Frontal midline theta reduction during attentional reconfiguration links local cortical dynamics to network-level connectivity changes

First published online September 24, 2026. The study linked brief frontal theta reductions with different patterns of alpha suppression and longer-range theta coordination during attention switching. It was not a treatment or neurofeedback trial.

Ohgomori T, Shiraiwa K, Naito Y, Ishii R, Takeda M.
Brain Research Bulletin · Publication date: 2026-09-24
Added to site: 2026-10-17
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2026.112139

First published online September 24, 2026; collected in the October 15, 2026 issue feed. Historical addition.

Modalities

EEG, eLORETA, Source-level EEG

Clinical focus

Attentional reconfiguration, Frontal midline theta, Functional connectivity

Population

Healthy young adults

Sample

36 participants

Intervention / method

Participants performed color- and position-switching versions of a 2-back task during 19-channel EEG. Spectral power, exact-LORETA current source density and lagged linear functional connectivity were analyzed.

Comparator

Within-participant comparison of attentional switching patterns and task conditions

Clinician summary

Both switching patterns showed transient frontal-midline theta reduction, while condition-specific parietal or occipital alpha suppression accompanied increased long-range theta coordination. The findings connect local source dynamics with broader network reconfiguration during cognitive control.

How to interpret the findings

Small healthy-volunteer study, 19-channel spatial sampling, task-specific analyses and no intervention, patient outcome or prospective biomarker validation. Source-localization and connectivity changes do not establish clinical benefit.

Equipment and disclosures

The abstract reports 19-channel EEG and exact LORETA analysis but does not identify a verified acquisition-system manufacturer. No BrainMaster attribution.

The authors declared no competing interests. Funding and adverse-event reporting were not available in the checked abstract. No indexed correction, retraction or concern notice appeared in the retained PubMed or Crossref records; this is a bounded check. AI-assisted review.

Related evidence

Compare findings from the same clinical area, including mixed results.

• Intrinsic functional architecture predicts remote motor cortical excitability changes induced by intermittent theta-burst stimulation · Positive with limitations
• Brain state-contingent stimulation to probe task-dependent functional networks. · Positive with limitations
• Neuromodulation effects of HF-rTMS and rPMS on stroke patients: an fNIRS study. · Positive with limitations
• Temporal-Targeted Accelerated 40 Hz tACS Enhances Cognitive Function and Network Integration in Alzheimer's Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. · Positive with limitations
• Cerebellar Theta-Burst Stimulation Induces Distinct Functional Connectivity Patterns in Post-Stroke Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. · Mixed
• Double-blind, randomized clinical trial targeting theta oscillations with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for cognitive control in male methamphetamine patients. · Positive with limitations
• Machine learning-based source-level EEG functional network biomarkers of antidepressant treatment response in major depressive disorder. · Positive with limitations
• Infra-low-frequency neurofeedback alters EEG network efficiency: exploratory evidence from healthy volunteers. · Positive with limitations