Response control networks are selectively modulated by attention to rare events and memory load regardless of the need for inhibition

Wijeakumar, Sobanawartiny; Magnotta, Vincent A.; Buss, Aaron T.; Ambrose, Joseph; Wifall, Timothy; Hazeltine, Eliot; Spencer, John P. · 2015 · NeuroImage

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.07.026

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Summary

This study investigates the neural mechanisms underlying response selection and inhibition, addressing a debate regarding whether the fronto-cortical-striatal network is specifically dedicated to inhibitory control or broadly engaged by attention to rare, salient events. The authors utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while participants performed two reactive control tasks: the Go/Nogo (GnG) task, requiring global inhibition, and the Simon task, requiring selective inhibition. The experimental design manipulated two key variables: the proportion of infrequent trials (Go/Compatible vs. Nogo/Incompatible) to dissociate inhibition demands from stimulus rarity, and the number of stimulus-response (SR) mappings to vary memory load. The results demonstrated that a cortico-subcortical network comprising the insula, putamen, and thalamus exhibited greater activation during infrequent and salient events, regardless of whether those trials required inhibition. This finding indicates that these regions are driven by the attentional demand of rare events rather than the specific need for response inhibition. Contrary to some prior literature, the right inferior frontal cortex (rIFC) did not show significant inhibition-specific effects in whole-brain or region-of-interest analyses. Regarding memory load, the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) showed decreasing activation as the number of SR mappings increased. This pattern suggests that performance relies on associative memory selection rather than working memory maintenance, as increased load led to enhanced competition and slower reaction times. Additionally, bilateral lingual gyri were more robustly engaged during the Simon task, consistent with their role in visuo-spatial attention shifts. The significance of these findings lies in challenging the view that the fronto-cortical-striatal system, particularly the rIFC, serves as a specialized "brake" for response inhibition. Instead, the data support a model where these networks are selectively modulated by attention to rare events and associative memory demands. The study clarifies that activation in regions like the insula and putamen reflects general control operations triggered by salience, not inhibition per se. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between IPL activation and memory load highlights the role of associative memory in response selection. These conclusions refine the understanding of cognitive control networks, suggesting that future research should distinguish between inhibition-specific processes and broader attentional or memory-related control mechanisms.

Key finding

A cortico-subcortical network including the insula, putamen, and thalamus is activated by salient and infrequent events regardless of the need for response inhibition.

Methodology

lab_experiment

Provenance

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Topics

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• executive function