Related Experiment Videos
Complementary localization and lateralization of orienting and motor attention
M F Rushworth1, A Ellison, V Walsh
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD, UK. matthew.rushworth@psy.ox.ac.uk
Nature Neuroscience
|May 23, 2001
Summary
Researchers discovered a distinct anterior parietal region for motor attention, separate from the posterior parietal cortex involved in visuospatial attention. This finding highlights a new mechanism of motor attention lateralized to the left hemisphere.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
Background:
- The right posterior parietal cortex is known for its role in visuospatial and orienting attention.
- Evidence suggests a close relationship between orienting attention and oculomotor response preparation, though they are dissociable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence of distinct attentional mechanisms linked to different response modalities.
- To identify a specific neural mechanism for motor attention.
Main Methods:
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was employed to probe brain function.
- The study investigated the role of the parietal cortex in attention and motor control.
Main Results:
- A distinct anterior parietal mechanism for motor attention was identified.
- This motor attention area is located anterior to the region involved in orienting attention.
- The mechanism for motor attention is lateralized to the left hemisphere in humans.
Conclusions:
- The findings reveal a specialized neural substrate for motor attention within the anterior parietal cortex.
- This anterior parietal region is distinct from, and anterior to, the posterior parietal cortex involved in orienting attention.
- Motor attention, unlike orienting attention, is primarily lateralized to the left hemisphere.