Brain Activation during Mental Maze Solving

Abstract

Background: So-called Porteus mazes are used to investigate prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning in normal subjects and patients with different neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we present data confirming the involvement of the PFC for the first time by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). To minimize motor-related activation, mental mazes were used. Methods: Mazes as well as pseudo-mazes without any bifurcations were presented to 49 healthy participants during fMRI scans. Results: Both, mazes as well as pseudo-mazes, activated a large network from visual to parietal regions, reflecting the dorsal stream of visual information processing. Mazes but not pseudo-mazes also activated bilateral areas of the PFC indicating their special role in decision processes. In addition, although no motor response was required during maze performance, both tasks activated subcortical and cortical motor areas. Conclusions: These tasks are suitable for investigating and specifying PFC functioning and its impairment in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. In addition, mental mazes might be a suitable task for the investigation of patients with motor disturbances.

Neurocognitive characterizations of Russian heroin addicts without a significant history of other drug use

“…The only significant performance decrement exhibited by heroin addicts was on the measure of cognitive impulsivity. One neuroimaging (fMRI) study links performance on this task to activation of bilateral areas of the prefrontal cortex, subcortical and cortical motor areas (Kirsch et al, 2006). Two additional studies included tasks that largely recruit the orbitofrontal portion of the prefrontal cortex (OFC).…”

Maze test: an instrument to evaluate age-related cognitive and motor changes in humans

“…Maze tests have been used in research and clinical practice to enable the evaluation of different cognitive and motor processes (OTT et al, 2003;SOUZA;FRANÇA;CAMPOS, 2006;KIRSCH et al, 2006). The task of solving a maze involves attention and perception during the analysis of the visuospatial stimulus, executive function at the moment of planning, organization and motor action, as well as when deciding on the correct solution path, especially when encountering a fork in the path.…”

“…The task of solving a maze involves attention and perception during the analysis of the visuospatial stimulus, executive function at the moment of planning, organization and motor action, as well as when deciding on the correct solution path, especially when encountering a fork in the path. The response is planned based on decisions made, trial and error, and performance improves through various trials until it is stabilized and the learning process is understood; the information is then stored in memory (KIRSCH et al, 2006). Studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown evidence of an activation pattern of numerous cerebral structures linked to different cognitive and motor processes.…”

“…During the processing of visual information related to the analysis of the spatial characteristics of the stimulus, the occipital and parietal regions were activated. Furthermore, activation occurred in regions associated with planning and motor execution, such as the basal ganglia, supplementary motor areas and premotor and primary motor areas (KIRSCH et al, 2006).…”

Resolução de Labirintos e Tarefa Agir/Não Agir na Avaliação Atentiva

“…Os resultados desse estudo sugerem uma correlação positiva entre a impulsividade motora e a ativação de áreas do córtex pré-frontal ventrolateral durante inibições comportamentais bem sucedidas. Esse resultado corrobora a interpretação que importantes áreas do córtex pré-frontal estão envolvidas tanto na modulação de respostas inibitórias (Bari & Robbins, 2013) quanto nos processos de planejamento e autorregulação do comportamento em tarefas de resolução de labirintos visuoespaciais (Kirsch et al, 2006).…”