The location probability effects of saccade reaction times are modulated in the frontal eye fields but not in the supplementary eye field

Chia Lun Liu, Philip Tseng, Hui Yen Chiau, Wei Kuang Liang, Daisy L. Hung, Ovid J.L. Tzeng, Neil G. Muggleton, Chi Hung Juan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The visual system constantly utilizes regularities that are embedded in the environment and by doing so reduces the computational burden of processing visual information. Recent findings have demonstrated that probabilistic information can override attentional effects, such as the cost of making an eye movement away from a visual target (antisaccade cost). The neural substrates of such probability effects have been associated with activity in the superior colliculus (SC). Given the immense reciprocal connections to SC, it is plausible that this modulation originates from higher oculomotor regions, such as the frontal eye field (FEF) and the supplementary eye field (SEF). To test this possibility, the present study employed theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to selectively interfere with FEF and SEF activity. We found that TMS disrupted the effect of location probability when TMS was applied over FEF. This was not observed in the SEF TMS condition. Together, these 2 experiments suggest that the FEF plays a critical role not only in initiating saccades but also in modulating the effects of location probability on saccade production.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1416-1425
Number of pages10
JournalCerebral Cortex
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2011

Keywords

  • FEF
  • location probability
  • saccadic reaction time
  • theta burst TMS

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The location probability effects of saccade reaction times are modulated in the frontal eye fields but not in the supplementary eye field'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this