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Causal role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down modulation of visual processing and working memory

Open access
Zanto, Theodore P, Rubens, Michael T, Thangavel, Arul, Gazzaley, Adam·2011·Nature Neuroscience

Abstract

Selective attention filters information to limit what is encoded and maintained in working memory. Although the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is central to both selective attention and working memory, the underlying neural processes that link these cognitive abilities remain elusive. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to guide repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation with electroencephalographic recordings in humans, we perturbed PFC function at the inferior frontal junction in participants before they performed a selective-attention, delayed-recognition task. This resulted in diminished top-down modulation of activity in posterior cortex during early encoding stages, which predicted a subsequent decrement in working memory accuracy. Participants with stronger fronto-posterior functional connectivity displayed greater disruptive effects. Our data further suggests that broad alpha-band (7–14 Hz) phase coherence subserved this long-distance top-down modulation. These results suggest that top-down modulation mediated by the prefrontal cortex is a causal link between early attentional processes and subsequent memory performance.

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Metadata

Authors
Zanto, T. P., Rubens, M. T., Thangavel, A., & Gazzaley, A.
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Published
2011-03-27
Volume
14
Issue
5
Pages
656-661
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
OpenAlex
W2117049078
Cited by
661
References
16
FWCI
28.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
green

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Causal role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down modulation of visual processing and working memory. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1038/nn.2773
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Zanto, T. P., Rubens, M. T., Thangavel, A., & Gazzaley, A. (2011). Causal role of the prefrontal cortex in top-down modulation of visual processing and working memory. Nature Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2773

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