Event Abstract

Frontal Cortex Regions Activated During Detection of a Subtle Speed Change: A MEG Study

  • 1 Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Neuromagnetic Imaging Laboratory, Canada
  • 2 York University, Centre for Vision Research, Canada
  • 3 York University, Psychology Department, Canada
  • 4 York University, Department of Biology, Canada
  • 5 York University, Neuroscience Diploma, Canada
  • 6 York University, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Canada
  • 7 York University, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Canada

Human frontal cortex is thought to be involved in executive functions but few regions have been shown to be responsible for the decision of a subtle perception such as a transient speed change. We recorded the MEG signals from 10 subjects while they were detecting a near-threshold transient speed changes in a translationally moving random dot pattern that was displayed in the peripheral visual field. We applied event related beamformer (erSAM) algorithm (Cheyne et al. 2006) with a multi-sphere head model to localize the signal sources and conducted time-frequency analysis based on these sources for the following epochs: (a) the stimulus onset of the translationally moving dots, and (b) the transient speed change and (c) the motor response. We found that the activation patterns in the frontal lobe regions, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG), dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), were dependent on the behavioural response (correct or error) to the speed change when aligned to different epochs. The activations of the frontal lobe regions in this visual detection task shows the importance of directing visual attention, a delayed motor choice for a correct or incorrect decision all the while preparing the motor response.

Conference: The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes, Toronto, Canada, 22 Mar - 26 Mar, 2010.

Presentation Type: Poster Presentation

Topic: Cognitive Neuroscience

Citation: Bells S, Cheyne D, DeSouza J, Fallah M, Ferrari P, Lalancette M, Simine E, Tsotsos J and Wang S (2010). Frontal Cortex Regions Activated During Detection of a Subtle Speed Change: A MEG Study. Conference Abstract: The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.14.00099

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Received: 29 Jun 2010; Published Online: 29 Jun 2010.

* Correspondence: J F X DeSouza, York University, Centre for Vision Research, Toronto, Canada, desouza@yorku.ca