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Paper by Dr. Abe et. al. Published in Scientific Reports

The research paper “Collaborative roles of TJDPC in Different Types of Behavioural Flexibility” by Dr. Nobuhito Abe et. al. was recently published in Scientific Reports.
In this study, brain functions underlying behavioural flexibility (e.g., shifting attention) were investigated using fMRI. Previous studies have suggested that flexibility is mainly promoted by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, this study hypothesized that TPJ activity during diverse flexibility tasks also plays a role in stimulus-driven attention-shifting, thereby contributing to different types of flexibility. Thus the collaboration between DLPFC and TPJ might serve as a more appropriate mechanism than DLPFC alone. The results indicated that the TPJ plays a crucial role in flexibility, as the combined DLPFC/TPJ recruited during moral flexibility predicted flexibility in other domains of flexibility (e.g., economic, perceptual).

1710abe_SR.pngTei S, Fujino J, Kawada R, Jankowski KF, Kauppi J, van den Bos W, Abe N, Sugihara G, Miyata J, Murai T, Takahashi H (2017). Collaborative roles of temporoparietal junction and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in different types of behavioural flexibility. Scientific Reports 7 (1): 6415
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-06662-6 ※with Authentication
○Abstract
Behavioural flexibility is essential for everyday life. This involves shifting attention between different perspectives. Previous studies suggest that flexibility is mainly subserved by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). However, although rarely emphasized, the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is frequently recruited during flexible behaviour. A crucial question is whether TPJ plays a role in different types of flexibility, compared to its limited role in perceptual flexibility. We hypothesized that TPJ activity during diverse flexibility tasks plays a common role in stimulus-driven attention-shifting, thereby contributing to different types of flexibility, and thus the collaboration between DLPFC and TPJ might serve as a more appropriate mechanism than DLPFC alone. We used fMRI to measure DLPFC/TPJ activity recruited during moral flexibility, and examined its effect on other domains of flexibility (economic/perceptual). Here, we show the additional, yet crucial role of TPJ: a combined DLPFC/TPJ activity predicted flexibility, regardless of domain. Different types of flexibility might rely on more basic attention-shifting, which highlights the behavioural significance of alternatives.

2017/10/18

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