Keeping Memory for Intentions: A cTBS Investigation of the Frontopolar Cortex

Costa, Alberto; Oliveri, Massimiliano; Barban, Francesco; Torriero, Sara; Salerno, Silvia; Gerfo, Emanuele Lo; Koch, Giacomo; Caltagirone, Carlo; Carlesimo, Giovanni Augusto

doi:10.1093/cercor/bhr052

Cited by 35 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…An initial sample size of 16 was chosen based on two studies using a very similar cTBS design that stimulated lateral FPC (Costa et al, 2011;Costa et al, 2013) and this was augmented to 31 on the basis of feedback from reviewers. Five participants (5 female, 0 male) were excluded from the analysis due to chancelevel performance in both experimental sessions.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration

Zajkowski¹,

Kossut²,

Wilson³

2016

Preprint

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The explore-exploit dilemma occurs anytime we must choose between exploring unknown options for information and exploiting known resources for reward. Previous work suggests that people use two different strategies to solve the explore-exploit dilemma: directed exploration, driven by information seeking, and random exploration, driven by decision noise. Here, we show that these two strategies rely on different neural systems. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation to inhibit the right frontopolar cortex, we were able to selectively inhibit directed exploration while leaving random exploration intact. This suggests a causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration and that directed and random exploration rely on (at least partially) dissociable neural systems.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration

Zajkowski¹,

Kossut²,

Wilson³

2016

Preprint

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“…In addition to integrating complex relationships and representing complex rules, the rostral PFC is involved in prospective memory (Burgess, Scott, & Frith, 2003;Costa et al, 2011;Reynolds, West, & Braver, 2009;Volle, Gonen-Yaacovi, de Lacy Costello, Gilbert, & Burgess, 2011). Prospective memory plays an important role in our experimental design because instructions are encoded at the beginning of a trial but executed only at a later time (Fig.…”

Section: Present Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinct contributions of the caudate nucleus, rostral prefrontal cortex, and parietal cortex to the execution of instructed tasks

Stocco

Lebière

O’Reilly

et al. 2012

Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci

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When we behave according to rules and instructions, our brains interpret abstract representations of what to do and transform them into actual behavior. In order to investigate the neural mechanisms behind this process, we devised an fMRI experiment that explicitly isolated rule interpretation from rule encoding and execution. Our results showed that a specific network of regions (including the left rostral prefrontal cortex, the caudate nucleus, and the bilateral posterior parietal cortices) is responsible for translating rules into executable form. An analysis of activation patterns across conditions revealed that the posterior parietal cortices represent a mental template for the task to perform, that the inferior parietal gyrus and the caudate nucleus are responsible for instantiating the template in the proper context, and that the left rostral prefrontal cortex integrates information across complex relationships. Learning from instructions is such a common activity that its complexity can be easily underestimated. Instead, it represents a remarkable feat of human cognition. Consider, for example, the case a scientist instructing a participant to perform the Stroop task. The scientist's instructions would probably sound like this: "Words will appear on the screen, one at the time, printed in different colors. For each word, you have to say out loud the name of the color the word is printed in, and ignore the word." To perform this task, participants need to create an internal "template" of the task to perform-that is, an internal representation that connects what features of the stimuli to attend to (the word's color, not its meaning), what cognitive operations to perform (identify the color name) and how to respond (say it out loud). When the task is executed, this template needs to be internally scanned and translated into actual behavior. This translation is a computationally sophisticated procedure where specific stimulus features (e.g., the color green) need to be put in specific placeholders within the template ("the words' color"), and abstract commands (e.g., "name the color") need to be transformed into sequences of basic mental operations ("retrieve from long-term memory the name of the color" and "say the color name out loud"). KeywordsThe process of reconfiguring one's own behavior from instructions is reminiscent of what computers do when executing a program written in a high-level programming language. The program provides a template for the operations that need to be performed, and when the program is interpreted, this template is transformed into actual operations of the underlying hardware, which are then applied to the input given by the user. This analogy is not without merit. Like programming computers makes them capable of performing any computational function, executing a task from a mental template gives us an unbounded flexibility of behavior. Thus, a characterization of the process of interpreting instructions is important for understanding the nature of the power and gener...

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“…It should be noted, however, that in two recent studies of healthy subjects in which the role of the frontal pole in PM functioning was investigated using transcranial magnetic stimulation, the authors found differential left versus right involvement as a function of the material employed in the PM procedure (i.e., words versus spatial location, resp.) [41, 50]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The experimental procedure was a slightly modified version of a procedure we used in two previous studies [41, 42]. The experimental material consisted of 54 bisyllabic words, all of which were used for the ongoing task; a subset of 10 (out of 54) words constituted the PM target stimuli.…”

Section: Case Reportsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospective Memory Impairment and Executive Dysfunction in Prefrontal Lobe Damaged Patients: Is There a Causal Relationship?

Carlesimo

Paola

Fadda

et al. 2014

Behavioural Neurology

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Background. The prospective memory (PM) construct is aimed at capturing cognitive operations involved in the successful accomplishment of delayed intentions. It is generally agreed that PM impairment occurs in patients with prefrontal lobes damage. Objective. To evaluate if there is a causal role of a deficit of executive abilities (failures of planning, set-shifting, selective attention, or working memory) over the PM impairment. Methods. We report a detailed investigation of PM and executive abilities in two patients with posttraumatic damage to prefrontal lobes who complained from a reduced compliance with appointments and daily routines. Results. Laboratory tests confirmed a difficulty in fulfilling delayed intentions in response to the occurrence of critical events and elapsed time. In one patient, PM impairment was associated with poor performance on tests investigating planning, working memory, and mental shifting. The other patient performed in the normal range on all executive tests. Conclusions. Despite the frequent claim of a dependence of PM deficits from executive dysfunction, the reported cases demonstrate that this is not necessarily the case. The results are discussed in the light of current hypotheses relating PM impairment to other deficits that commonly occur as a result of damage to the prefrontal lobes.

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Keeping Memory for Intentions: A cTBS Investigation of the Frontopolar Cortex

Cited by 35 publications

References 43 publications

A causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration

A causal role for right frontopolar cortex in directed, but not random, exploration

Distinct contributions of the caudate nucleus, rostral prefrontal cortex, and parietal cortex to the execution of instructed tasks

Prospective Memory Impairment and Executive Dysfunction in Prefrontal Lobe Damaged Patients: Is There a Causal Relationship?

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