A division of labor in perception-action integration via hierarchical alpha-beta to beta-gamma coupling and local catecholaminergic control

Abstract The flexible handling of perception-action representations is crucial for cognitive control such as response inhibition, which depends on the catecholaminergic system. However, how cross-frequency interactions support perception-action integration during response inhibition, and how they are modulated by catecholamines, remains unknown. In this placebo-controlled study employing methylphenidate, using electroencephalography (EEG) and a modified Go/Nogo task, we investigate phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) between theta (θ), alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) oscillations. We demonstrate that these interactions are hierarchically organized, with early α-β PAC supporting perceptual-motor representation, and subsequent β-γ coupling refining downstream processing. Transfer entropy analyses indicate a feed-forward α-β to β-γ influence, suggesting that slower oscillations gate updates in faster bands. Crucially, methylphenidate selectively enhances late β-γ coupling, supporting a functional specialization where α-β rhythms enable access and reconfiguration, while β-γ rhythms mediate local control. These findings suggest a temporally structured mechanism where the catecholaminergic system modulates flexible perception-action integration during response inhibition.