%0 Journal Article
%T Inhibitory Control and Brain-Heart Interaction: An HRV-EEG Study.
%A Cortese MD
%A Vatrano M
%A Tonin P
%A Cerasa A
%A Riganello F
%J Brain Sci
%V 12
%N 6
%D Jun 2022 5
%M 35741625
%F 3.333
%R 10.3390/brainsci12060740
%X BACKGROUND: Motor inhibition is a complex cognitive function regulated by specific brain regions and influenced by the activity of the Central Autonomic Network. We investigate the two-way Brain-Heart interaction during a Go/NoGo task. Spectral EEG ϑ, α powerbands, and HRV parameters (Complexity Index (CI), Low Frequency (LF) and High Frequency (HF) powers) were recorded.
METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers were enrolled. We used a modified version of the classical Go/NoGo task, based on Rule Shift Cards, characterized by a baseline and two different tasks of different complexity. The participants were divided into subjects with Good (GP) and Poor (PP) performances.
RESULTS: In the baseline, CI was negatively correlated with α/ϑ. In task 1, the CI was negatively correlated with the errors and α/ϑ, while the errors were positively correlated with α/ϑ. In task 2, CI was negatively correlated with the Reaction Time and positively with α, and the errors were negatively correlated with the Reaction Time and positively correlated with α/ϑ. The GP group showed, at baseline, a negative correlation between CI and α/ϑ.
CONCLUSIONS: We provide a new combined Brain-Heart model underlying inhibitory control abilities. The results are consistent with the complementary role of α and ϑ oscillations in cognitive control.