Early visual cortex is not functionally necessary for temporal attention: A TMS study

Early visual cortex (V1/V2) is not functionally necessary for endogenous temporal attention, as temporal attention benefits persisted across T1-, T2-, both-, and none-TMS conditions.

• Why it matters: Prior work has mixed temporal attention with temporal expectation or relied on correlations, leaving the causal role of early visual cortex unclear.
• What they did: Observers did an orientation-discrimination task with valid or neutral temporal precues, while double-pulse TMS targeted V1/V2 at T1, at T2, at both, or not at all; pupil size verified stimulation efficacy.
• The result: Temporal attention improved d', reaction time, and the Balanced Integration Score (BIS) across all four TMS conditions, implying occipital TMS did not disrupt temporal attention.

AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.