This thesis explores the role of what has traditionally been considered as neural “noise”, specifically BOLD signal variability and aperiodic neural activity, in human cognitive functions,... Show moreThis thesis explores the role of what has traditionally been considered as neural “noise”, specifically BOLD signal variability and aperiodic neural activity, in human cognitive functions, particularly in metacontrol. The metacontrol model assumes that individuals vary in their cognitive styles between "persistence" and "flexibility." Persistence emphasizes focused goal pursuit, while flexibility allows for easy task switching and consideration of diverse possibilities. Through three empirical studies, this thesis investigates the relationship between two specific forms of neural "noise" – BOLD signal variability and aperiodic neural activity – and metacontrol biases (i.e., persistence vs. flexibility). Chapter 2 emphasizes the importance of resting-state BOLD signal variability in understanding individualized cognitive control styles. Chapter 3 highlights the importance of the aperiodic component of the EEG power spectrum in reflecting demand-specific metacontrol states. Notably, Chapter 4 illuminates the functional significance of aperiodic activity in creative thinking. Overall, the research presented in this thesis highlights the importance of resting-state BOLD signal variability and aperiodic activity in the EEG power spectrum for understanding the neural underpinnings of cognitive functions. Show less
In the realm of cognitive science, the quest to understand cognitive control has persisted for decades. Traditional notions of cognitive control have focused on inhibition through the prefrontal... Show moreIn the realm of cognitive science, the quest to understand cognitive control has persisted for decades. Traditional notions of cognitive control have focused on inhibition through the prefrontal cortex, but this dissertation challenges that perspective with a more comprehensive framework: The Metacontrol State Model (MSM). The MSM proposes that cognitive control emerges from the interplay between two opposing systems – one promoting flexibility and the other promoting persistence. These systems interact to shape our cognitive processing styles, thereby influencing our ability to effectively regulate our actions. This dissertation explores questions such as why individuals exhibit differences in cognitive control capacity and how state-related changes and trait-related predispositions impact cognitive control function. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to empirically test the MSM model and shed light on the factors that influence cognitive control. Through a series of experiments, it seeks to understand how altered states of consciousness, achieved through meditation techniques or serotonergic psychedelics, affect the balance between intentional and habitual processes. Additionally, it examines the extent to which individual trait biases serve as trans-diagnostic markers in various psychopathologies. This work comprises a literature review and six empirical articles. By integrating theory and empirical research, this dissertation takes us on a journey into the intricate world of cognitive control, shaping our understanding of how it influences our lives. Show less
The resting state connectivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with the left primary somatosensory cortex and the functional association of the inferior parietal cortex (IPC) with the right... Show moreThe resting state connectivity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with the left primary somatosensory cortex and the functional association of the inferior parietal cortex (IPC) with the right primary somatosensory cortex indicate better and poorer performance in cognitive control of language, respectively. Besides, the task based connectivity profiles of the clusters of the IPC elucidate that it is not the whole part of this brain area that is involved in cognitive control, in the fronto-parietal network, but only the rostral cluster of the IPC. Moreover, the unique functional associations of the middle and the caudal IPC evidence that the traditional categorization of brain areas does not accommodate the functions of these parts of the cortex; the connectivity patterns of the middle and the caudal IPC have highlighted another brain functional category beyond the classic definitions, as modulating cortical areas, the functional connectivity of which are disparate from parts of the cortex involved in task performance and brain areas related to the resting state functionality of the brain. Show less
Abstract: While switching costs in production have been explained in terms of top-down cognitive control, researchers do not agree whether switching costs in comprehension should be interpreted in... Show moreAbstract: While switching costs in production have been explained in terms of top-down cognitive control, researchers do not agree whether switching costs in comprehension should be interpreted in the same way. Within the BIA + model, it has been claimed that the comprehension of code-switches can be explained sufficiently in terms of bottom-up activation of lexical representations. In the current electrophysiological study, L1 speakers of Dutch with high proficiency in L2 English (n = 63) completed a Flanker task in which they intermittently read sentences with or without an alternational code-switch. With this ‘conflict-adaptation’ paradigm we examined whether reading a code-switch engages cognitive control that influences performance on a subsequent Flanker trial. Half of the participants were presented with Dutch sentences and Dutch to English code-switches, while the other half were presented with English sentences and English to Dutch code-switches. On the P300 component, we found a traditional Flanker effect, with larger amplitudes for congruent than for incongruent trials. The effect was modulated by a preceding code-switch and the direction of this modulation depended on the switching direction: the Flanker effect was smaller after a code-switch from L1 to L2 than after a monolingual L1 sentence, but larger after a code-switch from L2 to L1 than after a monolingual L2 sentence. This suggests that the L1 needs to be inhibited when reading a code-switch to the L2, while inhibition needs to be released upon encountering a code-switch from L2 to L1. These results thus show that reading code-switched sentences engages a domain-general cognitive control mechanism external to the lexicon. Show less
