Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
09:48
Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
Frontoparietal cortex controls spatial attention through modulation of anticipatory alpha rhythms
Paolo Capotosto1, Claudio Babiloni, Gian Luca Romani
1Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Bioimmagini and Istituto di Tecnologie Avanzate Biomediche Università G. D'Annunzio, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
Summary
The dorsal frontoparietal network controls spatial attention by modulating brain waves. Disrupting this network impairs visual identification, suggesting a key role in attention and visual processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Visual Attention Research
Background:
- The dorsal frontoparietal network, comprising the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye field (FEF), is theorized to govern spatial attention.
- A proposed mechanism involves the desynchronization of alpha rhythms (8-12 Hz) in the electroencephalography (EEG) signal within the visual cortex, anticipating visual targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of the dorsal frontoparietal network in visuospatial attention.
- To determine if interference with preparatory activity in the IPS or FEF affects visual target identification.
- To explore the relationship between brain wave activity and attentional control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to briefly interfere with activity in the right IPS and right FEF.
- Monitored electroencephalography (EEG) to measure alpha rhythm desynchronization in the parieto-occipital cortex.
- Assessed the impact of rTMS on the identification of visual stimuli presented 2 seconds later.
Main Results:
- Interference with right IPS or right FEF preparatory activity via rTMS significantly impaired visual target identification.
- This behavioral deficit was linked to the disruption of anticipatory, spatially selective alpha desynchronization in the parieto-occipital cortex.
- Disruption of occipital alpha rhythms following IPS or FEF rTMS correlated with deficits in visual identification.
Conclusions:
- Provides causal evidence for the dorsal frontoparietal network's role in controlling visuospatial attention.
- Suggests that attention is partly mediated by the synchronization of neural activity in the occipital cortex.
- Highlights the importance of preparatory alpha rhythm desynchronization for effective visual processing and attention.
Related Concept Videos
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,...
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,...
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...