Silberstein Richard B
Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, John Street, Hawthorne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3122, Australia.
Prog Brain Res. 2006;159:63-76. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(06)59005-3.
Changes in long-range synchronization are considered a key mechanism for the integration and segregation of cortical regions mediating cognitive processes. Such synchronization or functional connectivity is reflected in human electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence and in steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) coherence. In this chapter, the relationship between cognitive proficiency in the mental rotation task (MRT) and functional connectivity reflected in SSVEP event-related partial coherence is described. The capacity to estimate changing levels of functional connectivity with a relatively high temporal resolution makes it possible to examine the relationship between functional connectivity at various points in time and aptitude. In the current study, the relationships between functional connectivity and two mental rotation aptitude measures, mental rotation speed and mental rotation accuracy, are described. We observed that functional connectivity was correlated with proficiency and that this correlation was both positive and negative for various regions and points in time. It is suggested that cognitive aptitude is related to the brain's capacity to enhance functional connectivity or communication between cortical regions that are relevant to the cognitive demands while attenuating irrelevant communication. This capacity is termed functional connectivity sculpting, and it is proposed that functional connectivity sculpting may constitute an important functional component of the neural substrate of learning and aptitude.
长程同步的变化被认为是介导认知过程的皮质区域整合与分离的关键机制。这种同步或功能连接反映在人类脑电图(EEG)相干性以及稳态视觉诱发电位(SSVEP)相干性中。在本章中,描述了心理旋转任务(MRT)中的认知熟练度与SSVEP事件相关偏相干所反映的功能连接之间的关系。以相对较高的时间分辨率估计功能连接变化水平的能力,使得研究不同时间点的功能连接与能力之间的关系成为可能。在当前研究中,描述了功能连接与两种心理旋转能力指标(心理旋转速度和心理旋转准确性)之间的关系。我们观察到功能连接与熟练度相关,并且这种相关性在不同区域和时间点既有正相关也有负相关。有人提出,认知能力与大脑增强与认知需求相关的皮质区域之间的功能连接或通信,同时减弱无关通信的能力有关。这种能力被称为功能连接塑造,并且有人提出功能连接塑造可能构成学习和能力神经基础的一个重要功能组成部分。