Emotional conflict processing induce boosted theta oscillation. (19th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ma, Jianling; Liu, Chang; Chen, Xu
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 595(2015)
• Page Start: 69
• Page End: 73
• Publication Date: 2015-05-19
• Subjects: Theta oscillation -- ERSP -- Emotional body-word conflict -- Time–frequency analysis; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.04.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Oscillation activity underlying emotional conflict processing was explored by emotional body-word Stroop task. Behavioral data show an interference effect in response time and accuracy. Incongruent condition induce pronounced theta oscillation than congruent condition over frontal midline areas. Theta activity difference is negatively correlated with corresponding response time difference. Abstract: Although previous studies have reported the neural correlates and dynamics of emotional conflict processing, the neural oscillatory features of such processing remain unclear. The present study uses time–frequency analysis to determine the event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) characteristics underlying emotional conflict processing. Our behavioral results replicate previous findings of shorter response times and fewer response errors under the congruent condition relative to the incongruent condition, indicating a robust interference effect. Theta oscillatory activity was larger for the incongruent than for the congruent condition over frontal and frontal–central midline areas, reflecting a greater need for control under conditions of conflict. Moreover, the theta power difference was negatively associated with the RT difference, indicating that greater theta power leads to better behavioral performance. The present findings provide evidence that the theta oscillation is necessary for the control of emotional conflict.