We delve into the human brain's remarkable capacity for adaptability and sustained cognitive functioning, phenomena traditionally encompassed as executive functions or cognitive control. The neural underpinnings that enable the seamless navigation between transient thoughts without detracting from overarching goals form the core of our article. We discuss the concept of {"}metacontrol,{"} which builds upon conventional cognitive control theories by proposing a dynamic balancing of processes depending on situational demands. We critically discuss the role of oscillatory processes in electrophysiological activity at different scales and the importance of desynchronization and partial phase synchronization in supporting adaptive behavior including neural noise accounts, transient dynamics, phase-based measures (coordination dynamics) and neural mass modelling. The cognitive processes focused and neurophysiological avenues outlined are integral to understanding diverse psychiatric disorders thereby contributing to a more nuanced comprehension of cognitive control and its neural bases in both health and disease.
Van Schependom, J, Baetens, K, Nagels, G, Olmi, S & Beste, C 2024, 'Neurophysiological avenues to better conceptualizing adaptive cognition', Communications Biology, vol. 7, no. 1, 626. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06331-1
Van Schependom, J., Baetens, K., Nagels, G., Olmi, S., & Beste, C. (2024). Neurophysiological avenues to better conceptualizing adaptive cognition. Communications Biology, 7(1), Article 626. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06331-1
@article{2d0a6ee7b6504a929048c10e1eb32ebb,
title = "Neurophysiological avenues to better conceptualizing adaptive cognition",
abstract = "We delve into the human brain's remarkable capacity for adaptability and sustained cognitive functioning, phenomena traditionally encompassed as executive functions or cognitive control. The neural underpinnings that enable the seamless navigation between transient thoughts without detracting from overarching goals form the core of our article. We discuss the concept of {"}metacontrol,{"} which builds upon conventional cognitive control theories by proposing a dynamic balancing of processes depending on situational demands. We critically discuss the role of oscillatory processes in electrophysiological activity at different scales and the importance of desynchronization and partial phase synchronization in supporting adaptive behavior including neural noise accounts, transient dynamics, phase-based measures (coordination dynamics) and neural mass modelling. The cognitive processes focused and neurophysiological avenues outlined are integral to understanding diverse psychiatric disorders thereby contributing to a more nuanced comprehension of cognitive control and its neural bases in both health and disease.",
author = "\{Van Schependom\}, Jeroen and Kris Baetens and Guy Nagels and Simona Olmi and Christian Beste",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by Grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) FOR 2698, SFB 940, by a Grant from the Else Kr\textbackslash{}u00F6ner Fresenius Stiftung (2020\_EKSE.105), and the Bundesministerium f\textbackslash{}u00FCr Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) 01GL2405B to CB, and FWO Fundamenteel Klinisch Mandaat (1805620\textbackslash{}u2009N) to GN. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",
year = "2024",
month = may,
day = "24",
doi = "10.1038/s42003-024-06331-1",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
journal = "Communications Biology",
issn = "2399-3642",
publisher = "Nature Research Publishing",
number = "1",
}