Dissociating the Role of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal and Anterior Cingulate Cortex in Cognitive Control

TLDR

Theories of cognition regulation posit a system with two essential components: one that implements control and another that monitors performance and signals needed adjustments. The study aimed to determine whether the implementation and monitoring components of cognitive control have distinct neural bases in the human brain. Event‑related fMRI and a task‑switching Stroop task were employed to examine the neural substrates of these components. A double dissociation was observed: the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was more active during task preparation for color naming than for word reading, indicating a role in implementing control, while the anterior cingulate cortex was more active during responses to incongruent stimuli, indicating a role in performance monitoring.

Abstract

Theories of the regulation of cognition suggest a system with two necessary components: one to implement control and another to monitor performance and signal when adjustments in control are needed. Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging and a task-switching version of the Stroop task were used to examine whether these components of cognitive control have distinct neural bases in the human brain. A double dissociation was found. During task preparation, the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 9) was more active for color naming than for word reading, consistent with a role in the implementation of control. In contrast, the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann's areas 24 and 32) was more active when responding to incongruent stimuli, consistent with a role in performance monitoring.