Functional division and synergy of cognitive control and salience processing in category-based attentional selection: Evidence from fMRI*

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0603

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WU Xia, LI Yiwei, SUN Xiaoya, CHEN Ying, JIANG Yunpeng, CHEN Yan. (2026). Functional division and synergy of cognitive control and salience processing in category-based attentional selection: Evidence from fMRI^*. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 58(4), 603-617.

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URL: https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1041.2026.0603

https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/Y2026/V58/I4/603

Figures/Tables 12

Figure 1. Examples of procedure in Experiment.

Figure 1. Examples of procedure in Experiment.

Figure 2. Accuracy (%) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.
Note. *** indicates p < 0.001, * indicates p < 0.05, and ns indicates p ≥ 0.05. The same notation is used below.

Figure 2. Accuracy (%) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.Note. *** indicates p < 0.001, * indicates p < 0.05, and ns indicates p ≥ 0.05. The same notation is used below.

Figure 3. Reaction time (ms) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.

Figure 3. Reaction time (ms) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.

Figure 4. IES (ms) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.

Figure 4. IES (ms) under different cognitive load, salience level, and salience relevance conditions.

Figure 5. Main effects of cognitive load and salience level.
(a) Load-related regions (high load > low load).(b) Salience-related regions (oddball > standard). Red voxels indicate increased activation; blue voxels indicate decreased activation.

Figure 5. Main effects of cognitive load and salience level.(a) Load-related regions (high load > low load).(b) Salience-related regions (oddball > standard). Red voxels indicate increased activation; blue voxels indicate decreased activation.

Table 1 Brain regions showing the main effects of cognitive load and salience level (FDR, p < 0.05, k ≥ 46)

Conditions Contrast	Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Conditions Contrast	Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
High > Low	superior parietal lobule	L	7	?24	?72	48	164980	13.34
	superior parietal lobule	R	7	24	?72	52	3935	11.77
	cerebellar peduncle I	L		?34	?70	?28	1690	8.77
	insula	L	45	?32	22	10	1647	8.17
	insula	R	45	32	18	12	1004	10.15
	thalamus	R		16	?14	18	637	6.61
	middle frontal gyrus	L	10	?30	50	20	219	5.4
	calcarine fissure	R	17	16	?70	10	84	4.22
	calcarine fissure	L	17	?14	?74	10	67	3.81
High < Low	cuneus	R	18	16	?94	12	4110	10.09
	superior frontal gyrus	R	8	22	44	48	2714	7.09
	lingual gyrus	R	18	10	?74	?2	1661	9.09
	angular gyrus	L	39	?44	?76	46	1569	8.3
	inferior parietal lobule	R	39	58	?60	42	1563	7.03
	medial superior frontal gyrus	R	10	14	64	12	1411	6.27
	middle temporal gyrus	L	21	?60	?16	?12	492	5.78
	parahippocampal gyrus	L	36	?28	?26	?18	208	4.65
	IFG pars triangularis	L	45	?48	32	2	105	4.36
	cerebellar peduncle II	R		20	?82	?38	100	4.87
	cerebellar peduncle II	L		?42	?72	?36	89	4.01
	cerebellar lobule IX	L		?8	?50	?42	70	4.26
Oddball > Standard	precentral gyrus	L	6	?32	?8	60	9549	8.9
	cerebellar lobule VI	L		?32	?50	?22	4251	8.21
	angular gyrus	R	39	36	?56	40	2419	7.85
	insula	R	45	34	20	10	363	4.43
	thalamus	L		?12	?24	8	224	4.94
	insula	L	13	?28	22	8	197	4.51
	caudate nucleus	R	48	12	6	12	178	4.67
	caudate nucleus	L	48	?14	8	14	173	5.19
	cerebellar lobule VIIB	L		?28	?76	?50	115	4.86

Table 1 Brain regions showing the main effects of cognitive load and salience level (FDR, p < 0.05, k ≥ 46)

