Abnormally Enhanced Midfrontal Theta Activity During Response Monitoring in Youths With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Event-related potential in juvenile obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of error- and correct-related negativity

The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative wave observed in electroencephalography (EEG) following errors in certain neurocognitive tasks, such as the Flanker task. This wave has been found to be heightened in individuals suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in several adult studies and meta-analyses. Therefore, the ERN may serve as a relevant neurobiological marker for OCD. However, the ERN exhibits some developmental aspects. Considering this, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies examining the ERN in children and adolescents with OCD. We identified nine studies that compared ERN amplitude during a Flanker task between youth with OCD and matched controls. Our meta-analysis revealed that ERN amplitude was elevated in juvenile OCD patients compared to controls. We did not find that age, task accuracy, or sex moderated the difference between patients and controls. In conclusion, our meta-analysis confirmed that the ERN observed during the Flanker task may be a relevant biological marker for OCD in children and adolescents.

The relationship between EEG theta/beta ratio and response inhibition in autogenous and reactive obsessions

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a diverse mental health condition that leads to substantial impairment and currently has limited success in treatment outcomes. The aim of the current study was to examine the ratio of electroencephalographic (EEG) band power within the Autogenous-Reactive (AO-RO) taxonomy of OCD during inhibition to improve our understanding of the disorder. Inhibition was measured broadly using interference and action cancellation tasks while EEG data was recorded from 61 undergraduate students. EEG band power was computed from frontal-central electrodes Fz and Cz for theta and beta frequency bands. Event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs) were used to measure EEG band power during inhibitory task performance to calculate the Theta/Beta ratio (TBR). The relationship between AO-RO severity and the TBR at each electrode was statistically analyzed using two hierarchical linear regressions. TBR at electrode Fz during the stop-signal task was the only significant EEG predictor of AO severity. TBR predictors were not significant for RO severity. These results suggest that AO is more strongly associated with a neural correlate of inefficient and excessive cognitive and attentional control than RO. Further research is required for determining the utility of TBR for characterizing the heterogeneity within OCD.

Characterizing autogenous and reactive obsessions using theta and beta oscillations under inhibitory demands

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a heterogenous mental health condition that causes significant impairment and is often associated with poor treatment outcomes. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillatory power during inhibitory task performance and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS). OCS was assessed using the well-established the Autogenous-Reactive Obsession (AO-RO) model as the main framework to address its heterogeneous clinical manifestations. The severity of AO and RO, as primary outcome measures, was indexed using the Revised Obsessive Intrusion Inventory (ROII). Cognitive- and behavioral inhibition (CI; BI) tasks were administered while EEG data were recorded from an analogue sample of 63 undergraduate students with OCS assessed along a dimensional spectrum. Oscillatory power was computed from frontal-central electrodes Fz and Cz for theta and beta frequency bands, using event-related spectral perturbations (ERSPs), which were entered into two hierarchical linear regression models to predict the severity of AO and RO, respectively, while controlling for covariates (i.e., sex, age, ethnicity, anxiety, depression, worry, and behavioral task performance). Theta power during CI (Theta-CI) was the only significant EEG predictor of AO severity, whereas beta power during BI (Beta-BI) was the only significant EEG predictor of RO severity. These results suggest that AO severity is primarily associated with an overactive neural correlate of cognitive control, whereas RO severity is primarily associated with an overactive neural correlate of behavioral cancellation. These results agree with previous literature suggesting overactive band power representing the dysfunction within OCD. Theta-CI and Beta-BI may serve as potential biomarkers differentially associated with AO and RO among undiagnosed individuals displaying varying levels of OCS, which warrants further investigation.

Induced error-related theta activity, not error-related negativity, predicts task performance as well as anxiety and worry during real-life stress in a youth sample

OBJECTIVE

The study examined differences between induced error-related theta activity (4-7 Hz) and error-related negativity (ERN) in youth and their unique associations with task performance as well as anxiety and worry during real-life stress a year later. We hypothesized that induced theta, but not the ERN, would predict task performance. We also hypothesized that induced theta would predict less anxiety and worries during situational stress a year later, while ERN would predict more anxiety and worries.

METHOD

Participants included 76 children aged 8-13 years who completed a flanker task while electroencephalogram (EEG) and behavioral data (t0 ) were collected. Approximately 1 year later (t1 ), during the first COVID-19 lockdown, 40 families from the original sample completed a battery of online questionnaires to assess the children's stress-related symptoms (anxiety, negative emotions and worries). We employed an analytical method that allowed us to differentiate between induced error-related theta and the evoked ERN.

RESULTS

Induced error-related theta, but not ERN, was associated with behavioral changes during the task, such as post-error speeding. Furthermore, induced error-related theta, but not ERN, was prospectively associated with less anxiety, worries, and fewer negative emotions a year later during COVID-19 lockdown.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest ERN and error-related theta are dissociable processes reflecting error monitoring in youth. Specifically, induced error-related theta is more robustly associated with changes in behavior in the laboratory and with less anxiety and worries in real-world settings.

Beyond single paradigms, pipelines, and outcomes: Embracing multiverse analyses in psychophysiology

Psychophysiological research is an inherently complex undertaking due to the nature of the data, and its analysis is characterized by many decision points that shape the final dataset and a study's findings. These decisions create a "multiverse" of possible outcomes, and each decision from study conceptualization to statistical analysis can lead to different results and interpretations. This review describes the concept of multiverse analyses, a methodological approach designed to understand the impact of different decisions on the robustness of a study's findings and interpretation. The emphasis is on transparently showcasing different reasonable approaches for constructing a final dataset and on highlighting the influence of various decision points, from experimental design to data processing and outcome selection. For example, the choice of an experimental task can significantly impact event-related brain potential (ERP) scores or skin conductance responses (SCRs), and different tasks might elicit unique variances in each measure. This review underscores the importance of transparently embracing the flexibility inherent in psychophysiological research and the potential consequences of not understanding the fragility or robustness of experimental findings. By navigating the intricate terrain of the psychophysiological multiverse, this review serves as an introduction, helping researchers to make informed decisions, improve the collective understanding of psychophysiological findings, and push the boundaries of the field.

Theta and Gamma Activity Differences in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder: Insights from Resting-State EEG with eLORETA

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and panic disorder (PD) are debilitating psychiatric conditions, yet their underlying neurobiological differences remain underexplored. This study aimed to directly compare resting-state EEGs in patients with OCD and PD, without a healthy control group, using the eLORETA method. Methods: We collected retrospective EEG data from 24 OCD patients and 22 PD patients who were hospitalized due to significant impairment in daily life functions. eLORETA was used to analyze the EEG data. Results: Heightened theta activity was observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of OCD patients compared to PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = -2.168, p < 0.05). Conversely, higher gamma activity was found in the medial frontal gyrus (MFG) and paracentral lobule (PCL) in PD patients (PD vs. OCD, t = 2.173, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings highlight neurobiological differences between OCD and PD patients. Specifically, the increased theta activity in the ACC for OCD patients and elevated gamma activity in the MFG and PCL for PD patients offer preliminary insights into the neural mechanisms of these disorders. Further studies are essential to validate these results and delve deeper into the neural underpinnings.