Multi-Scale EEG Brain Dynamics During Sustained Attention Tasks

We present a novel experimental paradigm and data analysis methodology for studying brain dynamics during sustained-attention tasks. 256-channel EEG data were recorded while subjects participated in hour-long simulated driving sessions. Every few seconds, the vehicle drifted away from the center of the left lane, and subjects were instructed to steer back to the lane center. The error of each drifting event was measured by the maximum absolute distance from the vehicle´s position at deviation onset. EEG data were analyzed using independent component analysis and time-frequency analysis. An independent component with equivalent dipole sources located bilaterally in lateral occipital cortex exhibited multi-scale brain dynamics. Tonic (~20s) alpha-band power increased in high-error compared to low-error epochs, while phasic (~1s) alpha power was suppressed briefly after deviation onset, then increased strongly just before response offset. Other components also exhibited distinct tonic and/or phasic activity patterns relating to deviation onsets or response onsets.