It is common in life to not perform at the very top of our cognitive abilities. This phenomenon usually exacerbates when we are under high levels of stress and in people with psychiatric disorders.... Show moreIt is common in life to not perform at the very top of our cognitive abilities. This phenomenon usually exacerbates when we are under high levels of stress and in people with psychiatric disorders. Attention to negative information is considered to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of these disorders, especially anxiety-related disorders. Attention to negative information is not necessarily bad as it is an evolutionary function to protect us from dangerous situations. However, it can be destructive when it occurs constantly or when we need to focus on an important task. There are many situations where we have to perform difficult cognitive tasks and we worry about our performance or other people’s evaluation. Trait cognitive control, the ability to control attention and maintain a goal-relevant behaviour, is suggested to play a key role in the relationships between anxiety/stress, attention to negative information, and cognitive performance. Yet, the evidence is limited and further investigation is needed. In the current thesis, the relations between anxiety/stress, attention to emotional information, and cognitive performance will be investigated in a multidisciplinary approach, synthesizing clinical and cognitive factors and neurobiological underpinnings, while focusing on the role of trait cognitive control. Show less
Vijver, I. van de; Schie, H.T. van; Veling, H.; Dooren, R. van; Holland, R.W. 2018
The mere perception of high-calorie food items can trigger strong action tendencies towards these foods. Go/no-go training has successfully been applied to reduce such action tendencies. This study... Show moreThe mere perception of high-calorie food items can trigger strong action tendencies towards these foods. Go/no-go training has successfully been applied to reduce such action tendencies. This study investigated the electrophysiological mechanisms that may underlie the beneficial effects of go/no-go training on food consumption. EEG was measured while 19 participants passively observed pictures of food and non-food items, both before and after the go/no-go training. During training, 50% of the food and non-food items were consistently paired with a go/no-go response. After training, food items that had been associated with a response induced larger mu desynchronization at electrodes over sensorimotor regions, whereas food items that had been associated with withholding from responding induced larger increases in theta power at frontal midline electrodes. These findings suggest that the exerted cognitive control during go/no-go training with attractive food stimuli may become associated with these stimuli and signal the required level of control during subsequent encounters. Show less
Spruit, I.M.; Wilderjans, T.F.; Steenbergen, H. van 2018
Posterror slowing (PES) is the observation that people respond slower on trials subsequent to error commissions than on trials subsequent to correct responses. Different accounts have been proposed... Show morePosterror slowing (PES) is the observation that people respond slower on trials subsequent to error commissions than on trials subsequent to correct responses. Different accounts have been proposed to explain PES. On the one hand, it has been suggested that PES arises from an adaptive increase in cognitive control following error commission, thereby making people more cautious after making an error. On the other hand, PES has been attributed to an orienting response, indicating that attention is shifted toward the error. In the present study we tested these accounts by investigating the effects of error commission in both flanker and switch tasks on two task-evoked cardiac measures: the interbeat interval—that is, the interval between two consecutive R peaks—and the RZ interval—that is, the interval between the R peak and the Z point—as measured using electro- and impedance cardiography, respectively. These measures allowed us to measure cardiac deceleration (autonomic orienting) and cardiac effort mobilization, respectively. Our results revealed a shorter RZ interval during posterror trials, indicating increased effort mobilization following errors. In addition, we replicated earlier studies that have shown cardiac slowing during error trials. However, multilevel analyses showed that only the posterror decrease in RZ interval predicted posterror reaction times, whereas there was no positive relationship between error-related cardiac deceleration and posterror reaction times. Our results suggest that PES is related to increased cardiac effort, supporting a cognitive-control account of PES. Show less
