Prefrontal attentional saccades explore space rhythmically

Corentin Gaillard, Sameh Ben Hadj Hassen, Fabio Di Bello, Yann Bihan-Poudec, Rufin VanRullen and Suliann Ben Hamed ()
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Corentin Gaillard: Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I
Sameh Ben Hadj Hassen: Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I
Fabio Di Bello: Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I
Yann Bihan-Poudec: Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I
Rufin VanRullen: Université Paul Sabatier, UMR 5549
Suliann Ben Hamed: Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, CNRS UMR 5229, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Recent studies suggest that attention samples space rhythmically through oscillatory interactions in the frontoparietal network. How these attentional fluctuations coincide with spatial exploration/displacement and exploitation/selection by a dynamic attentional spotlight under top-down control is unclear. Here, we show a direct contribution of prefrontal attention selection mechanisms to a continuous space exploration. Specifically, we provide a direct high spatio-temporal resolution prefrontal population decoding of the covert attentional spotlight. We show that it continuously explores space at a 7–12 Hz rhythm. Sensory encoding and behavioral reports are increased at a specific optimal phase w/ to this rhythm. We propose that this prefrontal neuronal rhythm reflects an alpha-clocked sampling of the visual environment in the absence of eye movements. These attentional explorations are highly flexible, how they spatially unfold depending both on within-trial and across-task contingencies. These results are discussed in the context of exploration-exploitation strategies and prefrontal top-down attentional control.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14649-7

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