The role of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in visual change awareness

Neuroreport. 2004 Nov 15;15(16):2549-52. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200411150-00024.

Abstract

Recently, the neural correlates of change detection vs change blindness have been investigated using fMRI. Results revealed that conscious perception of change is associated with enhanced activity in a neural network comprising the parietal (bilateral) and right dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPF) cortex. Here, by means of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), we unveil the causal role of the right DLPF cortex in perceiving changes. When rTMS was applied to this area, change perception was impaired as compared to left DLPF rTMS and sham stimulation. This result is important as it shows, for the first time, that conscious change perception is associated with normal activity in the right DLPF cortex. Our findings are in agreement with a recent view emphasizing the role of frontal areas, in addition to classical ventral and dorsal pathways, in visual awareness.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness / physiology*
  • Awareness / radiation effects
  • Brain Mapping
  • Electric Stimulation / methods
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Functional Laterality / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Magnetics
  • Male
  • Prefrontal Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Prefrontal Cortex / radiation effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / radiation effects