The functional anatomy and hemispheric specialization for directed attention The role of the parietal lobe and its connectivity

Abstract The ability to direct attention towards behaviorally relevant sensory events within the extrapersonal space is modulated by a complex cerebral network which includes cortical and subcortical components. The posterior parietal cortex of the inferior parietal lobule, the periarcuate region (including the frontal eye fields), and cingulate cortex constitute its three major cortical components. The anatomical connectivity within this network explains why disturbances of directed attention in the form of unilateral neglect emerge after lesions of several widely separated cerebral areas. In the human, clinical and electrophysiological observations suggest that the right hemisphere of the brain is specialized for the processes of directed attention.

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