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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
07:11
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the Visual Cortex with Wide-View Retinotopic Stimulation
Published on: December 8, 2023
An oculomotor decision process revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging
Stephen J Heinen1, Jess Rowland, Byeong-Taek Lee
1The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, California 94115, USA. heinen@ski.org
Summary
The brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Oculomotor Control
Background:
- The neural mechanisms underlying decisions to act on moving objects remain unclear.
- Previous research identified neurons in the macaque supplementary eye field (SEF) involved in the ocular baseball task.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify human cortical regions involved in decision-making during an oculomotor task.
- To investigate the roles of specific brain areas in rule-guided behavior and inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans.
- Concurrent eye-movement monitoring during the ocular baseball task and a control task.
Main Results:
- Task-related activity observed in the supplementary eye field (SEF), frontal eye field (FEF), superior parietal lobule (SPL), and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC).
- Heightened activity in SPL and right VLPFC during ocular baseball, suggesting involvement in decision-making.
- Right VLPFC showed greater activation during 'nogo' trials, indicating a role in behavioral inhibition.
Conclusions:
- The SPL and right VLPFC are implicated in the decision-making process of the ocular baseball task.
- The right VLPFC plays a role in rule-guided inhibition of behavior.
- SEF and FEF appear more involved in motor processing, while SPL and right VLPFC are crucial for decision and inhibition aspects of oculomotor control.
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01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
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01:24Vision
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