Abstract
Executive functions enable flexible control of behavior by dynamically coordinating perception, memory, and action. Among them, working memory plays a central role by maintaining and transforming information to meet current goals. Here, we examined mental rotation-a core operation that exemplifies these control dynamics-and delineated the role of directed communication in theta and alpha band activity in cortical networks. Replicating the typical behavioral pattern in mental rotation, we showed that high-demand rotations were characterized by decreased theta and increased alpha power, reflecting a functional reallocation from control-intensive monitoring to stabilized maintenance of visual representations. EEG-beamforming localization identified anterior temporal, inferior frontal, and insular regions showing stronger directed information transfer to temporo-parietal and occipito-temporal regions. These findings suggest that mental rotation is associated with frequency-specific, hierarchically organized, directed communication between anterior control-related and posterior representational systems. In this directed communication, theta band dynamics likely coordinate working memory updating and response selection, whereas alpha-band coupling stabilizes mnemonic representations through inhibitory gating. The study suggests that directed theta and alpha dynamics may support the flexible transformation of internal representations in working memory.