Effects of PFC tDCS on Cognitive Control, Attention Lapses and Coordinated Neural Activity in the Theta and Alpha Bands

项目摘要/摘要 注意力缺失指的是任务外表现的暂时性，其特征是加工延迟和 在一系列认知任务和日常活动中的错误。注意力疏忽是许多 精神健康障碍，包括抑郁症、多动症和精神分裂症。失误极大地促进了 这些障碍中的认知障碍。在这里，我们旨在测试一个理论模型，在该模型中，注意力疏忽 受前额叶皮质(PFC)介导的一系列认知控制功能的调节。增加了 对各种任务的认知控制需求与大脑中协调的神经活动密切相关。 使用电生理(EEG)的Theta频段(4-7赫兹)。我们假设对PFC的刺激将 增强控制相关的theta活动和注意力控制，从而减少注意力疏忽和改善 认知表现。注意力疏忽将通过行为和协调的神经活动来衡量 在阿尔法频段(8-12赫兹)。我们建议使用参与者内部调查来检验这些假设， 双盲设计，将测量认知控制的行为和脑电θ-和α-频段测量 和主动PFC靶向经颅直流电刺激(TDC)后的注意力疏忽 假刺激和主动控制刺激(以枕叶皮质为靶点，这是一个不被假设支持的区域 注意力控制)。我们进一步建议通过评估来测试我们的PFC介导的注意控制模型 用结构神经成像和电流的计算模型研究tdcs效应的个体差异 流。这项提议有两个具体目标。目标1：通过评估来测试认知控制的扩展模型 以PFC为靶点的tDCs对与认知控制和α相关的额叶theta振荡(4-7赫兹)的影响 与注意力疏忽有关的振荡(8-12赫兹)。目标2：测试认知控制的扩展模型 评估tdcs效应中个体差异的生物真实感模型。建议的工作包括 几项关键的理论和技术创新，包括将注意力控制概念化为 PFC介导的执行功能，主动控制条件的使用和对神经的关注 关注度的基础消失了。这个项目将提供独特的数据，帮助我们了解 Theta和Alpha频段的协调神经活动与失误有关， 支持注意力控制的电生理模式可以使用非侵入性方法进行修改 以前额认知控制系统为靶点的神经刺激。这将对以下两方面具有实质性的价值 神经刺激研究界和，因为失误是许多精神病理学的核心特征 精神障碍，到更广泛的精神健康研究。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Attention lapses refer to transient periods of off-task performance characterized by processing delays and errors across a range of cognitive tasks and everyday activities. Attention lapsing is a feature of a number of mental health disorders, including depression, ADHD and schizophrenia. Lapsing contributes significantly to cognitive impairments in these disorders. Here we aim to test a theoretical model in which attention lapses are regulated by the suite of cognitive control functions mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Increased cognitive control demands on a variety of tasks have been tightly linked to coordinated neural activity in the theta frequency band (4-7 Hz) using electrophysiology (EEG). We hypothesize that stimulation of the PFC will enhance control-related theta activity and attentional control, leading to fewer attention lapses and improved cognitive performance. Attention lapses will be measured both behaviorally and by coordinated neural activity in the alpha frequency band (8-12 Hz). We propose to test these hypotheses using a within-participants, double-blind design that will measure behavioral and EEG theta- and alpha-band measures of cognitive control and attention lapses following active PFC-targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), compared to Sham and Active Control stimulation (targeting occipital cortex, a region not hypothesized to support attentional control). We further propose to test our model of PFC-mediated attentional control by assessing individual differences in tDCS effects, using structural neuroimaging and computational modeling of current flow. This proposal has two specific aims. Aim 1: Test an expanded model of cognitive control by evaluating the impact of PFC-targeted tDCS on frontal theta oscillations (4-7 Hz) related to cognitive control and alpha oscillations (8-12 Hz) related to attention lapses. Aim 2: Test an expanded model of cognitive control using biologically-realistic modeling to assess individual differences in tDCS effects. The proposed work contains several key theoretical and technical innovations, including the conceptualization of attentional control as a PFC-mediated executive function, the use of an active control condition and the focus on the neural underpinnings of attention lapses. This project will provide unique data towards our understanding of how coordinated neural activity in the theta and alpha bands is related to lapsing and the extent to which the electrophysiological patterns supporting attentional control can be modified using non-invasive neurostimulation targeting the prefrontal cognitive control system. This would be of substantial value both to the neurostimulation research community and, as lapsing is a core feature of psychopathology in many psychiatric disorders, to mental health research more broadly.