School of Electronic Engineering, Xidian University, Xi'an 710071, China; School of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China.
School of Electronic Engineering, Xidian University, Xi'an 710071, China.
Neuroscience. 2024 May 14;546:41-52. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2024.03.004. Epub 2024 Mar 26.
Task switching refers to a set of cognitive processes involved in shifting attention from one task to another. In recent years, researchers have applied transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to investigate the causal relationship between the parietal cortex and task switching. However, results from available studies are highly inconsistent. This may be due to the unclear understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, the current study utilized event-related potential (ERP) analysis to investigate the modulatory effects of tDCS on task-switching processes. Twenty-four subjects were recruited to perform both predictable and unpredictable parity/magnitude tasks under anodal (RA) and sham conditions. The results showed no significant changes in behavioral performance. However, marked tDCS-induced ERP changes were observed. Specifically, for the predictable task switching, compared with the sham condition, the target-N2 component occurred significantly earlier for switch trials than repeat trials under the RA condition in males, while no difference was found in females. For unpredictable task switching, under the sham condition, the P2 peak was significantly larger for switch trials compared with repeat trials, whereas this difference was not observed under the RA condition. These results indicated the causal relationship between the right parietal cortex and exogenous adjustment processes involved in task switching. Moreover, anodal tDCS over the right parietal cortex may lead to the manifestation of gender differences.
任务转换是指涉及从一项任务切换到另一项任务的一组认知过程。近年来，研究人员已经应用经颅直流电刺激（tDCS）来研究顶叶皮层与任务切换之间的因果关系。然而，现有研究的结果高度不一致。这可能是由于对潜在机制的理解不明确。因此，本研究利用事件相关电位（ERP）分析来研究 tDCS 对任务切换过程的调节作用。招募了 24 名受试者，在阳极（RA）和假刺激条件下执行可预测和不可预测的奇偶/大小任务。结果显示行为表现没有显著变化。然而，观察到明显的 tDCS 诱导的 ERP 变化。具体来说，对于可预测的任务转换，与假刺激条件相比，RA 条件下，男性的转换试次比重复试次的目标-N2 成分出现得更早，而女性则没有差异。对于不可预测的任务转换，在假刺激条件下，与重复试次相比，转换试次的 P2 峰明显更大，而在 RA 条件下则没有观察到这种差异。这些结果表明了右顶叶皮层与任务切换中涉及的外源性调节过程之间的因果关系。此外，右顶叶皮层的阳极 tDCS 可能导致性别差异的表现。
