Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Intracortical Inhibition Within the Primary Motor Cortex Can Be Modulated by Changing the Focus of Attention
Published on: September 11, 2017
Cortical circuits for the control of attention
Earl K Miller1, Timothy J Buschman
1The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States. ekmiller@mit.edu
Focusing attention involves widespread brain networks, not just single neurons. Rhythmic synchronization between these networks may regulate how we prioritize thoughts.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Understanding how the brain prioritizes information is key to cognitive function.
- Visual attention research has historically focused on single neurons and specific brain areas.
- Recent advances suggest a network-level perspective is necessary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how thoughts are favored over others.
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying attentional selection.
- To understand the role of brain networks in attention.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent neuroscientific research on attention.
- Analysis of data from single-neuron recordings.
- Examination of network-level interactions in cortical and subcortical brain regions.
Main Results:
- Candidate brain areas and mechanisms for visual attention have been identified at the single-neuron level.
- Focusing attention appears to involve interactions between widespread cortical and subcortical networks.
- Rhythmic synchronization within these networks may regulate attentional processes.
Conclusions:
- Attentional selection is likely a network phenomenon rather than solely a function of isolated brain areas.
- Interactions and synchronized rhythms across distributed brain networks are crucial for prioritizing thoughts.
- Future research should focus on integrative network dynamics to fully understand attention.
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09:37Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control
Published on: July 5, 2015
06:46Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
Published on: March 18, 2019
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