relationship between cardiac autonomic function and activity of medial frontal neural circuitry.

Frontal midline theta rhythm and mental activity

Theta rhythm at the midline of the frontal area can be observed in normal subjects, during mental task performance, rest and sleep. Frontal midline theta rhythm (Fm theta) is a train of rhythmic waves at the frequency of 6- Hz and can be induced by various mental tasks. Fm theta is induced not only during mental tasks but also during nocturnal sleep in which it was most frequent during rapid eye movement (REM) and second most frequent during stage 1 of non-REM (NREM) sleep, and the relationship of Fm theta to dream images during sleep was found. It is concluded, therefore, that the appearance of Fm theta is related to mental activity even during sleep. Fm theta shows individual differences and is related to certain personality traits. High Fm theta groups showed the lowest anxiety score in the Manifest Anxiety Scale (MAS), the highest score in the extrovertive scale of the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI) and the lowest score in the neurotic scale of MPI. Low Fm theta groups showed the opposite correlation. Significant negative correlation was found between the amount of Fm theta and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity. Summarizing the above-mentioned results, it may be concluded that the appearance of Fm 0 is related to mental activity, personality traits and platelet MAO activity. Furthermore, the correlation of such markers as platelet MAO activity and Fm theta with personality traits as measured by various psychological tests may prove to be of great importance in the exploration of the biological bases of personality.

Frontal midline theta rhythm in young healthy adults.

In this study, we examined the relationship between the frontal midline (Fm) theta rhythm that appears when a healthy subject is engaged in mental tasks and the theta rhythm which appears in the frontal region of healthy subjects during light drowsiness. The samples for this study were obtained from 465 EEGs of healthy Japan Air Self Defense Force personnel. The 39 who had frontal theta rhythm during light drowsiness were selected to be included in the theta group. For the control group, 34 subjects were randomly selected from the remaining 426 without frontal theta rhythm. When these subjects were reexamined, the rate of appearance of the frontal midline theta rhythm which appears during light drowsiness was 87.2% in the theta group and 0% in the control group. The rate of appearance of the Fm theta was 94.9% in the theta group and 3.0% in the control group. The two types of frontal theta rhythms closely resembled each other in frequency (94.6%) and distribution (83.8%). Except for the results of the hypomania (Ma) scores, there was no remarkable difference between the two groups when the MMPI was administered. The results of our study suggest that there is a close correlation between the frontal theta rhythm that appears during light drowsiness and the Fm theta.

Fm theta and mental activity in preschool children

Fm theta and mental activity in preschool children

MEG and EEG topography of frontal midline theta rhythm and source localization.

In this paper, we report on our study of frontal midline theta (Fm theta) activity in human subjects, recorded during mental processes such as arithmetic calculation. The Fm theta is a 6-7 Hz rhythmic wave with a duration of few seconds. The Fm theta activity is observed in the central region at the front of the head. EEGs and MEGs of Fm theta were measured simultaneously during mental calculation, and we analyzed these waveforms based on both topographic EEG maps and magnetic fields measurements. A single dipole simulated the EEG topography adequately, but there are many other dipole models which can generate a similar EEG pattern. It is difficult to estimate the source location of the Fm theta from the EEG topography alone because the EEG technique has a certain ambiguity associated with source estimation. Therefore, we considered the spatial relationships between the sources and the patterns of EEG and MEG that were simulated. Although it is not possible to obtain a unique solution for the source location of Fm theta from the EEG data alone, the simultaneous recording of MEGs from a large scalp area may result in an unambiguous solution. We therefore conclude that the simultaneous recording of both MEG and EEG data is more useful for accurate localization, than the EEG alone.

