Event-related alpha and theta responses in a visuo-spatial working memory task

Objective: To explore the reactivity of the theta and alpha rhythms during visuo-spatial working memory. Methods: One hundred and seventy-four subjects performed a delayed response task. They had to remember the spatial location of a target stimulus on a computer screen for a 1 or a 4 s retention in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical neurophysiology 2002-12, Vol.113 (12), p.1882-1893
Main Authors: Bastiaansen, Marcel C.M, Posthuma, Danielle, Groot, Paul F.C, de Geus, Eco J.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Alpha rhythm
Alpha Rhythm - methods
Analysis of Variance
Band power
Biological and medical sciences
Central nervous system
Electroencephalographic oscillations
Electroencephalography - methods
Electrophysiology
Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Learning. Memory
Male
Memory
Memory - physiology
Middle Aged
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Theta rhythm
Theta Rhythm - methods
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Visuo-spatial
Working memory
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Summary:Objective: To explore the reactivity of the theta and alpha rhythms during visuo-spatial working memory. Methods: One hundred and seventy-four subjects performed a delayed response task. They had to remember the spatial location of a target stimulus on a computer screen for a 1 or a 4 s retention interval. The target either remained visible throughout the entire interval (sensory trials) or disappeared after 150 ms (memory trials). Changes in induced band power (IBP) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) were analyzed in 4 narrow, individually adjusted frequency bands between 4 and 12 Hz. Results: After presentation of the target stimulus, a phasic power increase was found, irrespective of condition and delay interval, in the lower (roughly, 4–8 Hz) frequency bands, with a posterior maximum. During the retention interval, sustained occipital–parietal alpha power increase and frontal theta power decrease were found. Most importantly, the memory trials showed larger IBP decreases in the theta band over frontal electrodes than the sensory trials. Conclusions: The phasic power increase following target onset is interpreted to reflect encoding of the target location. The sustained theta decrease, which is larger for memory trials, is tentatively interpreted to reflect visuo-spatial working memory processes.
ISSN:1388-2457
1872-8952
DOI:10.1016/S1388-2457(02)00303-6