title: The role of the right superior temporal gyrus in visual search-insights from intraoperative electrical stimulation.
abstract: Intraoperative electrical stimulation in awake patients is a seminal technique during brain surgery allowing one to infer the function of brain areas by temporary inactivation. Using this technique, we found that inactivation of the middle portion of the superior temporal gyrus (STG) leads to disturbed serial exploratory visual search. The data supplement recent findings by Ellison et al. [Ellison, A., Schindler, I., Pattison, L. L., & Milner, A. D. (2004). An exploration of the role of the superior temporal gyrus in visual search and spatial perception using TMS. Brain, 127, 2307-2315] using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the STG in healthy subjects. Our data demonstrate that the STG is integral to human exploration behaviour and challenge the traditional view that only the right posterior parietal cortex is involved in the mediation of visual search processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gharabaghi
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fruhmann Berger
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatagiba
authors.forename: Hans-Otto
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Karnath
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*