Open AccessNeural correlates of switching set as measured in fast, event‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging
Author(s) -
Smith Anna B.,
Taylor Eric,
Brammer Mick,
Rubia Katya
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.20007
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , dorsolateral prefrontal cortex , neuroscience , prefrontal cortex , working memory , postcentral gyrus , psychology , cognition , posterior parietal cortex , inferior parietal lobule , task switching , brain activity and meditation , electroencephalography
Attentional switching has shown to involve several prefrontal and parietal brain regions. Most cognitive paradigms used to measure cognitive switching such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) involve additional cognitive processes besides switching, in particular working memory (WM). It is, therefore, questionable whether prefrontal brain regions activated in these conditions, especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), are involved in cognitive switching per se, or are related to WM components involved in switching tasks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to examine neural correlates of pure switching using a paradigm purposely designed to minimize WM functions. The switching paradigm required subjects to switch unpredictably between two spatial dimensions, clearly indicated throughout the task before each trial. Fast, event‐related fMRI was used to compare neural activation associated with switch trials to that related to repeat trials in 20 healthy, right‐handed, adult males. A large cluster of activation was observed in the right hemisphere, extending from inferior prefrontal and pre‐ and postcentral gyri to superior temporal and inferior parietal cortices. A smaller and more caudal cluster of homologous activation in the left hemisphere was accompanied by activation of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). We conclude that left DLPFC activation is involved directly in cognitive switching, in conjunction with parietal and temporal brain regions. Pre‐ and postcentral gyrus activation may be related to motor components of switching set. Hum. Brain Mapp.21:247–256, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.