File:PremotorTheoryOfAttention Fig3.jpg

Comparison of responses to overt (left panel) and covert (right panel) shifts of attention in a single subject, reported by Beauchamp, Petit, Ellmore, Ingeholm, Haxby (Neuroimage. 2001, 14:310-321). Subjects were required to made either overt attentional shifts or covert attentional shifts. Both overt and covert shifts of visuospatial attention induced activations in the precentral sulcus, intraparietal sulcus, and lateral occipital cortex that were of greater amplitude for overt than during covert shifting, reflecting additional activity associated with saccade execution. These results confirmed that overt and covert attentional shifts are subserved by the same network of areas. This network includes the putative human homologue of monkey frontal eye fields (FEF) that is known to be involved in voluntary control of eye movements. Color scale indicates significance of activation. PreCS, precentral sulcus; IPS, intraparietal sulcus