Work

Spatial Attention Changes Excitability of Human Visual Cortex to Direct Stimulation

Year: 2007

Type: article

Abstract: Conscious perception depends not only on sensory input, but also on attention [1, 2]. Recent studies in monkeys [3-6] and humans [7-12] suggest that influences of spatial attention on visual awareness may reflect top-down influences on excitability of visual cortex. Here we tested this specifically, by providing direct input into human visual cortex via cortical transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to produce illusory visual percepts, called phosphenes. We found that a lower TMS intensity was needed to elicit a conscious phosphene when its apparent spatial location was attended, rather than unattended. Our results indicate that spatial attention can enhance visual-cortex excitability, and visual awareness, even when sensory signals from the eye via the thalamic pathway are bypassed.

Source: Current Biology

DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2006.11.063

Authors: Sven Bestmann, Christian C. Ruff, Colin Blakemore, Jon Driver, Kai V. Thilo

Institutions: UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, University of Oxford, Royal Holloway University of London

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $7,030

Funder: Wellcome Trust