Dynamic cognitive inhibition is a concept that measures the changes of inhibition over time in the context of frustration. It is the brain's ability to hit pause on intrusive thoughts, impulses, or actions that are distractors, thereby redirecting focus on the task at hand. This mechanism is a key aspect of executive function and involves the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which facilitates the primary functions of decision-making, problem-solving, attention and focus, social behavior, emotional regulation, and ultimately executive function. Regions within the PFC are responsible for the aforementioned functions, with the PFC acting as the coordinating hub. Research on this topic has found that the induction of frustration was far more successful for individuals with mental health illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and/or ADHD. In contrast, the induction of frustration on individuals with brain injuries, such as concussions and migraines, was significantly less successful. This research suggests that mental health conditions amplify emotional reactivity, while brain injuries might blunt emotional responses. The majority of EEG research participants are of White/European descent, leading to racial disparities and bias in both mental and maternal health, thus current knowledge is only largely applicable to individuals of a certain descent.
The article titled Dynamic cognitive inhibition in the context of frustration: Increasing racial representation of adolescent athletes using community-engaged EEG methods discusses both research on the topic of dynamic cognitive inhibition while focusing on combating racial disparities. Although black youth athletes have a high prevalence in sports, there is a lack of research on their brain functions, with race being minimally reported or not at all. Their research, which focused on Black youth athletes, addressed a significant gap in EEG research, as their hair texture often makes traditional EEG set-ups challenging. In order to combat this issue, the researchers developed a net-like EEG cap which would be applicable for all hair types. The study used a Go-NoGo task to induce frustration in three phases: baseline, frustration, and recovery. Participants completed this task both pre-season and post-season, with an incentive to improve performance. The results revealed an interesting pattern in brain activity, particularly in the N2 component of the event-related potential (ERP). They found that frustration affected brain activity differently before and after the season, with N2 amplitudes decreasing pre-season and not fully recovering postseason. Additionally, individuals with mental health disorders appeared more susceptible to frustration-induced changes in brain activity whereas individuals with brain injuries such as concussion exhibited the opposite results.
The research performed by Dr. Caitlin M. Hudac was intriguing as it included a group commonly discluded from EEG research. The article titled Racial Disparities in EEG Research and their Implication for our Understanding of the Maternal Brain also addresses a similar concern of a lack of research on people of African-American descent. Traditional EEG research often excludes Black women due to hair texture incompatibility with standard EEG caps. There is great value in understanding the maternal brain for all races. Through the use of EEG, this research helps further understand the rapid neural responses to stimuli, such as infant cues, for women of all races. The study involves using EEG to measure brain activity in response to infant cues. Key event-related potentials (ERP) in this study include N170 responses which are linked to early face processing, P300 responses which are associated with attention and evaluation, and Late Positive Potential (LPP), linked to sustained attention and emotional processing. The results of this study found that parents exhibit specific ERP patterns in response to infant cues, with larger N170 responses to infant cries. Maternal mental health can also influence ERP responses, with anxiety linked to increased LPP and depression to reduced P300.
Dynamic cognitive inhibition is a complex process influenced by various factors, including mental health and brain injury. The research conducted by Dr. Hudac and her team highlights the importance of inclusive research practices to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying frustration and cognitive control. The research presented in the article on the maternal brain emphasizes the role of inclusivity in neuroscience and allows a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the maternal brain and its impact on child development. Both articles factor in the lack of research on excluded races by providing solutions, as well as providing research in those lacking areas. Research in the field of neuroscience should continue to work towards the goal of inclusivity and combating the racial disparities present.
References
Hudac CM, Wallace JS, Ward VR, Friedman NR, Delfin D and Newman SD (2022) Dynamic cognitive inhibition in the context of frustration: Increasing racial representation of adolescent athletes using mobile community-engaged EEG methods. Front. Neurol. 13:918075. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.918075
Penner, F., Wall, K. M., Guan, K. W., Huang, H. J., Richardson, L., Dunbar, A. S., Groh, A. M., & Rutherford, H. J. V. (2023). Racial disparities in EEG research and their implications for our understanding of the maternal brain. Cognitive, affective & behavioral neuroscience, 23(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13415-022-01040-w
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