Journal Article

PreJuSER-22890

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Neural Mechanisms of Attentional Reorienting in Three-Dimensional Space

Chen, Q.FZJ* ; Weidner, R.FZJ* ; Vossel, S.FZJ* ; Weiss, P. H.FZJ* ; Fink, G. R.FZJ*

2012
Soc. Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/20564  doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1772-12.2012

Abstract: How the human brain reconstructs the three-dimensional (3D) world from two-dimensional (2D) retinal images has received a great deal of interest as has how we shift attention in 2D space. In contrast, it remains poorly understood how visuospatial attention is shifted in depth. In this fMRI study, by constructing a virtual 3D environment in the MR scanner and by presenting targets either close to or far from the participants in an adapted version of the Posner spatial-cueing paradigm, we investigated the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying visuospatial orienting/reorienting in depth. At the behavioral level, although covering the same spatial distance, attentional reorienting to objects unexpectedly appearing closer to the observer and in the unattended hemispace was faster than reorienting to unexpected objects farther away. At the neural level, we found that in addition to the classical attentional reorienting system in the right temporoparietal junction, two additional brain networks were differentially involved in aspects of attentional reorienting in depth. First, bilateral premotor cortex reoriented visuospatial attention specifically along the third dimension of visual space (i.e., from close to far or vice versa), compared with attentional reorienting within the same depth plane. Second, a network of areas reminiscent of the human "default-mode network," including posterior cingulate cortex, orbital prefrontal cortex, and left angular gyrus, was involved in the neural interaction between depth and attentional orienting, by boosting attentional reorienting to unexpected objects appearing both closer to the observer and in the unattended hemispace.

Keyword(s): J

Note: This work was supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (DFG-KF0112, TP 1) to G.R.F. S.V. (Vo 1733/1-1) and R.W. and G.R.F. (We4299/3-1) are supported by the DFG. Q.C. is supported by the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of People's Republic of China (200907) and by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China (30970895 and 31070994).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. Funktion und Dysfunktion des Nervensystems (FUEK409) (FUEK409)
2. 89572 - (Dys-)function and Plasticity (POF2-89572) (POF2-89572)

Appears in the scientific report 2012

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Database coverage:
; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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