Frontal theta activity in humans increases with memory load in a working memory task

Ole Jensen; Claudia D. Tesche

doi:10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01975.x

journal article Apr 01, 2002

Frontal theta activity in humans increases with memory load in a working memory task

Ole Jensen

Claudia D. Tesche

European Journal of Neuroscience Vol. 15 No. 8 pp. 1395-1399 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01975.x

Abstract

AbstractRecent theoretical work has suggested that brain oscillations in the theta band are involved in active maintenance and recall of working memory representations. To test this theoretical framework we recorded neuromagnetic responses from 10 subjects performing the Sternberg task. Subjects were required to retain a list of 1, 3, 5 or 7 visually presented digits during a 3‐s retention period. During the retention period we observed ongoing frontal theta activity in the 7–8.5‐Hz band recorded by sensors over frontal brain areas. The activity in the theta band increased parametrically with the number of items retained in working memory. A time–frequency analysis revealed that the task‐dependent theta was present during the retention period and during memory scanning. Following the memory task the theta activity was reduced. These results suggest that theta oscillations generated in frontal brain regions play an active role in memory maintenance.

Topics

No keywords indexed for this article. Browse by subject →

References

35

[1]

10.1088/0031-8949/1993/t49a/033

[2]

10.1162/089892902317205339

[3]

10.1016/s0304-3940(99)00679-5

[4]

10.1016/0013-4694(52)90010-2

[5]

10.1016/0013-4694(93)90010-s

[6]

10.1097/00001756-199703030-00044

[7]

10.1038/386604a0

[8]

10.1023/a:1022206622348

[9]

10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00401-9

[10]

10.1093/cercor/7.4.374

[11]

10.1046/j.1440-1819.1998.00452.x

[12]

10.1016/0304-3940(94)90377-8

[13]

10.1007/bf01184793

[14]

10.1097/00001756-199903170-00003

[15]

Jensen O. Gelfand J. Kounious J.&Lisman J.R.(2002)Oscillations in the alpha band (9–12 Hz) increase with memory load in a short‐term memory task.Cereb. Cortex in press. 10.1093/cercor/12.8.877

[16]

10.1101/lm.3.2-3.243

[17]

10.1523/jneurosci.18-24-10688.1998

[18]

10.1006/nimg.2001.1020

[19]

10.1016/s0959-4388(01)00278-1

[20]

10.1038/21645

[21]

EEG alpha and theta oscillations reflect cognitive and memory performance: a review and analysis

Wolfgang Klimesch

Brain Research Reviews 10.1016/s0165-0173(98)00056-3

[22]

10.1126/science.7878473

[23]

10.1016/0013-4694(80)90229-1

[24]

10.1016/0013-4694(51)90036-3

[25]

10.1007/s002210000398

[26]

10.1523/jneurosci.18-22-09429.1998

[27]

Raghavachari S. "Gating of human theta oscillations by a working memory task" J. Neurosci. (2001) 10.1523/jneurosci.21-09-03175.2001

[28]

10.1126/science.288.5471.1656

[29]

10.1073/pnas.95.12.7092

[30]

10.1016/0165-0270(94)00111-s

[31]

10.1126/science.283.5408.1657

[32]

10.1126/science.153.3736.652

[33]

10.1177/155005949702800109

[34]

10.1523/jneurosci.16-13-04240.1996

[35]

10.1073/pnas.97.2.919

Cited By

1,153

Modulation of midfrontal theta and posterior alpha during the construction and elaboration of autobiographical memories in individuals with highly superior autobiographical memory

Tiziana Pedale, Rob Van der Lubbe · 2026

Neuropsychologia

Student teacher inter brain coupling forecast cross semester academic fluctuation in real world classrooms

Xiaomeng Xu, Dan Zhang · 2026

npj Science of Learning

Prefrontal–limbic dysconnectivity tracks emotion regulation deficits in depressed adolescents with social anxiety symptom severity

Nan Qiu, Shaoqing Li · 2026

Journal of Affective Disorders

Targeting Neural Oscillations for Cognitive Enhancement in Alzheimer’s Disease

Federica Palacino, Paolo Manganotti · 2025

Medicina

Exploring human spatial orientation and navigation with electroencephalography: a scoping review

Michael McLaren-Gradinaru, Ford Burles · 2025

Spatial Cognition & Computation

Well-Being and Sustainable Utilization of Forest Environment with Diverse Vegetation Distributions

Yu Gao, Yingna Zhang · 2024

Sustainability

Cognitive load during driving: EEG microstate metrics are sensitive to task difficulty and predict safety outcomes

Siwei Ma, Xuedong Yan · 2024

Accident Analysis & Prevention

Neural Signatures of Competition between Voluntary and Involuntary Influences over the Focus of Attention in Visual Working Memory

Yun Ding, Bradley R. Postle · 2024

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Measurement of Frontal Midline Theta Oscillations using OPM-MEG

Natalie Rhodes, Molly Rea · 2023

NeuroImage

Altered brain network topology during speech tracking in developmental dyslexia

Manli Zhang, Lars Riecke · 2022

NeuroImage

Age-related positivity effect of emotional attention: time and frequency domain

Haining Liu, Xianling Dong · 2022

Psychology, Health & Medicine

Rhythms of human attention and memory: An embedded process perspective

Moritz Köster, Thomas Gruber · 2022

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Exact neural mass model for synaptic-based working memory

Halgurd Taher, Alessandro Torcini · 2020

PLOS Computational Biology

Processing of natural scenery is associated with lower attentional and cognitive load compared with urban ones

Simone Grassini, Antti Revonsuo · 2019

Journal of Environmental Psychology

Theta and Alpha Oscillations Are Traveling Waves in the Human Neocortex

Honghui Zhang, Andrew J. Watrous · 2018

Neuron

Theta and Alpha Oscillation Impairments in Autistic Spectrum Disorder Reflect Working Memory Deficit

Josefina Larrain-Valenzuela, Francisco Zamorano · 2017

Scientific Reports

Supramodal Theta, Gamma, and Sustained Fields Predict Modality-specific Modulations of Alpha and Beta Oscillations during Visual and Tactile Working Memory

Freek van Ede, Ole Jensen · 2017

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

In Defence of High-Speed Memory Scanning

Saul Sternberg · 2016

Quarterly Journal of Experimental P...

Gamma and Beta Bursts Underlie Working Memory

Mikael Lundqvist, Jonas Rose · 2016

Neuron

Stimulus Load and Oscillatory Activity in Higher Cortex

Simon Kornblith, Timothy J. Buschman · 2015

Cerebral Cortex

Metrics

1,153

Citations

35

References

Details

Published: Apr 01, 2002
Vol/Issue: 15(8)
Pages: 1395-1399
License: View

Authors

O

Ole Jensen

School of Psychology Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Hills Building Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom

C

Claudia D. Tesche

Cite This Article

Ole Jensen, Claudia D. Tesche (2002). Frontal theta activity in humans increases with memory load in a working memory task. European Journal of Neuroscience, 15(8), 1395-1399. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1460-9568.2002.01975.x

Frontal theta activity in humans increases with memory load in a working memory task

You May Also Like