Skip to content
Mental-health — Journal — Learning — Undergraduate — Science — Research — Mental — Health-and-wellness — Fitness-and-exercise — Graduate

Attention-focusing circuit admits diverse input sources

Research at MIT reveals key insights into a crucial aspect of cognitive processes: the ability to concentrate on a single item among many, along with the capacity to switch focus.

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
A study conducted at MIT aims to decode the mysteries surrounding a crucial aspect of cognitive...
A study conducted at MIT aims to decode the mysteries surrounding a crucial aspect of cognitive function: selective attention, including the ability to focus on one object amidst many and transition attention.

Attention-focusing circuit admits diverse input sources

In a fascinating venture, scientists at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory decided to shine a light on the complex circuit that governs our ability to focus, that magical skill called selective attention. These researchers meticulously mapped out a network that links the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the lateral posterior (LP) thalamus, demonstrating how intricately the mammalian brain gathers and harmonizes information to concentrate its sensory resources on its goals.

Diving into the murine world, they traced a multitude of channels into this circuit, a dynamic dance between the ACC and the LP thalamus. Studies in humans and primates have pointed to the critical role these two regions play in functions such as zeroing in on a standout object amidst a bustling scene, explains study co-lead author Yi Ning Leow, a graduate student in the lab of senior author Mriganka Sur, the Newton Professor in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Past research has linked dysfunction in this circuit to disorders such as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

The new study, published in the Journal of Comparative Neurology, pushes the envelope of our knowledge by painting a detailed portrait of this circuit in mice - a fantastic find as it emphasizes striking similarities with the primate version, despite the LP being comparatively smaller and less evolved than the pulvinar in primates.

"We have been able to find very similar circuits in these rodent models," Leow remarks. "This means we might also study these higher-level functions in mice, as we have better genetic tools to scrutinize this circuit in mice."

With the new study serving as a blueprint, Leow is now ready to listen in on the conversations happening within this circuit by tapping into its feeds and correlating the information flow with behavior.

"This study sets the stage for understanding one of the most pivotal, yet elusive, aspects of brain function: our ability to single out one thing from many and shift attention quickly," Sur says.

Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and Lateral Posterior (LP) Thalamus: The powerhouses of selective attention

  • Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC): The ACC is the unsung hero of attentional control and error detection. It acts as a filter, evaluating the importance of sensory info and detecting conflicts to enable the focusing of attention on relevant stimuli, while disregarding irrelevant inputs.
  • Lateral Posterior (LP) Thalamus: The LP thalamus juggles sensory processing and the relaying of information between the sensory cortex and other brain regions. It guides attention toward specific sensory inputs, making it easier to select relevant info for more in-depth analysis.

The choreographed interplay between the ACC and LP thalamus is vital for cortico-thalamo-cortical circuits, which are critical for cognitive abilities like attention. These circuits facilitate the bi-directional exchange of information, enabling sensory input to be modified and focused attention to be directed.

Implications and Disorders: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

In ASD, there could be challenges stemming from abnormalities in neural circuits like those involving the thalamus and ACC, leading to difficulties in filtering out unnecessary sensory information and resulting in sensory overload.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is characterized by attentional control difficulties. The dysfunction in networks comprising the ACC and thalamic structures is thought to underlie these attentional deficits, with disrupted connections potentially impairing the ability to focus on tasks and maintain sustained attention.

In summary, the circuit between the ACC and LP thalamus plays a central role in selective attention, and disruptions in this circuit may contribute to attentional deficits seen in disorders like ASD and ADHD. A greater understanding of these pathways can inspire new insights into these disorders' underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

  1. The study, led by Mriganka Sur and graduates at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, revealed the significance of the ACC and Lateral Posterior (LP) Thalamus in selective attention.
  2. With detailed mapping, the research showed the intricate connection between these regions, demonstrating how they harmonize information and concentrate sensory resources.
  3. Activities such as focusing on a standout object amidst a bustling scene rely on the functions of these two brain regions in both humans and rodents.
  4. Studies have linked dysfunction in this circuit to disorders such as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), suggesting potential therapeutic targets for mental health issues.
  5. The understanding of the ACC's role as a filter for important sensory information and the LP Thalamus's management of sensory processing enables researchers to explore higher-level functions and the underlying mechanisms of mental health and wellness-related disorders like ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Read also:

    Related

    Latest