Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 642.1 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Combining functional MRI and event-related potentials to dissect attentional control systems. |
| Authors: |
Walsh, B. J.*1
; Fannon, S. P.1
; Heipertz, D.1
; Teng, S.1
; Giesbrecht, B.2
; Mangun, G. R.1
1Center for Mind & Brain, UC Davis, Davis, CA 2CA, 202 Cousteau Pl Ste 201, 95616, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Cognition and Behavior - Human Cognition, Behavior, and Anatomy -- Attention |
| Session: |
642. Attention IV Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # FF7 |
| Keywords: | ATTENTION, FMRI, ERP, SPATIAL ORIENTATION |
Converging evidence from electrophysiological, neuropsychological, and brain imaging studies has implicated a frontal-parietal network of brain regions involved in controlling how attention is allocated in space. What remains to be understood is which portions of this network support specific mental operations that are under the broad umbrella of “attention control”. The present study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and event-related potentials (ERPs) to identify which subregions of the attentional control network are involved in high-level interpretation of cue information by systematically varying discriminability of attention-directing cues while holding the shifting of attention signaled by the cues constant. The cues consisted of a line located on either side of fixation; the longer line indicated to which field attention should be directed. Discriminability of the cues was manipulated by varying the difference in length of the two lines. After 1500ms, bilateral targets briefly appeared to which subjects made an orientation judgment. Independent of the direction of cuing or discriminability level, cues elicited activity in frontal and parietal cortex, including bilateral activity in regions of middle frontal gyrus (MFG), anterior cingulate (ACC), and posterior parietal cortex. Critically for the current work, lateral areas of right MFG, lateral intraparietal regions, ACC, and inferior frontal gyrus were more active when cue discriminability was harder. ERP data suggests that the parietal component is the earliest region involved with high-level cue discrimination, providing timing information about these mental operations. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that subregions of the frontal-parietal attentional control network are involved in processes other than the covert shifting of attention, and thus further parcellate brain systems involved in attentional control of voluntary covert spatial attention in humans.
Supported by MH55714 and MH02019
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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