Neural Changes in Control Implementation of a Continuous Task

It is commonly agreed that control implementation, being a resource-consuming endeavor, is not exerted continuously or in simple tasks. However, most research in the field was done using tasks that varied the need for control on a trial-by-trial basis (e.g., Stroop, flanker) in a discrete manner. In...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of neuroscience 2007-03, Vol.27 (11), p.3010-3016
Main Authors: Lungu, Ovidiu V, Binenstock, Meagan M, Pline, Megan A, Yeaton, Jennifer R, Carey, James R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Brain Mapping - methods
Caudate Nucleus - physiology
Female
Gyrus Cinguli - physiology
Humans
Male
Neural Pathways - physiology
Neurons - physiology
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Reaction Time - physiology
Time Factors
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Summary:It is commonly agreed that control implementation, being a resource-consuming endeavor, is not exerted continuously or in simple tasks. However, most research in the field was done using tasks that varied the need for control on a trial-by-trial basis (e.g., Stroop, flanker) in a discrete manner. In this case, the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was found to monitor the need for control, whereas regions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were found to be involved in control implementation. Whether or not the same control mechanism would be used in continuous tasks was an open question. In our study, we found that in a continuous task, the same neural substrate subserves control monitoring (ACC) but that the neural substrate of control implementation changes over time. Early in the task, regions in the PFC were involved in control implementation, whereas later the control was taken over by subcortical structures, specifically the caudate. Our results suggest that humans possess a flexible control mechanism, with a specific structure dedicated to monitoring the need for control and with multiple structures involved in control implementation.
ISSN:0270-6474
1529-2401
DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5051-06.2007