Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamic Sculpting of Brain Functional Connectivity Is Correlated with Performance

  • Published:
Brain Topography Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we examined the relationship between cortical coupling, reflected in event related partial coherence (ERPC) and cognitive processing speed while subjects performed a set of Raven's Progressive Matrices (RPM), a task used to measure IQ. Fifty-five participants (29 males) performed a computerized version of the RPM where they were required to identify the shape (probe) that is consistent with a matrix of displayed shapes. Participants indicated a match or non-match by pressing a micro-switch with either the right or left hand. The steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) was elicited by a 13 Hz uniform visual flicker superimposed over the visual fields and the SSVEP event-related coherence (SSVEP-ERPC) calculated for all 2016 unique electrode pairs. The linear correlation between SSVEP-ERPC and processing speed (the inverse of reaction time) was calculated for all electrode pairs for all time points during the 3 sec interval that the probes were on the screen. Using correlation coefficient thresholds corresponding to p=0.001 we identified those electrode pairs where SSVEP-ERPC or neural synchronization was significantly correlated with processing speed. At a point 0.8 sec before the appearance of the probe we observed that the synchronization between specific prefrontal, frontal and central sites was correlated with processing speed. We suggest that this relationship may reflect the efficiency of working memory processes and speed of information processing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barcelo, F., Suwazono, S. and Knight R.T. Prefrontal modulation of visual processing in humans. Nat. Neurosci., 2000, 3: 399–403.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Classen, J., Gerloff, C., Honda, M. and Hallett, M. Integrative visuomotor behavior is associated with interregionally coherent oscillations in the human brain. J. Neurophysiol., 1998, 79: 1567–1573.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ding, M., Bressler, S.L., Yang, W. and Liang, H. Short-window spectral analysis of cortical event-related potentials by adaptive multivariate autoregressive modeling: data preprocessing, model validation, and variability assessment. Biol. Cybern., 2000, 83: 35–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldman-Rakic, P.S. Regional and cellular fractionation of working memory. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1996, 93: 13473–13480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nunez, P.L., Silberstein, R.B., Shi, Z., Carpenter, M.R., Srinivasan, R., Tucker, D.M., Doran, S.M., Cadusch, P.J. and Wijesinghe, R.S. EEG coherency II: Experimental comparisons of multiple measures. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1999, 110: 469–486.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfurtscheller, G. and Andrew, C. Event-Related changes of band power and coherence: methodology and interpretation. J. Clin. Neurophysiol., 1999, 16: 512–519.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prabhakaran, V., Smith, J.A., Desmond, J.E., Glover, G.H. and Gabrieli, J.D. Neural substrates of fluid reasoning: an fMRI study of neocortical activation during performance of the Raven's Progressive Matrices Test. Cognit. Psychol., 1997, 33: 43–63.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarnthein, J., Petsche, H., Rappelsberger, P., Shaw, G.L. and von Stein, A. Synchronization between prefrontal and posterior association cortex during human working memory. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1998, 95: 7092–7096.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silberstein, R.B., Danieli, F. and Nunez, P.L. Fronto-parietal evoked potential synchronization is increased during mental rotation. Neuroreport, 2003, 14: 67–71.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silberstein, R.B., Nunez, P.L. and Park, W. Mental rotation speed and the spatio-temporal structure of steady state potential synchronization. Brain Topography, 2003, 15: 202 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan, R., Russel., D.P., Edelman, G.M. and Tononi, G. Increased synchronization of neuromagnetic responses during conscious perception. J. Neurosci., 1999, 19: 5435–5448.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winterer, G., Coppola, R., Egan, M.F., Goldberg, T.E. and Weinberger, D.R. Functional and effective frontotemporal connectivity and genetic risk for schizophrenia. Biol. Psychiatry, 2003, 54: 1181–1192.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria, Australia

    Richard B. Silberstein, John Song, Paul L. Nunez & Warwick Park

Authors
  1. Richard B. Silberstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paul L. Nunez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Warwick Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Silberstein, R.B., Song, J., Nunez, P.L. et al. Dynamic Sculpting of Brain Functional Connectivity Is Correlated with Performance. Brain Topogr 16, 249–254 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000032860.04812.b1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BRAT.0000032860.04812.b1

Search

Navigation