Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4354245 Trends in Neurosciences 2015 19 Pages PDF
Abstract

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.

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