Adaptation to conflict via context-driven anticipatory signals in the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex

J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 9;31(45):16208-16. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2783-11.2011.

Abstract

Behavioral interference elicited by competing response tendencies adapts to contextual changes. Recent nonhuman primate research suggests a key mnemonic role of distinct prefrontal cells in supporting such context-driven behavioral adjustments by maintaining conflict information across trials, but corresponding prefrontal functions have yet to be probed in humans. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated the human neural substrates of contextual adaptations to conflict. We found that a neural system comprising the rostral dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and portions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex specifically encodes the history of previously experienced conflict and influences subsequent adaptation to conflict on a trial-by-trial basis. This neural system became active in anticipation of stimulus onsets during preparatory periods and interacted with a second neural system engaged during the processing of conflict. Our findings suggest that a dynamic interaction between a system that represents conflict history and a system that resolves conflict underlies the contextual adaptation to conflict.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological / physiology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Mapping*
  • Child
  • Conflict, Psychological*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Prefrontal Cortex / blood supply
  • Prefrontal Cortex / physiology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Regression Analysis
  • Signal Detection, Psychological / physiology*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Oxygen