Attention biases visual activity in visual short-term memory

J Cogn Neurosci. 2014 Jul;26(7):1377-89. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00577. Epub 2014 Jan 23.

Abstract

In the current study, we tested whether representations in visual STM (VSTM) can be biased via top-down attentional modulation of visual activity in retinotopically specific locations. We manipulated attention using retrospective cues presented during the retention interval of a VSTM task. Retrospective cues triggered activity in a large-scale network implicated in attentional control and led to retinotopically specific modulation of activity in early visual areas V1-V4. Importantly, shifts of attention during VSTM maintenance were associated with changes in functional connectivity between pFC and retinotopic regions within V4. Our findings provide new insights into top-down control mechanisms that modulate VSTM representations for flexible and goal-directed maintenance of the most relevant memoranda.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Bias*
  • Cues
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Memory, Short-Term / physiology*
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Time Factors
  • Visual Pathways / blood supply
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Oxygen