Visual spatial localization conflict: an fMRI study

Neuroreport. 2001 Nov 16;12(16):3633-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200111160-00051.

Abstract

fMRI and ERP studies have shown that tasks comprising conflicting stimulus-response associations activate a variety of cortical regions. It remains unclear whether any of these areas are activated by all conflict tasks, or whether conflict resolution is a common property of a number of distinct anatomical regions. Several regions in frontal and parietal cortex are activated by both exogenous (position) and endogenous (arrow direction) localization cues. The present event-related fMRI study used a version of the Simon task with independent positional and directional cues. The results indicated that spatial localization conflict activated pre-motor and superior parietal regions in the right hemisphere known to be involved in spatial localization, but anterior cingulate activation did not reach threshold. This suggests that conflict within a single functional modality may be processed in the region embodying that modality, and anterior cingulate may be called on only to resolve conflict between modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology
  • Brain Mapping / methods
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Photic Stimulation / methods*