Dataset Information

Assessing the Longitudinal Relationship between Theta-Gamma Coupling and Working Memory Performance in Older Adults.

ABSTRACT: Theta-gamma coupling (TGC) is a neurophysiologic mechanism that supports working memory (WM). TGC is associated with N-back performance, a WM task. Similar to TGC, theta and alpha event-related synchronization (ERS) and desynchronization (ERD) are also associated with WM. Few studies have examined the longitudinal relationship between WM performance and TGC, ERS, or ERD. This study aimed to determine if changes in WM performance are associated with changes in TGC (primary aim), as well as theta and alpha ERS or ERD over 6 to 12 weeks. Participants included 62 individuals aged 60 and older with no neuropsychiatric conditions or with remitted Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and no cognitive disorders. TGC, ERS, and ERD were assessed using electroencephalography (EEG) during the N-back task (3-back condition). There was an association between changes in 3-back performance and changes in TGC, alpha ERD and ERS, and theta ERS in the control group. In contrast, there was only a significant association between changes in 3-back performance and changes in TGC in the subgroup with remitted MDD. Our results suggest that the relationship between WM performance and TGC is stable over time, while this is not the case for changes in theta and alpha ERS and ERD.

SUBMITTER: Brooks H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9016289 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Assessing the Longitudinal Relationship between Theta-Gamma Coupling and Working Memory Performance in Older Adults.

Brooks Heather H Mirjalili Mina M Wang Wei W Kumar Sanjeev S Goodman Michelle S MS Zomorrodi Reza R Blumberger Daniel M DM Bowie Christopher R CR Daskalakis Zafiris J ZJ Fischer Corinne E CE Flint Alastair J AJ Herrmann Nathan N Lanctôt Krista L KL Mah Linda L Mulsant Benoit H BH Pollock Bruce G BG Voineskos Aristotle N AN Rajji Tarek K TK

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991) 20220401 8

Theta-gamma coupling (TGC) is a neurophysiologic mechanism that supports working memory (WM). TGC is associated with N-back performance, a WM task. Similar to TGC, theta and alpha event-related synchronization (ERS) and desynchronization (ERD) are also associated with WM. Few studies have examined the longitudinal relationship between WM performance and TGC, ERS, or ERD. This study aimed to determine if changes in WM performance are associated with changes in TGC (primary aim), as well as theta ...[more]

PMID: 34519333

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Project description:BackgroundTheta-gamma coupling (TGC) describes the modulation of gamma oscillations by the theta phasic activity, which is crucial for processes such as the ordering of information during working memory (WM) performance. The mental arithmetic (MA), which involves performing calculations with numbers, is a crucial tool for evaluating and understanding the sensory processing and management abilities of WM. Evaluating TGC may provide greater insight into the neural mechanisms mediating WM deficits in panic disorder (PD).MethodsMedical and electroencephalography (EEG) records of psychiatric outpatient clinic between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 34 PD patients and 34 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent EEG to assess the overall functional interaction of the brain using multi-channel EEG analysis, focusing on specific brain regions including the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes. EEG recordings were conducted during two sessions: a 5-min eyes-closed resting-state (RS) and a subsequent 5-min eyes-closed MA. The TGC and the spectral power of the theta and gamma frequency bands, which are well known to be associated with WM, were analysed.ResultsCompared to those in HCs, TGC and theta power were significantly attenuated in PD patients. When analysing both HCs and PD patients together, RS TGC and relative theta power were negatively correlated with state anxiety and perceived stress scores, respectively. In contrast, TGC and relative theta power during the MA condition were positively correlated with the MA performance. Specifically, in PD patients, RS theta power across all electrodes was significantly negatively correlated with the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score. Linear regression analysis revealed that theta power in the T5 channel remained negatively correlated with pathological anxiety as measured by the HAMA score, even after controlling for other confounding factors.ConclusionsThis study highlights significant alterations in TGC and theta power in PD patients. PD patients exhibit reduced TGC and theta power compared to HCs, indicating deficits in the neural mechanisms underlying anxiety and/or WM in PD. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the neural basis of WM deficits in PD and suggest potential avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Project description:BackgroundFrontal midline theta (FMT) oscillations (4-8 Hz) are strongly related to cognitive and executive control during mental tasks such as memory processing, arithmetic problem solving or sustained attention. While maintenance of temporal order information during a working memory (WM) task was recently linked to FMT phase, a positive correlation between FMT power, WM demand and WM performance was shown. However, the relationship between these measures is not well understood, and it is unknown whether purposeful FMT phase manipulation during a WM task impacts FMT power and WM performance. Here we present evidence that FMT phase manipulation mediated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can block WM demand-related FMT power increase (FMTΔpower) and disrupt normal WM performance.MethodsTwenty healthy volunteers were assigned to one of two groups (group A, group B) and performed a 2-back task across a baseline block (block 1) and an intervention block (block 2) while 275-sensor magnetoencephalography (MEG) was recorded. After no stimulation was applied during block 1, participants in group A received tACS oscillating at their individual FMT frequency over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) while group B received sham stimulation during block 2. After assessing and mapping phase locking values (PLV) between the tACS signal and brain oscillatory activity across the whole brain, FMT power and WM performance were assessed and compared between blocks and groups.ResultsDuring block 2 of group A but not B, FMT oscillations showed increased PLV across task-related cortical areas underneath the frontal tACS electrode. While WM task-related FMTΔpower and WM performance were comparable across groups in block 1, tACS resulted in lower FMTΔpower and WM performance compared to sham stimulation in block 2.ConclusiontACS-related manipulation of FMT phase can disrupt WM performance and influence WM task-related FMTΔpower. This finding may have important implications for the treatment of brain disorders such as depression and attention deficit disorder associated with abnormal regulation of FMT activity or disorders characterized by dysfunctional coupling of brain activity, e.g., epilepsy, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease (AD/PD).

Dataset Information

Assessing the Longitudinal Relationship between Theta-Gamma Coupling and Working Memory Performance in Older Adults.

Publications

Assessing the Longitudinal Relationship between Theta-Gamma Coupling and Working Memory Performance in Older Adults.

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