Key result
Emotion processing occurred first in the theta band (144-372 ms), followed by cognitive processing in the theta band (332-608 ms), while emotional and cognitive processes were integrated in the alpha band (268-800 ms).
Why the study?
Despite progress regarding the spatial architecture of emotion-cognition integration, the time course of these processes remained unclear.
Does cognitive task demand and emotional valence affect EEG oscillatory dynamics (theta and alpha power) in healthy adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=61)
No
Does cognitive task demand and emotional valence affect EEG oscillatory dynamics (theta and alpha power) in healthy adults?
Emotion and cognition processing occur sequentially in the theta band, while their integration is subserved by the alpha band, revealing the temporal dynamics of emotion-cognition integration.
Should not yet change clinical practice; leaves open how these sequential neural oscillatory dynamics might.
A fundamental aspect of human mental life is the seamless ability for integration of emotion and cognition. Despite progress regarding the spatial architecture of Emotion-Cognition Integration (ECI), the time course of ECI processes remains unclear. To examine the temporal organization of brain oscillations underpinning ECI, we simultaneously manipulated emotional valence of stimuli and cognitive task demand while recording electrophysiological responses of 61 participants. They were asked to complete tasks with low (body-part judgement) and high (laterality judgement) cognitive demand while viewing other people photographs that varied on dimensions of laterality (left or right), body-part (hand or foot), and emotional valence (pain or no pain). We found increased reaction times and error rates in pain versus no pain during laterality judgement relative to body-part judgement, suggesting reciprocal inhibition between emotion and cognition. EEG results showed that 1) emotion processing (valence) occurred first in the theta band from 144 to 372 ms; 2) cognitive processing (laterality) took place in the theta band from 332 to 608 ms; 3) emotional and cognitive processes were integrated in the alpha band from 268 ms and lasted to 800 ms. These findings reveal oscillatory dynamics of the processing and integration of emotion and cognition, providing further insights into the underlying neurophysiology. This may ultimately contribute to our understanding of ECI processing in psychopathology.
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Wang et al. (2022) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adults (n=61). High cognitive demand (laterality judgement) with emotional stimuli (pain) vs. Low cognitive demand (body-part judgement) with neutral stimuli (no pain) was evaluated on Interaction between Emotion and Cognition in alpha power (268-800 ms) (F(1,60) = 6.036, p=0.017). Emotion processing occurred first in the theta band (144-372 ms), followed by cognitive processing in the theta band (332-608 ms), while emotional and cognitive processes were integrated in the alpha band (268-800 ms).
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