Frontal eye field stimulation modulates the balance of salience between target and distractors

Abstract

Natural scenes generally include several possible objects that can be the target for a shift of gaze and attention. The oculomotor system may select a single target by boosting neural activation representing the target, and also by inhibiting neural activity associated with competing alternatives (distractors). We examine the role of the frontal eye field (FEF) in these processes through the effects of single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the distractor-related modulation of saccade trajectories. Participants made voluntary saccades to peripheral locations specified by a central arrow-cue. On some trials, visual distractors appeared remote from the target location. The competing distractor produced a deviation of saccade trajectory, away from the distractor location. Single-pulse TMS stimulation of the right frontal eye field increased this distractor-related deviation compared that observed when stimulation was applied to a control site (vertex). The increase in distractor-related deviation of trajectory, following FEF stimulation, was observed for saccades made in both the left and right visual fields and could not be attributed to an effect of TMS on saccade latency. The enhanced distractor-related deviation following FEF stimulation could reflect increased inhibition of the competing distractor, or reduced salience of the endogenous saccade goal. The results are interpreted in light of neurophysiological evidence that the human FEF is involved in the dynamic interaction between competing stimuli for the selection of a candidate target.