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Related Concept Videos

Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association 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,...
Vision01:24

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
06:46

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Published on: March 18, 2019

Task-specific signal transmission from prefrontal cortex in visual selective attention.

Yosuke Morishima1, Rei Akaishi, Yohei Yamada

  • 1Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Nature Neuroscience
|December 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary

This study provides causal evidence that top-down signals from the prefrontal cortex guide attention. Transcranial magnetic stimulation confirmed these signals enhance neural processing for voluntary behaviors.

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06:46

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Published on: July 5, 2015

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Human Brain Imaging

Background:

  • Voluntary behaviors are traditionally attributed to top-down signals originating in the prefrontal cortex.
  • These signals are believed to modulate neural processing in posterior brain regions to align with behavioral objectives.
  • However, direct causal evidence for the role of these top-down signals remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal role of prefrontal cortex top-down signals in modulating neural processing for voluntary behaviors.
  • To quantify the strength of top-down signals by measuring neural impulse transmission efficiency.
  • To correlate the strength of these signals with attentional preparation and task performance.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) applied over the human prefrontal cortex.
  • Measured the efficiency of neural impulse transmission as an indicator of top-down signal strength.
  • Tracked the transmission of induced impulses to various posterior visual areas based on attended visual features.

Main Results:

  • Neural impulses induced by TMS transmitted to specific posterior visual areas, contingent on the domain of attended visual features.
  • The extent of impulse transmission positively correlated with the level of attentional preparation.
  • Increased impulse transmission was also associated with enhanced performance in visual selective-attention tasks.

Conclusions:

  • The findings provide causal evidence supporting the role of prefrontal cortex top-down signals in voluntary behavior.
  • These signals effectively modulate neural processing in posterior cortices, influencing visual attention.
  • The study establishes a measurable link between prefrontal activity, neural transmission, and attentional control.