Domain general sequence operations contribute to pre-SMA involvement in visuo-spatial processing

This study used 3t mri to elucidate the functional role of supplementary motor area (sma) in relation to visuo-spatial processing. a localizer task contrasting sequential number subtraction and repetitive button pressing was used to functionally delineate non-motor sequence processing in pre-sma,and activity in sma-proper associated with motor sequencing. patterns of bold responses in these regions were then contrasted to those from two tasks of visuo-spatial processing. in one task participants performed mental rotation (mr) in which recognition memory judgments were made to previously memorized 2d novel patterns across image-plane rotations. the other task involved abstract grid navigation (gn) in which observers computed a series of imagined location shifts in response to directional (arrow) cues around a mental grid. the results showed overlapping activation in pre-sma for sequential subtraction and both visuo-spatial tasks. these results suggest that visuo-spatial processing is supported by non-motor sequence operations that involve pre-sma. more broadly,these data further highlight the functional heterogeneity of pre-sma,and show that its role extends to processes beyond the planning and online control of movement. © 2016 leek,yuen and johnston.