Advisor(s)
Nicole Bentley
Committee Member(s)
Harrison Walker
Kareem Zaghloul
Kristina Visscher
Zachary Irwin
School
School of Engineering
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Engineering
Date of Award
1-7-2025
Abstract
Cognitive control enables flexible, goal-directed behavior by dynamically adjusting our actions in response to changing task demands. This dissertation investigates the neural mechanisms underlying proactive and reactive cognitive control, particularly focusing on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) during tasks that require response inhibition and conflict processing. Using intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings from human participants, this research examines the distinct roles of oscillatory activity in these regions in both short-term reactive adjustments and long-term proactive control strategies. Chapter 2 explores the role of low-frequency oscillations in the mid-rostral dlPFC during motor inhibition, revealing that these oscillations are crucial for inhibiting prepotent responses. Chapter 3 extends this investigation to the context of conflict processing in a color-word Stroop task, highlighting the role of theta oscillations in dACC and dlPFC synchronization during conflict. This thesis also investigates the hierarchical organization of control processes in the prefrontal cortex, demonstrating the contributions of these regions to both anticipatory and stimulus-driven control. Collectively, these findings advance our understanding of how the brain implements cognitive control across varying timescales, providing insights into the dynamic interactions between key cortical regions in supporting adaptive behavior.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Khan, Anas, "Neural Mechanisms Of Proactive And Reactive Cognitive Control In Humans" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7264.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7264
