Increased frontal phase-locking of event-related alpha oscillations during task processing

Recent findings substantiate the view that electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythm (7-13 Hz) is functionally involved in cognitive stimulus processing. Our previous results have shown that enhanced alpha responses to auditory task stimuli can be well synchronized with stimulus until 800-1000 ms. The present study analyzed the effect of perceptual uncertainty and difficulty in decision making on event-related alpha oscillations in single auditory event-related brain potentials (ERPs). EEG was recorded from Fz, Ct and Pt electrodes in 10 subjects participating in two experimental sessions, in which auditory stimuli with equal physical parameters were presented under passive and task instructions. Separate measurements of single alpha response amplitude and phase-locking were performed and statistically analyzed for consecutive time windows in the post-stimulus epoch. Major results show that, during the cognitive task, the phase-locking of alpha oscillations at the frontal site is significantly increased in the time window of 500-1000 ms after stimulation. Thus, the involvement of enhanced and synchronized frontal alpha activity in higher brain processes is strongly emphasized. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.