Frontal Midline Theta Rhythm: Differentiating the Physiological Theta Rhythm from the Abnormal Discharge

The theta rhythm that appears in the frontal midline was studied morphologically and clinically in EEGs performed on 788 patients and 161 normal subjects in their late teens or older. This theta rhythm was classified into 2 types. The Type 1 theta rhythm appeared in short bursts maximally in the Fz lead and spread mainly to the anterior region. It had a high frequency, low voltage and regular waveform. The Type 2 theta rhythm appeared in long runs maximally in the Fz lead and spread mainly to the posterior areas. It had a relatively low frequency, high voltage and irregular waveform. Type 1 was observed in a younger age group (mean age: 20.3 years) that was comprised of healthy subjects and one mentally retarded patient. In no case was the Type 1 theta rhythm accompanied by a paroxysmal EEG abnormality. We therefore believe that Type 1 is a physiological EEG activity (Fm theta). On the other hand, Type 2 was observed in a relatively older age group (mean age: 30.7 years) comprised of patients diagnosed as having epilepsy or intractable headaches. Five of 9 cases showed epileptic EEG abnormalities. We therefore believe that Type 2 might have clinical significance in diagnosis of epilepsy and other cerebral dysfunctions. The EEG pattern that we call the frontal mid-line theta rhythm may be either a physiological theta rhythm or an abnormal discharge. It is possible to determine whether the theta rhythm is the former or the latter, and we believe this differentiation to be clinically important.

The effects of various mental tasks on appearance of frontal midline theta activity in EEG.

A distinct theta rhythm of EEG in the frontal midline area during performance of mental tasks has been called Fm theta. One of the characteristics of Fm theta is individual differences in its appearance. The effects of various mental tasks and its repetition on appearance of Fm theta were investigated. Adding, correcting wrong words, short-term memory (STM) and counting cubes were imposed 6 times on 7 male students who didn't generate Fm theta at the previous experiment. Counting cubes evoked more Fm theta than the other three mental tasks. In every task the first trial showed little Fm theta, and the appearance time of Fm theta was enhanced by repetition. Type I of Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I) demonstrated a higher state anxiety level of the subjects at the first trial. It may be concluded that the amount of Fm theta corresponds to the level in concentration of attention.

Evaluation of mental workload of short-term memory task by secondary task performance and frontal midline theta rhythm

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mental workload of short-term memory task by two objective measures, the secondary task performance and the frontal midline theta rhythm (Fm theta) of the electroencephalogram (EEG). First, to choose Fm theta appearance subjects EEGs were recorded for 18 male students during performing additional task. On Fm theta appearance subjects (8 males) a series of short-term memory task with changed number of memorable figures was imposed as the primary task, and tracking task as the secondary task. The task that presents seven numbers will be over the subjects' limits of short-term memory, and it was the threshold that the subjects' mental workload will be increased.

Frontal Lobe: Mental Functions and EEG

ABSTRACT.A distinct theta rhythm in the frontal midline area during performance of mental tasks has been called “frontal midline theta” (Fm theta). This pattern shows interesting individual differences which have been investigated with the use of mental tasks such as an arithmetic addition test. Fm theta is closely related to an attention mechanism, this pattern tends to be more prominent in subjects with higher amplitude but slower frequency of theta-alpha activities in their background EEGs. Fm theta is also more marked in extroverts with insignificant traits of neuroticism and anxiety. The effect of centrally acting drugs on Fm theta was also investigated and it is suggested that relief from anxiety might be associated with the appearance of Fm theta.

Diurnal rhythm in appearance of frontal midline theta activity.

It has been reported that there is a certain rhythm in the appearance of Fm theta. In the present study, round-the-clock changes in the appearance of Fm theta were analyzed. The Uchida-Kraepelin test was conducted for 5 minutes a day over a period of 3 days on 18 university students. The span of time from 08:00 to 24:00 was divided into 9 temporal points and each subject was tested at 4 different points. EEGs were recorded and the changes in the appearance of Fm theta were investigated. As a result, it was found that there were signs of a frequent appearance of Fm theta in the morning, particularly between 10:00 and 12:00. Accordingly, it was evident that Fm theta appears at a certain diurnal rhythm.