Functional organisation of saccades and antisaccades in the frontal lobe in humans: a study with echo planar functional magnetic resonance imaging

The cortical activation pattern of saccades and antisaccades (versus rest) in the frontal lobe was analysed using an echo planar imaging (EPI) technique in 10 healthy subjects. Statistical analysis of activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex disclosed a significantly greater activation during antisaccades in this region than during saccades. On the other hand, activity in the frontal eye fields was not statistically different in both tasks. These results confirm the important role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for the correct performance of antisaccades obtained by studies in humans with isolated lesions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.