Phase-amplitude coupling of Go/Nogo task-related neuronal oscillation decreases for humans with insufficient sleep

Abstract Phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) across frequency might be associated with the long-range synchronization of brain networks, facilitating the spatiotemporal integration of multiple cell assemblies for information transmission during inhibitory control. However, sleep problems may affect these cortical information transmissions based on cross-frequency PAC, especially when humans work in environments of social isolation. This study aimed to evaluate changes in the theta–beta/gamma PAC of task-related electroencephalography (EEG) for humans with insufficient sleep. Here, we monitored the EEG signals of 60 healthy volunteers and 18 soldiers in the normal environment, performing a Go/Nogo task. Soldiers also participated in the same test in isolated cabins. These measures demonstrated theta–beta PACs between the frontal and central-parietal, and robust theta–gamma PACs between the frontal and occipital cortex. Unfortunately, these PACs significantly decreased when humans experienced insufficient sleep, which was positively correlated with the behavioral performance of inhibitory control. The evaluation of theta–beta/gamma PAC of Go/Nogo task-related EEG is necessary to help understand the different influences of sleep problems in humans.