Global neural oscillations underlie performance variability and attentional state fluctuations in humans

Archivos
Herrero J., Et al. - Global neural oscillations underlie performance variability and attentional state fluctuations in humans.pdf (2.18 MB)
Fecha
2026-04-24
Nota de Acceso
Fecha de embargo
Autores
Profe guía
Perfil ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4210-1016
Título de la revista
ISSN de la revista
Título del volumen
Editor
Springer Nature
ISBN
ISSN
ISSNe
2045-2322
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-49900-6
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12254/7697
Resumen
Fluctuations in attentional states, such as mind-wandering (MW), are associated with critical variability in task performance. While fMRI studies highlight the opposing roles of task-positive (e.g., dorsal attention network) and task-negative (e.g., default mode network) systems, the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying these dynamics remain poorly understood. Using intracranial electrocorticography in humans performing a sustained attention task, we identified global oscillatory dynamics linked to attentional shifts. MW was characterized by (1) reduced theta (θ) and alpha (α) power, (2) decreased aperiodic signal components, indicating a shift toward cortical inhibition, (3) enhanced phase synchronization across networks, and (4) strengthened θ phase-behavior correlations (ρ). These features support a non-network-specific framework in which low-frequency θ dynamics—captured by both θ power and ρ—are associated with attentional fluctuations, while aperiodic offset relates to attentional state indirectly through its association with ρ (structural equation modeling: power → state β = − 0.118, p = 0.002; ρ → state β = 0.246, p < 0.001; offset → ρ β = − 0.222, p < 0.001). Our study provides a unified neurophysiological framework for understanding how spontaneous neural activity can drive attentional fluctuations and performance variability, with implications for research on attention, learning, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Descripción
Lugar de Publicación
Scientific Reports
Sponsorship
This work was supported by Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo de Chile (ANID), Beca DoctoradoNacional 21191510 (JH), FONDECYT (1251073 to PB, AF-V), FONDECYT 1210659 (FA, RH-C, PF, RU, CC),FONDO INTERNO NEUROLOGIA-PUC (RU, RH-C), Centro ANID de Interés Nacional IINARA CIN250068, Chile, FONDECYT 11261678 (AF-V)
Citación
Scientific Reports, Vo. 16, N° 18885 (2026) pp. 1-16
Palabras clave
Mind-wandering, Attentional fluctuations, Performance variability
Licencia
Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 Chile (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 CL)
Licencia URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/cl/
Colecciones
Artículos de Revistas