When engaging in joint actions, continuous action monitoring of the partner¿s movements is essential. Previous research from our lab suggests that motor interactions that require continuous adaptation to a partner¿s actions elicit EEG signatures related to error monitoring (i.e. enhancement of midfrontal Theta (4-7 Hz) power (MF¿). We created a sham-controlled, between-subjects study in a virtual environment to explore the causal role of mid-frontal Theta frequency on behavioural adjustment during motor interactions using transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). Participants will move a virtual arm in 1st Person Perspective to press one of two buttons synchronously with a virtual partner seen in 3PP. When the partner changes its target along its movement, the participants must change his movement accordingly. We will measure the effects of frontal theta entrainment on individuals¿ behavioural ability to coordinate as well as the effect of baseline theta connectivity on predicting the effectiveness of the modulation using Graph Theory on EEG data. This approach may shed light on the neural underpinnings of interpersonal monitoring and coordination.
Quick and successful adaptation is essential to everyday life, whether it is competitive sports, playing a musical instrument, or simply moving a table with a partner. It requires continuous monitoring of actions, detecting errors and adapting to changes to achieve a goal. Our paradigm allows a new insight to action adaptation research in a virtual environment. On one stream, it focuses on the well-defined effects of midfrontal theta and its relationship with conflict monitoring. On another stream, as the major innovation of this study, it explores whether the baseline connectivity parameters of each individual has an influence on the extent of tACS effects to the behaviour.
This study will enable many future studies that involve the Action Observation Network and help set tACS protocols with regards to individual differences. It is planned as the first step of clarifying the underlying mechanisms of adaptation, to later focus on the expertise effects in rapid adaptation in domain-specific settings.