Double dissociation between action-driven and perception-driven conflict resolution invoking anterior versus
Tilman Schulte1, Eva M Müller-Oehring, Shara Vinco
1Neuroscience Program, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
Neuroimage
|July 4, 2009
Summary
Advance information aids attention and response selection. Brain imaging reveals distinct anterior and posterior network roles in resolving perceptual versus action-driven conflict during Stroop tasks.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Advance information can enhance attentional control and response selection.
- Neural mechanisms of conflict resolution, particularly the roles of perceptual selection versus response inhibition, remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural sources of conflict resolution in the Stroop task.
- To determine if conflict resolution involves modulating perceptual selection or inhibiting pre-potent responses.
Main Methods:
- Manipulated perceptual information (color cue) predicting Stroop target color (match vs. nonmatch).
- Recorded hemodynamic brain responses using functional neuroimaging.
- Measured reaction times to assess conflict levels.
Main Results:
- Increased reaction times for incongruent vs. congruent Stroop stimuli confirmed conflict.
- Greater conflict observed when cues matched the Stroop target color.
- Distinct neural networks activated: anterior for Stroop-match, posterior for Stroop-nonmatch.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated a double dissociation between anterior and posterior cortical systems.
- Posterior systems engage in perceptually-driven conflict resolution (feature mismatch).
- Anterior systems engage in action-driven conflict resolution (inhibiting automatic responses).
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