%0 Journal Article
%T Stimulus-related modulation in the 1/f spectral slope suggests an impaired inhibition during a working memory task in people with multiple sclerosis.
%A Akbarian F
%A Rossi C
%A Costers L
%A D'hooghe MB
%A D'haeseleer M
%A Nagels G
%A Van Schependom J
%J Mult Scler
%V 30
%N 8
%D 2024 Jul 20
%M 38767227
%F 5.855
%R 10.1177/13524585241253777
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in multiple sclerosis (MS) may lead to cognitive impairment, such as impaired working memory. The 1/f slope of electroencephalography/magnetoencephalography (EEG/MEG) power spectra is shown to be a non-invasive proxy of excitation/inhibition balance. A flatter slope is associated with higher excitation/lower inhibition.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>To assess the 1/f slope modulation induced by stimulus and its association with behavioral and cognitive measures.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We analyzed MEG recordings of 38 healthy controls (HCs) and 79 people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) while performing an n-back task including target and distractor stimuli. Target trials require an answer, while distractor trials do not. We computed the 1/f spectral slope through the fitting oscillations and one over f (FOOOF) algorithm within the time windows 1 second before and after each stimulus presentation.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We observed a flatter 1/f slope after distractor stimuli in pwMS compared to HCs. The 1/f slope was significantly steeper after stimulus for both HCs and pwMS and was significantly correlated with reaction times. This modulation in 1/f slope was significantly correlated with visuospatial memory assessed by the BVMT-R test.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Our results suggest possible inhibitory mechanism deficits in pwMS during a working memory task.