Gating of attentional effort through the central thalamus.

TitleGating of attentional effort through the central thalamus.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsSchiff, N D., Shah S A., Hudson A E., Nauvel T, Kalik S F., and Purpura K P.
JournalJ Neurophysiol
Volume109
Issue4
Pagination1152-63
Date Published2013 Feb
ISSN1522-1598
KeywordsAnimals, Attention, Brain Waves, Cues, Intralaminar Thalamic Nuclei, Macaca mulatta, Male, Neurons, Psychomotor Performance, Sensory Gating
Abstract

The central thalamus plays an important role in the regulation of arousal and allocation of attentional resources in the performance of even simple tasks. To assess the contribution of central thalamic neurons to short-term adjustments of attentional effort, we analyzed 166 microelectrode recordings obtained from two rhesus monkeys performing a visuomotor simple reaction time task with a variable foreperiod. Multiunit responses showed maintained firing rate elevations during the variable delay period of the task in ∼24% of recording sites. Simultaneously recorded local field potentials demonstrated significant decreases in power at ∼10-20 Hz and increases in power at 30-100 Hz during the delay period when compared against precue baselines. Comparison of the spectral power of local field potentials during the delay period of correct and incorrect trials showed that, during incorrect trials, similar, but reduced, shifts of spectral power occurred within the same frequency bands. Sustained performance of even simple tasks requires regulation of arousal and attention that combine in the concept of "attentional effort". Our findings suggest that central thalamic neurons regulate task performance through brief changes in firing rates and spectral power changes during task-relevant short-term shifts of attentional effort. Increases in attentional effort may be reflected in changes within the central thalamic local populations, where correct task performance associates with more robust maintenance of firing rates during the delay period. Such ongoing fluctuations of central thalamic activity likely reflect a mix of influences, including variations in moment-to-moment levels of motivation, arousal, and availability of cognitive resources.

DOI10.1152/jn.00317.2011
Alternate JournalJ. Neurophysiol.
PubMed ID23221415
PubMed Central IDPMC3569130
Grant ListEY-07138 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
EY-09314 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
NS-36699 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
NS02014 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
NS02172 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
NS067249 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States

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