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The human striatum is necessary for responding to changes in stimulus relevance
R Cools1, R B Ivry, M D'Esposito
1Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK. roshan.cools@gmail.com
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|November 30, 2006
Summary
The striatum plays a key role in cognitive flexibility, particularly in switching between concrete sensory stimuli. This study shows striatal lesions impair this ability, unlike switching between abstract rules.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- The striatum is increasingly recognized for its role in cognitive flexibility.
- Previous research often linked striatal function to cognitive flexibility through studies on Parkinson's disease patients, which involve broader brain chemical disruptions.
- The precise contribution of the striatum to cognitive flexibility remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific role of the striatum in cognitive flexibility.
- To differentiate the striatum's function in switching between concrete sensory stimuli versus abstract task rules.
- To provide direct evidence for the striatum's involvement in flexible control functions.
Main Methods:
- The study tested patients with focal striatal lesions on a cognitive switching task.
- A comparison group with frontal lobe lesions was included.
- The task involved two forms of cognitive switching: between concrete sensory stimuli and between abstract task rules.
Main Results:
- Patients with striatal lesions demonstrated significant impairment in switching between concrete sensory stimuli.
- Frontal lobe lesions did not impair switching between concrete sensory stimuli.
- Both patient groups performed similarly when switching between abstract task rules, showing no impairment compared to baseline trials.
Conclusions:
- A dissociation exists between different forms of cognitive flexibility.
- The striatum is specifically involved in cognitive flexibility related to the selection of behaviorally relevant stimuli.
- These findings support the role of the striatum in flexible cognitive control functions.
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