Open AccessfMRI investigation of speed–accuracy strategy switching
Author(s) -
Vallesi Antonino,
McIntosh Anthony R.,
Crescentini Cristiano,
Stuss Donald T.
Publication year - 2012
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.21312
Subject(s) - superior parietal lobule , anterior cingulate cortex , functional magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , inferior parietal lobule , neuroscience , stimulus (psychology) , prefrontal cortex , posterior parietal cortex , perception , cognitive psychology , cognition
Switching between rapid and accurate responses is an important aspect of decision‐making. However, the brain mechanisms important to smoothly change the speed–accuracy strategy remain mostly unclear. This issue was addressed here by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). On each trial, right‐handed healthy participants had to stress speed or accuracy in performing a color discrimination task on a target stimulus according to the instructions given by an initial cue. Participants were capable of trading speed for accuracy and vice versa. Analyses of cue‐related fMRI activations revealed a significant recruitment of left middle frontal gyrus and right cerebellum when switching from speed to accuracy. The left superior parietal lobule was activated in the same switching condition but only after the target onset. The anterior cingulate cortex was more recruited, also after target presentation, when speed had to be maintained from one trial to the next. These results are interpreted within a theoretical framework that attributes a role in criterion‐setting to the left lateral prefrontal cortex, perceptual evidence accumulation to the superior parietal lobule, and action energization to the anterior cingulate cortex, extending previous findings to the domain of speed–accuracy tradeoff regulations. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.