Phase-specific stimulation of prefrontal beta oscillations modulates distinct cognitive processes
- 1Maastricht University
Abstract
Oscillatory phase has been proposed to organize neural information processing, but whether endogenous phase can be leveraged to causally shape human cognition remains unclear. Here, we tested whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered at specific phases of endogenous beta oscillations over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates working memory and response inhibition. Participants received EEG phase-controlled, closed-loop rTMS delivered at either the peak or trough of their endogenous beta rhythm, using each participant's dominant beta frequency (20-30 Hz). A conventional 20-Hz rTMS delivered independently of the beta phase served as an active control. Compared to this control and each other, peak-targeted rTMS improved response inhibition, whereas trough-targeted rTMS improved working memory. Both phase-specific behavioral effects were accompanied by corresponding increases in event-related potentials, which were not observed after conventional stimulation. Across participants, behavioral improvements correlated with stimulation-induced electrophysiological changes. Finally, phase-specific rTMS induced distinct DLPFC network expansions that complemented the behavioral effects: peak stimulation enhanced posterior centro-parietal connectivity for inhibitory control, while trough stimulation expanded anterior prefrontal networks for working memory. These findings provide first evidence that opposite phases of endogenous prefrontal beta oscillations coordinate distinct cognitive and neural processes. This establishes prefrontal beta phase as a causal dimension for shaping executive function and as a target for prefrontal rTMS to modulate cognition and non-invasively probe phase-dependent brain function.
Related
- Phase-targeted Poisson closed-loop peripheral nerve stimulation modulates sensorimotor oscillations in human MEG
- Task-Relevant Cognitive Load Modulates Fast and Slow Processes Underlying Motor Adaptation
- Cognitive reappraisal modulates neural responses to aversive sensory stimulation in autistic youth
- Prefrontal gamma oscillations engage dynamic cell-type-specific configurations to support flexible behavior
- Spatial working memory enhances gamma oscillations in rodent olfactory bulb and medial prefrontal cortex
BibTeX
@misc{wischnewski2026phasespecific,
title = {{Phase-specific stimulation of prefrontal beta oscillations modulates distinct cognitive processes}},
author = {M. Wischnewski and M. R. Gueth and I. Alekseichuk and A. Opitz},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.64898/2026.11.10.765583},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.10.765583v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Phase-specific stimulation of prefrontal beta oscillations modulates distinct cognitive processes
AU - M. Wischnewski
AU - M. R. Gueth
AU - I. Alekseichuk
AU - A. Opitz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/10
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.11.10.765583
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.10.765583v1
AB - Oscillatory phase has been proposed to organize neural information processing, but whether endogenous phase can be leveraged to causally shape human cognition remains unclear. Here, we tested whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) delivered at specific phases of endogenous beta oscillations over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex modulates working memory and response inhibition. Participants received EEG phase-controlled, closed-loop rTMS delivered at either the peak or trough of their endogenous beta rhythm, using each participant's dominant beta frequency (20-30 Hz). A conventional 20-Hz rTMS delivered independently of the beta phase served as an active control. Compared to this control and each other, peak-targeted rTMS improved response inhibition, whereas trough-targeted rTMS improved working memory. Both phase-specific behavioral effects were accompanied by corresponding increases in event-related potentials, which were not observed after conventional stimulation. Across participants, behavioral improvements correlated with stimulation-induced electrophysiological changes. Finally, phase-specific rTMS induced distinct DLPFC network expansions that complemented the behavioral effects: peak stimulation enhanced posterior centro-parietal connectivity for inhibitory control, while trough stimulation expanded anterior prefrontal networks for working memory. These findings provide first evidence that opposite phases of endogenous prefrontal beta oscillations coordinate distinct cognitive and neural processes. This establishes prefrontal beta phase as a causal dimension for shaping executive function and as a target for prefrontal rTMS to modulate cognition and non-invasively probe phase-dependent brain function.
ER -