TMS of supplementary motor area (SMA) facilitates mental rotation performance: Evidence for sequence processing in SMA.

摘要: Abstract In the present study we applied online transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) bursts at 10 Hz to supplementary motor area (SMA) and primary cortex test whether these regions are causally involved in mental rotation. Furthermore, order investigate what is specific role played by SMA cortex, two rotation tasks were used, which included pictures of hands abstract objects, respectively. While did not affect performance, improved performance task with object stimuli, only for pairs stimuli that had higher angular disparity between each other (i.e., 100° 150°). The finding effect was modulated amount spatial orientation information indicates very act More specifically, propose mediates domain-general sequence processes, likely required accumulate integrate are, this context, spatial. possible physiological mechanisms underlying facilitation due discussed.