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Spatiotopic maps in higher cortical areas in the human brain and their relation to spatial attention

Obiettivo

Monkey and human brains contain multiple retinotopic maps of visual space in occipital cortex, which are known to be modulated by attentional signals. There is also evidence that retinotopy might exist in temporal visual areas (e.g. MT/MST, ventral stream).

On the other hand, attentional control signals are thought to originate from more dorsal frontal and parietal areas. Although damage to parietal and frontal areas often results in spatially specific attentional deficits (e.g. contralateral neglect), it i s not clear whether these higher cortical areas also contain maps of visual space, and if so, how these different spatiotopic representations in different brain regions are related to each other.

Here I propose to investigate this question in humans using functional MRI in healthy volunteers and in neurological patients, together with TMS in healthy volunteers. To do this I will develop novel fMRI paradigms to uncover spatiotopic representations in areas of cortex beyond early visual regions, by crucial modifications to established retinotopic mapping paradigms e.g. by using complex biologically relevant stimuli.

Preliminary data has already been collected to ascertain the feasibility of this approach. I will then investigate how spatial attention modulates neural activity in these areas and whether any modulation follows similar principles to those seen in early visual cortex. To do this I will modify retinotopic mapping paradigms to permit attentional manipulations. Finally I will investigate any causal role for such spatiotopic higher-level areas in directing spatial attention and also their impact on remote but interconnected areas of visual cortex.

This will involve studying patients with focal cortical damage and disorders of attention (behaviourally and with fMRI) and by temporary, reversible disruption of the same areas in neurologically healthy individuals (using TMS and concurrent TMS and fMRI).

Campo scientifico (EuroSciVoc)

Parole chiave

Argomento(i)

Invito a presentare proposte

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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Meccanismo di finanziamento

EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships

Coordinatore

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON.
Contributo UE
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Costo totale
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