Neural basis of the Stroop interference task: response competition or selective attention?

Full Abstract

Previous neuroimaging studies of the Stroop task have postulated that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a critical role in resolution of the Stroop interference condition. However, activation of the ACC is not invariably seen and appears to depend on a variety of methodological factors, including the degree of response conflict and response expectancies. The present functional MRI study was designed to identify those brain areas critically involved in the interference condition. Healthy subjects underwent a blocked-trial design fMRI experiment while responding to 1 of 3 stimulus conditions:
(1) incongruent color words, (2) congruent color words, and (3) color-neutral words. Subjects responded to the printed color of the word via a manual response. Compared to the congruent and neutral conditions, the incongruent condition produced significant activation within the left inferior precentral sulcus (IpreCS) located on the border between the inferior frontal gyrus, pars opercularis (BA 44) and the ventral premotor region (BA 6). Significant deactivations in the rostral component of the ACC and the posterior cingulate gyrus were also observed. Selective activation of the left IpreCS is compatible with findings from previous neuroimaging, lesion, electrophysiological, and behavioral studies and is presumably related to the mediation of competing articulatory demands during the interference condition.

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Author information

Author/s: Mead, Larissa A (LA); Mayer, Andrew R (AR); Bobholz, Julie A (JA); Woodley, Scott J (SJ); Cunningham, Joseph M (JM); Hammeke, Thomas A (TA); Rao, Stephen M (SM);

Affiliation: Division of Neuropsychology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.

Grants: M01 RR00058 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS) ; P01 MH51358 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01 MH57836 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS (J Int Neuropsychol Soc), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Sep; vol 8 (issue 6) : pp 735-42

Dates: Created 2002/09/20; Completed 2002/10/16; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12240737, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Attention - physiology
Brain Mapping
Cerebral Cortex - physiology
Color Perception - physiology
Female

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