Roles of default-mode network and supplementary motor area in human vigilance performance: evidence from real-time fMRI

Abstract

We used real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine which regions of the human brain have a role in vigilance as measured by reaction time (RT) to variably timed stimuli. We first identified brain regions where activation before stimulus presentation predicted RT. Slower RT was preceded by greater activation in the default-mode network, including lateral parietal, precuneus, and medial prefrontal cortices; faster RT was preceded by greater activation in the supplementary motor area (SMA). We examined the roles of these brain regions in vigilance by triggering trials based on brain states defined by blood oxygenation level-dependent activation measured using real-time fMRI. When activation of relevant neural systems indicated either a good brain state (increased activation of SMA) or a bad brain state (increased activation of lateral parietal cortex and precuneus) for performance, a target was presented and RT was measured. RTs on trials triggered by a good brain state were significantly faster than RTs on trials triggered by a bad brain state. Thus human performance was controlled by monitoring brain states that indicated high or low vigilance. These findings identify neural systems that have a role in vigilance and provide direct evidence that the default-mode network has a role in human performance. The ability to control and enhance human behavior based on brain state may have broad implications.

Dissociated large-scale functional connectivity networks of the precuneus in medication-naïve first-episode depression

“…An interesting observation in this regard is that the balance between the neural activity of the SMA and the DMN has been shown to be of crucial importance in psychomotor response speed (Hinds et al, 2013). A lack of SMA activity before stimulus presentation is related to prolonged reaction time (Hinds et al, 2013). The strong negative relationship between DMN activity and SMA activity in depression observed in our study at resting state fits well with the important clinical symptoms of psychomotor retardation often seen in MDD.…”

“…The SMA is thought to be involved in motor preparation and the initiation of movement. An interesting observation in this regard is that the balance between the neural activity of the SMA and the DMN has been shown to be of crucial importance in psychomotor response speed (Hinds et al, 2013). A lack of SMA activity before stimulus presentation is related to prolonged reaction time (Hinds et al, 2013).…”

Underconnected, But Not Broken? Dynamic Functional Connectivity MRI Shows Underconnectivity in Autism Is Linked to Increased Intra-Individual Variability Across Time

“…Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/brain mechanisms may be shared between trial-by-trial IIV and IIV of iFC. It has been shown that DMN deactivation (Anticevic et al, 2010;Hinds et al, 2013) and strength of anticorrelation between DMN and task-positive networks (Kelly et al, 2008) are positively correlated with task performance. More general evidence suggests that intrinsic neuronal fluctuations captured in iFC are functionally relevant, impacting trial-by-trial variability of both BOLD and behavioral responses (Fox et al, 2006(Fox et al, , 2007Mennes et al, 2011).…”

The roles of cortical oscillations in sustained attention

“…This approach allows estimation of the contribution of individual frequencies to the analysed signal ( Figure IB). In the case of cognitive electrophysiological research, frequencies are divided into spectral bands with distinct functional associations: delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14), beta (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30), and gamma (>30 Hz) ( Figure IC).…”