Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 21, 2025
05:36
Central and Divided Visual Field Presentation of Emotional Images to Measure Hemispheric Differences in Motivated Attention
Published on: November 16, 2017
7.7K
Hemisphere-specific Parietal Contributions to the Interplay between Working Memory and Attention
Anastasia Kiyonaga1, John P Powers2, Yu-Chin Chiu3
1University of California, San Diego.
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience
|September 8, 2021
Summary
Working memory and attention rely on distinct but interdependent parietal cortex functions. Right parietal stimulation causally impacts visual search, showing its crucial role in managing dual-task demands.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Working memory (WM) and attention are crucial for goal achievement but can compete.
- Both functions engage overlapping fronto-parietal regions, suggesting shared neural principles.
- Previous fMRI studies show parietal cortex interactions during dual-task demands, but causal roles remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To causally investigate the distinct contributions of left and right parietal cortex to working memory and visual attention.
- To determine the behavioral impact of perturbing these regions during dual-task performance.
- To clarify the interaction and interdependence between working memory and visual attention.
Main Methods:
- Correlational analysis of fMRI BOLD activity with behavioral WM and visual search performance.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) applied to fMRI-guided left and right parietal sites.
- Assessment of dual-task performance (WM and visual search) during TMS.
Main Results:
- Right-parietal TMS causally modulated visual search behavior.
- The effect of right-parietal stimulation on visual search depended on the concurrent working memory load.
- Left and right parietal contributions were distinct, yet attentional and WM functions proved codependent.
Conclusions:
- Right parietal cortex plays a privileged, load-dependent role in visual search.
- Behavioral sensitivity to the interaction between visual search and WM load emerges when parietal activity is perturbed.
- Parietal cortex activity during heightened cognitive demands may protect against dual-task interference.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Working Memory
483
Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
483
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
1.1K
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
1.1K
01:28Lateralization
647
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
647
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
662
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...
662
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
2.2K
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....
2.2K
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
658
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
658