Date of Graduation

5-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biomedical Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Lamm, Connie

Abstract

In this study, EEG was recorded from 157 participants at the University of Arkansas as they performed three computer tasks that tested inhibitory control (Go/Nogo Task), proactive and reactive control (AX-Continuous Performance Task), and resolving response conflict (Global/Local Task- modified Flanker Task). Time-frequency analysis (ERSP) was the primary focus of this study, in order to take advantage of the temporal and frequential characteristics of EEG recordings. The ERSPs and following statistical analysis showed significantly higher midfrontal theta band (4-8 Hz) power values for target trials (those that required more cognitive control) than control trials, which indicated that the procedure was implemented correctly. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed that reactive control and inhibitory control had significantly higher theta power values than both proactive control and response conflict, and that proactive control had significantly higher theta power values than response conflict. Taken together, these results suggest a common underlying physiological mechanism for initiating and executing cognitive control, namely frontal midline theta band oscillations, but how these oscillations are integrated into cognitive processing still remains unclear. The results of this study suggest that theta power might be an important factor in allowing frontal midline brain regions to differentiate cognitive control mechanisms, but further work will need to be completed to investigate the role of theta power and theta phase in establishing and coordinating cognitive control.

Keywords

Cognitive neuroscience, EEG time frequency analysis, theta

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