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Switching between the forest and the trees: brain systems involved in local/global changed-level judgments

Wilkinson, David T., Halligan, Peter W., Marshall, John C., Büchel, Christian, Dolan, Raymond J. (2001) Switching between the forest and the trees: brain systems involved in local/global changed-level judgments. NeuroImage, 13 (1). pp. 56-67. ISSN 1053-8119. (doi:10.1006/nimg.2000.0678) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:4582)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/nimg.2000.0678

Abstract

Visual targets can be coded, in relative terms, at either the local or the global level of stimuli. Previous studies have indicated that targets are identified more slowly when they appear at a new hierarchical level, compared to when they reappear at the same level as in the previous trial. In the present study, we used measures of reaction time and event-related fMRI to investigate factors affecting this switch cost. In particular, we examined the effects of the number of repeated-level trials preceding a switch and whether the cue to switch was either externally or internally mediated. At the behavioral level we found that (1) the time taken to identify a target on a changed-level trial is longer following four repeated-level trials compared to two repeated-level trials, but that runs of six do not produce additional costs over four, and (2) targets can be identified faster following externally cued switches compared to internally mediated switches. Ne then show that these behavioral effects are associated with distinct patterns of neural activation. Switches performed after two repeated-level trials preferentially activated the precuneus, while those performed after bath four and six activated bilateral inferior parietal cortex and motor hand area. Relative to external switches, internal snitches activated the putamen, while both kinds of switch conjointly activated the large-scale network proposed to underlie internal/external switches in nonhierarchical tasks. Our data further clarify the mechanisms mediating hierarchical selection. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1006/nimg.2000.0678
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: C.A. Simms
Date Deposited: 09 Jun 2008 10:28 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:42 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/4582 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Wilkinson, David T..

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