Functionally distinct contributions of parietal cortex to a numerical landmark task: an fMRI study

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2018

Source: Cortex

Author(s): Muhammet Ikbal Sahan, Steve Majerus, Michael Andres, Wim Fias

Abstract

This study aimed at establishing the neural basis of magnitude processing of multiple numbers from working memory. We designed a numerical landmark task and embedded it in a fragmented trial event-related fMRI design, allowing to separate encoding from decision processing. An attentional localiser task not involving numbers allowed further functional specification. The results show that in a numerical landmark task the right anterior intraparietal sulcus is involved in number encoding while more posterior parietal regions, bilateral superior parietal lobule and right inferior parietal lobule, provide domain-general support in the form of constructing a working memory representation or orienting spatial attention within that mental representation during number comparison. The results are in line with earlier studies reporting a functional distinction between anterior and posterior parietal contributions to number processing and further specify their role at a functional level.

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