Different types of target probability have different prefrontal consequences

One of the factors known to affect target detection is target probability. It is clear, though, that target probability can be manipulated in different ways. Here, in order to more accurately characterize the effects of target probability on frontal engagement, we examined the effects of two commonly-used but different target probability manipulations on neural activity. We found that manipulations that affected global stimulus class probability had a pronounced effect on ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula, an effect which was absent with manipulations that only affected the likelihood of specific target stimuli occurring. This latter manipulation only modulated activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the precentral sulcus. Our data suggest two key points. First, different types of target probability have different neural consequences, and may therefore be very different in nature. Second, the data indicate that ventral and dorsal portions of prefrontal cortex respond to different types of task-relevant information.

► Here, we characterized the effects of target probability on frontal activation. ► Different types of target probability had different DLPFC and VLPFC consequences. ► We suggest DLPFC and VLPFC may be sensitive to different types of task information.