Pupillometry research has experienced an enormous revival in the last two decades. Here we briefly review the surge of recent studies on task-evoked pupil dilation in the context of cognitive... Show morePupillometry research has experienced an enormous revival in the last two decades. Here we briefly review the surge of recent studies on task-evoked pupil dilation in the context of cognitive control tasks with the primary aim being to evaluate the feasibility of using pupil dilation as an index of effort exertion, rather than task demand or difficulty. Our review shows that across the three cognitive control domains of updating, switching, and inhibition, increases in task demands typically leads to increases in pupil dilation. Studies show a diverging pattern with respect to the relationship between pupil dilation and performance and we show how an effort account of pupil dilation can provide an explanation of these findings. We also discuss future directions to further corroborate this account in the context of recent theories on cognitive control and effort and their potential neurobiological substrates. Show less
The mechanisms that control thought and action vary with the fluctuating and dynamic nature of both internal physiological states and external environmental constraints. Psychoactive drugs have the... Show moreThe mechanisms that control thought and action vary with the fluctuating and dynamic nature of both internal physiological states and external environmental constraints. Psychoactive drugs have the ability to alter mood state or behavior by acting directly on these mechanisms. The alteration of cognitive processes is a core deficit in drug abuse that leads to a failure in regulating behavior. This thesis investigates whether the abuse of stimulant drugs like khat or cocaine somehow impact the processes that coordinate and combine information from different cognitive systems: cognitive control. In addition, we review the behavioral and physiological effects of the natural psychomotor stimulants khat and the cathinone-derived designer drug mephedrone. Show less
Self-control abilities are crucial for successful functioning in daily life. At the core of self-control lies the ability to intentionally inhibit one__s actions. Intentional inhibition differs... Show moreSelf-control abilities are crucial for successful functioning in daily life. At the core of self-control lies the ability to intentionally inhibit one__s actions. Intentional inhibition differs from externally driven inhibition in that it is driven by an internal thought process rather than an external stimulus that tells one to stop. The goal of this thesis was to examine the development of intentional inhibition and compare this with externally driven inhibition. In order to investigate the covert process of intentional inhibition, the research described in this thesis made use of neurobiological measures such as phasic heart rate changes and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In addition, to learn more about self-control in context, the final empirical chapter examined intentional and externally driven inhibition in the context of relevant and irrelevant emotions. Show less
The studies described in this thesis aimed to investigate how affect and motivation impact cognitive control, in terms of both behavior and brain activation. Six out of the eight empirical studies... Show moreThe studies described in this thesis aimed to investigate how affect and motivation impact cognitive control, in terms of both behavior and brain activation. Six out of the eight empirical studies found support for indirect effects on cognitive control, as measured with sequential trial-to-trial adaptations in cognitive control tasks. Only two studies resulted in evidence for a direct modulation of cognitive control (Chapter 4 and 9). Indirect effects occurred on trial-to-trial adaptation in cognitive control tasks involving a random presentation of compatible and incompatible trials. We found that conflict adaptation, the transient improvement of behavioral control after incompatible in comparison to compatible trials, was subject to affective regulation. In particular, we found that after incompatible trials, positive emotional states reduced and negative emotional states increased adaptation. These effects occurred for both short-term (Chapters 2 and 3) and long-term affect manipulations (Chapters 5, 6, and 7). Motivation and task difficulty also interacted with conflict adaptation (Chapter 8). The neuroimaging studies described in Chapter 3 and 6 demonstrate the role of fronto-striatal interactions in this affective regulation of cognitive control. Taken together, this thesis demonstrates the role that positive and negative emotions play in the adaptation of behavior and mental effort. Show less
The studies of this thesis provide empirical evidence that creativity is not a homogeneous concept; rather it reflects the interplay of separate, dissociable processes such as convergent and... Show moreThe studies of this thesis provide empirical evidence that creativity is not a homogeneous concept; rather it reflects the interplay of separate, dissociable processes such as convergent and divergent thinking (e.g., Guilford, 1967). The cognitive mechanism of these two processes is different, but not opposite as assumed by Eysenck (1993). The results suggest that divergent and convergent thinking are both related to dopamine, but to different degrees and in different ways. It was observed that eye-blink rate was predicting creative performance, which provides strong support for approaches that relate creativity to dopamine (Ashby et al., 1999). However, the obtained dissociation calls for a more differentiated approach that distinguishes between convergent and divergent processes and allows for tapping different creativity-dopamine functions. The findings of this thesis also suggest that convergent thinking induces a control state that emphasizes the top-down biasing of creative solutions and/or local competition between them, whereas divergent thinking is associated with reduced top-down control and/or local competition. Taken together, results of four studies presented in this thesis show that convergent and divergent thinking are not necessarily opposite but they are not the same either, and optimal performance in different types of creativity tasks requires different conditions. Show less
