Cognitive planning, the ability to develop a sequenced plan to achieve a goal, plays a crucial role in human goal-directed behavior. However, the specific role of frontal structures in planning is unclear. We used a novel and ecological task, that allowed us to separate the planning period from the execution period. The spatio-temporal dynamics of EEG recordings showed that planning induced a progressive and sustained increase of frontal-midline theta activity (FMθ) over time. Source analyses indicated that this activity was generated within the prefrontal cortex. Theta activity from the right mid-Cingulate Cortex (MCC) and the left Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) were correlated with an increase in the time needed for elaborating plans. On the other hand, left Frontopolar cortex (FP) theta activity exhibited a negative correlation with the time required for executing a plan. Since reaction times of planning execution correlated with correct responses, left FP theta activity might be associated with efficiency and accuracy in making a plan. Associations between theta activity from the right MCC and the left ACC with reaction times of the planning period may reflect high cognitive demand of the task, due to the engagement of attentional control and conflict monitoring implementation. In turn, the specific association between left FP theta activity and planning performance may reflect the participation of this brain region in successfully self-generated plans.

中文翻译：

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来自额极皮层、中扣带皮层和前扣带皮层的 Theta 活动在认知规划表现中显示出不同的作用

认知规划，即制定有序计划以实现目标的能力，在人类以目标为导向的行为中起着至关重要的作用。然而，正面结构在规划中的具体作用尚不清楚。我们使用了一种新颖的生态任务，使我们能够将计划期与执行期分开。EEG 记录的时空动态表明，随着时间的推移，计划会导致额中线 theta 活动 (FMθ) 逐渐且持续增加。来源分析表明，这种活动是在前额叶皮层内产生的。来自右侧中扣带皮层 (MCC) 和左侧前扣带皮层 (ACC) 的 Theta 活动与制定计划所需时间的增加相关。另一方面，左额极皮层 (FP) 的 theta 活动与执行计划所需的时间呈负相关。由于计划执行的反应时间与正确响应相关，因此左 FP theta 活动可能与制定计划的效率和准确性相关。由于注意力控制和冲突监控实施的参与，来自右侧 MCC 和左侧 ACC 的 theta 活动与计划期反应时间之间的关联可能反映了任务的高认知需求。反过来，左 FP theta 活动与计划绩效之间的特定关联可能反映了该大脑区域参与成功的自我生成计划。左 FP theta 活动可能与制定计划的效率和准确性有关。由于注意力控制和冲突监控实施的参与，来自右侧 MCC 和左侧 ACC 的 theta 活动与计划期反应时间之间的关联可能反映了任务的高认知需求。反过来，左 FP theta 活动与计划绩效之间的特定关联可能反映了该大脑区域参与成功的自我生成计划。左 FP theta 活动可能与制定计划的效率和准确性有关。由于注意力控制和冲突监控实施的参与，来自右侧 MCC 和左侧 ACC 的 theta 活动与计划期反应时间之间的关联可能反映了任务的高认知需求。反过来，左 FP theta 活动与计划绩效之间的特定关联可能反映了该大脑区域参与成功的自我生成计划。