Disruption of the Prefrontal Cortex Improves Implicit Contextual Memory-Guided Attention: Combined Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence

Mario Rosero Pahi, Juliana Cavalli, Frauke Nees, Herta Flor, Jamila Andoh

Research output: Articles / NotesScientific Articlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many studies have shown that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) plays an important role in top-down cognitive control over intentional and deliberate behavior. However, recent studies have reported that DLPFC-mediated top-down control interferes with implicit forms of learning. Here we used continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) combined with electroencephalography to investigate the causal role of DLPFC in implicit contextual memory-guided attention. We aimed to test whether transient disruption of the DLPFC would interfere with implicit learning performance and related electrical brain activity. We applied neuronavigation-guided cTBS to the DLPFC or to the vertex as a control region prior to the performance of an implicit contextual learning task. We found that cTBS applied over the DLPFC significantly improved performance during implicit contextual learning. We also noted that beta-band (13-19 Hz) oscillatory power was reduced at fronto-central channels about 140 to 370 ms after visual stimulus onset in cTBS DLPFC compared with cTBS vertex. Taken together, our results provide evidence that DLPFC-mediated top-down control interferes with contextual memory-guided attention and beta-band oscillatory activity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)20-30
Number of pages11
JournalCerebral Cortex
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • beta oscillations
  • contextual memory
  • dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
  • electroencephalography
  • implicit learning
  • memory-guided attention
  • transcranial magnetic stimulation

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