Abstract
BackgroundInterference resolution refers to cognitive control processes enabling one to focus on task-related information while filtering out unrelated information. But the exact neural areas, which underlie a specific cognitive task on interference resolution, are still equivocal. The multi-source interference task (MSIT), as a particular cognitive task, is a well-established experimental paradigm used to evaluate interference resolution. Studies combining the MSIT with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown that the MSIT evokes the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and cingulate–frontal–parietal cognitive-attentional networks. However, these brain areas have not been evaluated quantitatively and these findings have not been replicated.MethodsIn the current study, we firstly report a voxel-based meta-analysis of functional brain activation associated with the MSIT so as to identify the localization of interference resolution in such a specific cognitive task. Articles on MSIT-related fMRI published between 2003 and July 2017 were eligible. The electronic databases searched included PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar. Differential BOLD activation patterns between the incongruent and congruent condition were meta-analyzed in anisotropic effect-size signed differential mapping software.ResultsRobustness meta-analysis indicated that two significant activation clusters were shown to have reliable functional activity in comparisons between incongruent and congruent conditions. The first reliable activation cluster, which included the dACC, medial prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, replicated the previous MSIT-related fMRI study results. Furthermore, we found another reliable activation cluster comprising areas of the right insula, right inferior frontal gyrus, and right lenticular nucleus-putamen, which were not typically discussed in previous MSIT-related fMRI studies.ConclusionsThe current meta-analysis study presents the reliable brain activation patterns on MSIT. These findings suggest that the cingulate-frontal-striatum network and right insula may allow control demands to resolve interference on MSIT. These results provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying interference resolution.
Highlights
Interference resolution refers to cognitive control processes enabling one to focus on task-related information while filtering out unrelated information
The spatial position of the unique target matches its correct button-press response in the congruent condition (e.g., “1XX” or “100”, the unique targets were “1” and the button was responded at the 1st position) and is in conflict with its correct button-press response in the incongruent condition (e.g., “331”, the unique targets were “1” but the button was responded at the 3nd position)
A total of 603 papers were found and assessed to determine if they met the following criteria: (1) an original article published in a peerreviewed English-language journal; (2) a study employed multi-source interference task (MSIT) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a healthy control group; (3) the BOLD fMRI technique was used; (4) MSIT stimuli were numbers and MSIT trials included both incongruent and congruent conditions, as in Fig. 1; (5) the fMRI data were analyzed by contrasting of incongruent versus congruent conditions; (6) a whole-brain, voxel-wise analysis was applied in the fMRI data analysis; and (7) fMRI activation clusters were reported in Talairach or MNI coordinates
Summary
Interference resolution refers to cognitive control processes enabling one to focus on task-related information while filtering out unrelated information. The multi-source interference task (MSIT), as a particular cognitive task, is a well-established experimental paradigm used to evaluate interference resolution. Studies combining the MSIT with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have shown that the MSIT evokes the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and cingulate–frontal–parietal cognitive-attentional networks. These brain areas have not been evaluated quantitatively and these findings have not been replicated. The multi-source interference task (MSIT) is a cognitively demanding well established paradigm for assessment of cognitive interference. In the MSIT, an interference effect is indexed by the difference in reaction time between incongruent and congruent conditions
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