Long-Range Attention Networks: Circuit Motifs Underlying Endogenously Controlled Stimulus Selection

Attention networks comprise brain areas whose coordinated activity implements stimulus selection. This selection is reflected in spatially referenced priority maps across frontal-parietal-collicular areas and is controlled through interactions with circuits representing behavioral goals, including prefrontal, cingulate, and striatal circuits, among others. We review how these goal-providing structures control stimulus selection through long-range dynamic projection motifs. These motifs (i) combine feature-tuned subnetworks to a distributed priority map, (ii) establish endogenously controlled, long-range coherent activity at 4–10 Hz theta and 12–30 Hz beta-band frequencies, and (iii) are composed of unique cell types implementing long-range networks through disynaptic disinhibition, dendritic gating, and feedforward inhibitory gain control. This evidence reveals common circuit motifs used to coordinate attentionally selected information across multi-node brain networks during goal-directed behavior.

TrendsAttentional selection is distributed across a fronto-parieto-collicular priority map.Attentional control originates in multiple distributed prefrontal-subcortical goal systems.Coordination of attention networks proceeds through large-scale phase synchronization.Cell-specific circuit motifs route attention information at beta and theta bands.