Causal phase-dependent control of non-spatial attention in human prefrontal cortex
Jeroen Brus1,2, Joseph A Heng3,4, Valeriia Beliaeva3,4
1Decision Neuroscience Lab, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. jeroen.brus@hest.ethz.ch.
Nature Human Behaviour
|February 17, 2024
Summary
This study shows that non-spatial attention, crucial for focusing on relevant information, is regulated by brain activity phases in the prefrontal cortex. Modulating these neural excitability states selectively influences attention.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Non-spatial attention directs awareness to relevant stimuli, a process potentially modulated by prefrontal cortex neural activity.
- The exact role of slow excitability fluctuations in attention regulation remains debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of prefrontal cortex excitability states on non-spatial attention.
- To test the hypothesis that attention is regulated by the phase of neural activity.
Main Methods:
- Developed a behavioral paradigm combined with non-invasive stimulation.
- Targeted modulation of slow excitability fluctuations in the inferior frontal junction.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated selective modulation of non-spatial attention based on the phase of modulated excitability.
- Showed that attention can be controlled by exogenously influencing brain states.
Conclusions:
- Non-spatial attention relies on ongoing prefrontal cortex excitability states.
- These states are likely governed by slow oscillatory dynamics to orchestrate goal-directed behavior.
