PFC mediated cognitive control processes permit flexible behavior by biasing selection of goal-relevant responses. The research proposed here seeks to test two related hypotheses regarding the organization of RFC control processes. A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study will identify regions of RFC processing different levels of representation en route to selecting a response. These levels are hypothesized to be individuated on the basis of the abstractness of the representation guiding selection, ranging from concrete features (e.g., red) in premotor cortex, to more abstract dimensions (e.g., color) in posterior lateral regions, to a general goal or context (e.g., color naming task) in frontal pole. Subsequently, a study of neurological patients with focal damage in RFC and a study of focal disruption by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) will test the functional necessity and independence of these RFC regions. Furthermore, these data, along with functional connectivity analysis of the fMRI data, can test the hypothesis that this representational hierarchy is reflected in the relationship among RFC regions, instantiated in a flow of processing from superordinate to subordinate regions. Basic knowledge gained regarding the organization of RFC can provide important insights into disorders impacting the frontal lobes and toward the development of directed clinical assessments that index executive function.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32NS053337-01
Application #
7000074
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F12A (20))
Program Officer
Babcock, Debra J
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$42,068
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Neurosciences
Type
Organized Research Units
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Badre, David; Hoffman, Joshua; Cooney, Jeffrey W et al. (2009) Hierarchical cognitive control deficits following damage to the human frontal lobe. Nat Neurosci 12:515-22
Badre, David (2008) Cognitive control, hierarchy, and the rostro-caudal organization of the frontal lobes. Trends Cogn Sci 12:193-200
Badre, David; D'Esposito, Mark (2007) Functional magnetic resonance imaging evidence for a hierarchical organization of the prefrontal cortex. J Cogn Neurosci 19:2082-99