Functional localization of the system for visuospatial attention using positron emission tomography

A. C. Nobre*, G. N. Sebestyen, D. R. Gitelman, M. M. Mesulam, R. S.J. Frackowiak, C. D. Frith

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

807 Scopus citations

Abstract

PET was used to image the neural system underlying visuospatial attention. Analysis of data at both the group and individual-subject level provided anatomical resolution superior to that described to date. Six right-handed male subjects were selected from a pilot behavioural study in which behavioural responses and eye movements were recorded. The attention tasks involved covert shifts of attention, where peripheral cues indicated the location of subsequent target stimuli to be discriminated. One attention condition emphasized reflexive aspects of spatial orientation, while the other required controlled shifts of attention. PET activations agreed closely with the cortical regions recently proposed to form the core of a neural network for spatial attention. The two attention tasks evoked largely overlapping patterns of neural activation, supporting the existence of a general neural system for visuospatial attention with regional functional specialization. Specifically, neocortical activations were observed in the right anterior cingulate gyrus (Brodmann area 24), in the intraparietal sulcus of right posterior parietal cortex, and in the mesial and lateral premotor cortices (Brodmann area 6).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)515-533
Number of pages19
JournalBrain
Volume120
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1997

Keywords

  • Anterior cingulate
  • Covert visuospatial attention
  • Frontal eye fields
  • PET
  • Posterior parietal cortex

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Functional localization of the system for visuospatial attention using positron emission tomography'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this