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Alma universitas studiorum parmensis A.D. 962 - Università di Parma
Università degli Studi di Parma

Multimodal characterization of frontal networks involved in attentive functions

Finanziato dall'Unione europea - NextGenerationEU
Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca
Italia Domani - Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza
Prin 2022 PNRR
Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia
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Details

ERC sector
SH4 - The Human Mind and Its Complexity
ERC subsector
SH4_5 - Attention, perception, action, consciousness
Project start date
CUP
D53D23020620001
Financial support received
€119.720,00

Description and purpose

Visual attention relies on top-down (DAN) and bottom-up (VAN) control. Neurosurgical data show that preserving right frontal white-matter fibers, whose stimulation disrupts Stroop and IVsat tasks, relieves postoperative attention deficits. These findings challenge corticocentric models by highlighting descending white-matter tracts’ role. Our project combines DES, patient MRI, and fMRI to map cortico-subcortical connectivity of visuospatial attention. 

Purpose

The main scope of the present project is to identify and describe cortical and subcortical frontal networks involved in attentive functions adopting a multimodal framework. To this aim, the present project takes advantage of 1) the unique opportunity of direct interaction with the brain in the setting of intraoperative brain mapping during neurosurgical procedures and 2) the availability of several non-invasive imaging techniques to study brain functions (functional MRI) in healthy volunteers.

Expected results

Using VLSM (Virtual Lesion Symptom Mapping) and intraoperative mapping, we aim to identify frontal cortical and subcortical regions crucial for visuospatial attention in tumor patients. fMRI in healthy subjects will reveal the functional and structural organization of these structures involved in attentive process. Integrated into a multimodal model, these results will improve the knowledge of attentive disorders (e.g., Parkinson, ADHD).

Achieved results

The integration of neurosurgical brain mapping results with functional and structural connectivity data in healthy subjects allowed us to identify the frontal cortical and subcortical structures underlying visual attention. Furthermore, the analysis of structural functional interactions revealed the different role of subcortical structures in the bottom up and top-down control of executive functions.

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