Neural correlates of establishing, maintaining, and switching brain states.
Yi-Yuan Tang, Mary K Rothbart, Michael I Posner
Trends in Cognitive Sciences June 2012 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2012.05.001 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key findings | Argues that the anterior cingulate cortex and striatum are critical for maintaining a brain state, while the insula has a major role in switching between states. Proposes that brain state may predict performance on perceptual, memory, and problem-solving tasks, making brain state understanding central to understanding human performance. |
Abstract
Although the study of brain states is an old one in neuroscience, there has been growing interest in brain state specification owing to MRI studies tracing brain connectivity at rest. In this review, we summarize recent research on three relatively well-described brain states: the resting, alert, and meditation states. We explore the neural correlates of maintaining a state or switching between states, and argue that the anterior cingulate cortex and striatum play a critical role in state maintenance, whereas the insula has a major role in switching between states. Brain state may serve as a predictor of performance in a variety of perceptual, memory, and problem solving tasks. Thus, understanding brain states is critical for understanding human performance.
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