Researchers of the University of Granada have demonstrated that patients who have damage to the right prefrontal cortex of the brain -the part involved in anticipation and quick reaction to stimuli- present a deficit in intentional anticipation (for example, when we put the vehicle in gear before the light turns green). However, these patients keep unintentional anticipation functions intact, which could help develop new therapies.
This study was published in the last issue of the prestigious journal Brain, and was led by M-nica Trivi-o (Department of Neuropsychology, University Hospital San Rafael, in Granada) and -ngel Correa, Marisa Arnedo and Juan Lupi--ez (Department of Experimental Psychology and Behavioural Physiology, University of Granada).
What is important about the study is that the researchers of the University of Granada have studied for the first time the neural basis in temporal preparation in patients and its connection to other two effects: the reaction-stimulus interval effect, and sequential effects. To this purpose, patients who had prefrontal damage, patients with injuries to basal ganglia circuits and healthy individuals underwent an experimental test.
Methodology
Patients were shown a sign that anticipated a stimulus to which a reaction was expected. The sign did not always anticipate correctly the stimulus, since it sometimes was shown too early or too late. Consequently, there were valid tests (the stimulus appeared just after the sign) and invalid tests (the sign and the stimulus were not synchronized, since the sign was shown too early or too late).