Lead author David Badre, assistant professor of cognitive and linguistic sciences at Brown University since 2007, conducted the study at the University of California–Berkeley as a postdoctoral fellow.

Abstract actions can be controlled at an abstract level, such as deciding to make a sandwich, or at more concrete and specific levels, such as choosing a sequence of movements that make the sandwich.

The scientific data supports preexisting theories that abstract decisions about action take place in the front of the frontal lobe, the back portion controls the capacity for concrete decisions, and the progression from front to back forms a gradient from abstract to concrete.

The study is among the first to show that specific areas of the frontal cortex are needed for different levels of abstract decision.

The finding, detailed March 1 in the journal Nature Neuroscience, represents a huge leap in comprehending how the brain supports higher level cognition and intelligent behavior. It could lead to advances in everything from the treatment of strokes to understanding how humans develop thought. “It is among the strongest evidence to date for a systemic organization of the frontal cortex,” Badre said.

The frontal cortex of brain has been long known to affect the internal control of behavior. It controls the capacity to plan, reason, conduct higher-level thinking and connect what we know about the world to how we behave.

Badre and his collaborators at Berkeley came to their conclusion by studying stroke victims who suffered damage to different parts of the frontal lobe. The patients all suffered a stroke at least six months prior to testing. All were screened with an MRI or CT scan to determine where any lesions existed in the brain post-stroke.

The scientists recruited 11 patients — seven men and four women, ranging from age 45 to 73. A 12th patient was recruited but could not perform any of the tests involved.

Researchers gave the patients four different tests that ultimately required selecting a finger-press response. For example, the first test would show a color such as red, which required an index finger push. Blue would trigger the middle finger. The test would then become more difficult by adding more alternate finger presses.

Patients faced greater challenges in selecting a response as subsequent, progressive tests became more complex, with more abstract options.

Badre and colleagues found that damage at a given location affected more abstract decisions but left intact the capacity for more concrete decisions. “If there is damage in a given spot, it will affect all higher (decision-making) functions but not lower functions,” Badre said.

The National Institutes of Health, Veterans Administration Research Service and a National Research Service Award supported the research.

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Materials provided by Brown University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

1. David Badre, Joshua Hoffman, Jeffrey W Cooney & Mark D'Esposito. Hierarchical cognitive control deficits following damage to the human frontal lobe. Nature Neuroscience, 2009; DOI: 10.1038/nn.2277