Program

The Binding and Retrieval in Action Control (BRAC) framework provides an important perspective on how past experiences influence future actions through event-file binding and retrieval. This symposium brings together EEG and fNIRS research to explore the neural and cognitive mechanisms underlying action control. Bernhard Pastötter examines the oscillatory correlates of event-file binding, showing that posterior alpha/beta desynchronization is linked to the integration of event-files, while alpha synchronization supports the maintenance of event files. Roula Jamous extends the BRAC framework by investigating how predictive processes influence both binding and retrieval, highlighting the role of sensory expectations in action control. Paul Wendiggensen explores the temporal dynamics of preparatory brain states, demonstrating that neurophysiological activity between trials affects subsequent event-file operations and providing insight into the time scales of binding effects. Christoph Geißler presents findings from combined fNIRS-EEG research on the involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in action control, showing that binding effects depend on cognitive demands and task difficulty. Finally, Bernhard Hommel introduces a metacontrol framework, proposing that action control involves a dynamic balance between cognitive persistence and flexibility, regulated by cortical variability and neural noise. Together, these talks refine the BRAC framework by integrating neural oscillations, predictive coding, preparatory states, and metacontrol principles, offering a comprehensive perspective on how binding and retrieval shape adaptive behavior.