Orienting to novelty plays a critical role in directing attention and guiding behavior in normal individuals and is disrupted in many disease states. Yet, little is known about the neural substrate of novelty seeking. The proposed research will investigate the neuroanatomical and electrophysiological underpinning of responses to novel stimuli. Non-brain damaged subjects will be studied to determine the link between early stages of C.N.S. responses to novel stimuli using electrophysiological recordings (as measured by the """"""""novelty"""""""" P300) and subsequent stages of information processing and behavioral responses (as measured by subject-controlled stimulus exposure durations). Patients with strokes will be studied to investigate the impact of focal lesions on electrophysiological and behavioral components of novelty seeking and to determine if the frontal cortex plays an essential role in this activity. All subjects will be studied in 1) an Event-Related potential (ERP) Laboratory using specifically designed visual stimuli to evoke different electrophysiological responses and behavioral reactions and 2) an Eye movement Laboratory using visual stimuli to elicit exploratory eye movements. Stroke patients will undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 3 dimensional surface reconstruction of the lesion site to precisely delineate the location of structural brain damage.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Unknown (K20)
Project #
5K20MH001378-04
Application #
2415808
Study Section
Clinical Neuroscience Review Committee (CNR)
Project Start
1995-06-01
Project End
1999-04-30
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1998-04-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
071723621
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Daffner, K R; Mesulam, M M; Scinto, L F et al. (2000) The central role of the prefrontal cortex in directing attention to novel events. Brain 123 ( Pt 5):927-39
Daffner, K R; Mesulam, M M; Scinto, L F et al. (2000) An electrophysiological index of stimulus unfamiliarity. Psychophysiology 37:737-47
Daffner, K R; Mesulam, M M; Holcomb, P J et al. (2000) Disruption of attention to novel events after frontal lobe injury in humans. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 68:18-24
Daffner, K R; Mesulam, M M; Cohen, L G et al. (1999) Mechanisms underlying diminished novelty-seeking behavior in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol 12:58-66
Daffner, K R; Mesulam, M M; Scinto, L F et al. (1998) Regulation of attention to novel stimuli by frontal lobes: an event-related potential study. Neuroreport 9:787-91