Abstract:
Maintaining a goal-directed behavior requires selectively attending to a subset of the sensory input at the expense of the rest of the input. At the same time, a surveillance mechanism must be in operation, so that deviant or novel events may bring about reorientation of attention and avoidance of potential hazards. Event- related potential (ERP) studies in patients with lateral prefrontal damage, due mainly to stroke, reveal deficits in all of these components of the attentional system. These deficits may explain some pervasive neuropsychological impairment in these patients.