Trial-by-trial analysis of β-bursting during response inhibition revealed distinct spatiotemporal patterns and a functional link to muscle-level suppression absent in averaged β-power data.
Observational (n=20)
β-bursting, analyzed via LMM-TFCE, provides a sensitive, trial-level marker of inhibitory control and cortical suppression of motor output in healthy older adults.
Abstract Inhibitory control is essential for adaptive behaviour and declines with age, yet the underlying neural dynamics remain poorly understood. The β-rhythm (15–29 Hz) is thought to reflect inhibitory signalling within the fronto-basal ganglia network. Recent evidence suggests that transient β-bursts support inhibitory performance, often masked by conventional analyses of trial-averaged β-power. To reveal the link between trial-by-trial β-bursting and inhibition, we applied a recently developed analysis framework combining linear mixed-effects modelling (LMM) with threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) during response inhibition and initiation in older adults. Twenty healthy older adults performed a bimanual anticipatory response inhibition task, while electroencephalography and electromyography were recorded to capture β-activity (β-burst rate/duration; averaged β-power) and muscle bursting dynamics, respectively. Our analysis revealed distinct β-bursting signatures absent in averaged β-power data. Following the stop-signal, parieto-occipital β-bursting presented before a temporal cascade from attentional to inhibitory processes. In addition to expected right fronto-central and bilateral sensorimotor activity, we observed left prefrontal β-bursting, indexing broader inhibitory network engagement during bimanual response inhibition. Moreover, we established a functional link between right sensorimotor β-bursting and muscle bursts during stopping, indicating rapid cortical suppression of initiated motor output. These results help clarify the mechanistic role of β-oscillations and underscore the sensitivity of β-bursting to both the timing and context of inhibitory demands in healthy older adults. Future research will help establish the potential of β-bursting, combined with LMM-TFCE analysis, as a clinically relevant marker of impulse control dysfunction. Significance statement Our novel application of an advanced statistical framework revealed distinct spatiotemporal β-bursting patterns during response inhibition and response withholding in healthy older adults, which were not captured by averaged β-power. Identifying a further link between cortical β-bursting and muscle-level suppression, the findings offer a mechanistic account of how the brain halts action in real time in older adults. This work provides a sensitive, trial-level framework for studying β-bursting measures in general, as well as inhibitory control across aging and clinical populations.
Warden et al. (Wed,) conducted a observational in Healthy older adults (n=20). Bimanual anticipatory response inhibition task with EEG and EMG was evaluated on Spatiotemporal β-bursting patterns and muscle bursting dynamics. Trial-by-trial analysis of β-bursting during response inhibition revealed distinct spatiotemporal patterns and a functional link to muscle-level suppression absent in averaged β-power data.