How is cognitive control of a simple mental image achieved? An fMRI study.

The aim of this study was to determine the brain regions associated with suppressing the image of an object. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during five mental tasks (imagining, suppressing, erasing, free thinking and resting) performed by the subjects. The analysis showed that the suppressing, erasing and imagining conditions all activated the parietal and prefrontal regions to a different extent. These results suggest that the regions associated with cognitive control were also activated while a simple mental process was performed. Additionally, the results showed that the parietal lobe is the key region for the suppression of a mental image.