Long-Range Attention Networks: Circuit Motifs Underlying Endogenously Controlled Stimulus Selection

Authors

Thilo Womelsdorf, Department of Biology, Centre for Vision Research, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M6J 1P3, Canada. Electronic address: thiwom@yorku.ca.
Stefan Everling, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street North, Ontario N6A 5B7, Canada.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2015

Journal

Trends in neurosciences

Volume

38

Issue

11

First Page

682

Last Page

700

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1016/j.tins.2015.08.009

Abstract

Attention networks comprise brain areas whose coordinated activity implements stimulus selection. This selection is reflected in spatially referenced priority maps across frontal-parietal-collicular areas and is controlled through interactions with circuits representing behavioral goals, including prefrontal, cingulate, and striatal circuits, among others. We review how these goal-providing structures control stimulus selection through long-range dynamic projection motifs. These motifs (i) combine feature-tuned subnetworks to a distributed priority map, (ii) establish endogenously controlled, long-range coherent activity at 4-10 Hz theta and 12-30 Hz beta-band frequencies, and (iii) are composed of unique cell types implementing long-range networks through disynaptic disinhibition, dendritic gating, and feedforward inhibitory gain control. This evidence reveals common circuit motifs used to coordinate attentionally selected information across multi-node brain networks during goal-directed behavior.