Neuronal correlates of signal detection in the posterior parietal cortex of rats performing a sustained attention task.

Full Abstract

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) plays an integral role in visuospatial attention. Evidence suggests that neuronal activity in the PPC predicts the allocation of attention to stimuli. The present experiment tested the hypothesis that in rats performing a sustained attention task, the detection of signals, as opposed to missed signals, is associated with increased PPC unit activity. Single unit activity was recorded from the PPC of rats and analyzed individually and as a population vector for each recording session. A population of single units (28/111) showed significant activation evoked by signals on trials resulting in correct performance (hits). A smaller population of neurons (three/111) was activated on trials in which signals were not detected by the animals (misses). Analysis of populations of simultaneously recorded neurons indicated increased activation predicting signal detection; no population of neurons was activated on trials in which the animal incorrectly pressed the hit lever following nonsignals. The increased, hit-predicting activity was not modulated by signal duration or the presence of a visual distractor, although the distractor reduced the number of trials in which hit-predicting activity and subsequent correct detection occurred. These findings indicate that attentional signal processing in the PPC integrates successful detection of signals.

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Author information

Author/s: Broussard, J (J); Sarter, M (M); Givens, B (B);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

Grants: K02MH01072 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; NS37206 (Agency:NINDS NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Neuroscience (Neuroscience), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 143 (issue 2) : pp 407-17

Dates: Created 2006/11/19; Completed 2007/01/26; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 17045755, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Action Potentials - physiology
Animals
Attention - physiology
Functional Laterality
Male
Neurons - classification; physiology
Parietal Lobe - cytology; physiology

Parietal Lobe - cytology; physiology
Photic Stimulation - methods
Rats
Rats, Long-Evans
Reaction Time - physiology
Signal Detection, Psychological - physiology
Visual Perception - physiology

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