Neural Mechanisms of Willed Attention Control

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging
• Visual Attention

Background:

• Cueing paradigms are standard for studying visual spatial attention.
• Willed attention involves spontaneous decisions on spatial focus, contrasting with instructed attention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying willed attention control.
• To compare brain activity during instructed versus willed attention.

Main Methods:

• fMRI and EEG data analyzed from two institutions (UF and UC Davis).
• Utilized a novel willed attention paradigm.
• Examined brain network activation and EEG oscillatory patterns.

Main Results:

• Both instructional and choice cues activated the Dorsal Attention Network (DAN).
• Choice cues additionally engaged a frontoparietal decision network (dACC, AI, APFC, DLPFC, IPL).
• Decisions in willed attention were decodable in the frontoparietal network; EEG alpha oscillations predicted attention direction.

Conclusions:

• Willed attention involves a distinct frontoparietal decision network.
• Neural activity patterns differentiate between instructed and self-determined attention.
• A model for willed attention control was proposed based on these findings.