A FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY OF AUDITORY VIGILANCE WITH LOW AND HIGH INFORMATION-PROCESSING DEMANDS

This study identified the brain activations associated with auditory v igilance tasks, using functional magnetic resonance imaging. We create d auditory continuous performance tests (CPTs) in which a demanding ta sk (working memory task) was made more difficult than a simple vigilan ce task by increasing working memory and interference filtering demand s. Two cohorts of normal male controls performed significantly worse o n the working memory CPT than on the vigilance task. Compared to the V igilance task, performance of the working memory task produced signifi cant signal change in lateral and medial prefrontal cortex, precentral cortex, temporal lobe, including insula and hippocampus, parietal-occ ipital cortex, cingulate, thalamus, and superior colliculus. Performan ce and degree of activation was associated with an estimate of IQ. Fur ther research should clarify the contributions of working memory and i nterference filtering to the activated network.