[en] Previous studies exploring the neural substrates of executive functioning used task-specific analyses, which might not be the most appropriate approach due to the difficulty of precisely isolating executive functions. Consequently, the aim of this study was to use positron emission tomography (PET) to reexamine by conjunction and interaction paradigms the cerebral areas associated with three executive processes (updating, shifting, and inhibition). Three conjunction analyses allowed us to isolate the cerebral areas common to tasks selected to tap into the same executive process. A global conjunction analysis demonstrated that foci of activation common to all tasks were observed in the right intraparietal sulcus, the left superior parietal gyrus, and at a lower statistical threshold, the left lateral prefrontal cortex. These regions thus seem to play a general role in executive functioning. The right intraparietal sulcus seems to play a role in selective attention to relevant stimuli and in suppression of irrelevant information. The left superior parietal region is involved in amodal switching/integration processes. One hypothesis regarding the functional role of the lateral prefrontal cortex is that monitoring and temporal organization of cognitive processes are necessary to carry out ongoing tasks. Finally, interaction analyses showed that specific prefrontal cerebral areas were associated with each executive process. The results of this neuro-imaging study are in agreement with cognitive studies demonstrating that executive functioning is characterized by both unity and diversity of processes.
Research center :
GIGA CRC (Cyclotron Research Center) In vivo Imaging-Aging & Memory - ULiège Centre de Neur
Disciplines :
Radiology, nuclear medicine & imaging Neurosciences & behavior
Author, co-author :
Collette, Fabienne ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cognitives > Neuropsychologie
Van der Linden, Martial ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cognitives > Psychopathologie cognitive
Laureys, Steven ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron
Delfiore, G.
Degueldre, Christian ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de recherches du cyclotron
Luxen, André ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de chimie (sciences) > Chimie organique de synthèse - Centre de recherches du cyclotron
Salmon, Eric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Neuroimagerie des troubles de la mémoire et révalid. cogn.
Language :
English
Title :
Exploring the unity and diversity of the neural substrates of executive functioning
Publication date :
August 2005
Journal title :
Human Brain Mapping
ISSN :
1065-9471
eISSN :
1097-0193
Publisher :
Wiley Liss, Inc., Hoboken, United States - New Jersey
Volume :
25
Issue :
4
Pages :
409-423
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
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