Conditions Contrast	Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Conditions Contrast	Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
High > Low	superior parietal lobule	L	7	?24	?72	48	164980	13.34
	superior parietal lobule	R	7	24	?72	52	3935	11.77
	cerebellar peduncle I	L		?34	?70	?28	1690	8.77
	insula	L	45	?32	22	10	1647	8.17
	insula	R	45	32	18	12	1004	10.15
	thalamus	R		16	?14	18	637	6.61
	middle frontal gyrus	L	10	?30	50	20	219	5.4
	calcarine fissure	R	17	16	?70	10	84	4.22
	calcarine fissure	L	17	?14	?74	10	67	3.81
High < Low	cuneus	R	18	16	?94	12	4110	10.09
	superior frontal gyrus	R	8	22	44	48	2714	7.09
	lingual gyrus	R	18	10	?74	?2	1661	9.09
	angular gyrus	L	39	?44	?76	46	1569	8.3
	inferior parietal lobule	R	39	58	?60	42	1563	7.03
	medial superior frontal gyrus	R	10	14	64	12	1411	6.27
	middle temporal gyrus	L	21	?60	?16	?12	492	5.78
	parahippocampal gyrus	L	36	?28	?26	?18	208	4.65
	IFG pars triangularis	L	45	?48	32	2	105	4.36
	cerebellar peduncle II	R		20	?82	?38	100	4.87
	cerebellar peduncle II	L		?42	?72	?36	89	4.01
	cerebellar lobule IX	L		?8	?50	?42	70	4.26
Oddball > Standard	precentral gyrus	L	6	?32	?8	60	9549	8.9
	cerebellar lobule VI	L		?32	?50	?22	4251	8.21
	angular gyrus	R	39	36	?56	40	2419	7.85
	insula	R	45	34	20	10	363	4.43
	thalamus	L		?12	?24	8	224	4.94
	insula	L	13	?28	22	8	197	4.51
	caudate nucleus	R	48	12	6	12	178	4.67
	caudate nucleus	L	48	?14	8	14	173	5.19
	cerebellar lobule VIIB	L		?28	?76	?50	115	4.86

Figure 6. Interaction between salience level and salience relevance.
(a) Brain regions associated with the interaction, (oddball ? standard) _{task-relevant} > (oddball ? standard) _{task-irrelevant}.(b) Simple- effect analysis: brain regions activated by the contrast between different salience levels under the task-relevant condition (oddball _{task-relevant}> standard _{task-relevant}).(c) Simple-effect analysis: brain regions activated by the contrast between different salience levels under the task-irrelevant condition (oddball _{task-irrelevant}> standard_{task-irrelevant}).Red indicates increased activation; blue indicates decreased activation.

Figure 6. Interaction between salience level and salience relevance.(a) Brain regions associated with the interaction, (oddball ? standard) task-relevant > (oddball ? standard) task-irrelevant.(b) Simple- effect analysis: brain regions activated by the contrast between different salience levels under the task-relevant condition (oddball task-relevant > standard task-relevant).(c) Simple-effect analysis: brain regions activated by the contrast between different salience levels under the task-irrelevant condition (oddball task-irrelevant > standard task-irrelevant).Red indicates increased activation; blue indicates decreased activation.

Table 2 Interaction between salience level and salience relevance and simple-effect analyses (uncorrected, p < 0.001, k ≥ 46)

Conditions Contrast		Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Conditions Contrast		Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
salience level × salience relevance		postcentral gyrus	L	1	?50	?34	54	6179	8.71
		superior parietal lobule	R	7	44	?46	58	1476	6.59
		cerebellar lobule VIII	R		20	?62	?52	415	7.92
		cerebellar lobule VI	R		30	?52	?30	396	7.96
		precentral gyrus	R	6	58	10	30	242	5.63
		precentral gyrus	L	6	?60	6	26	186	4.69
		insula	R	13	36	22	0	157	4.9
		cerebellar vermis	R		4	?66	?10	130	5.51
		insula	L	45	?32	20	8	112	5.33
		cerebellar lobule VI	L		?24	?58	?24	97	4.75
		cerebellar vermis	L		?2	?32	?2	68	4.67
		cerebellar lobule VIII	L		?26	?62	?54	55	6.28
Task-relevant	Oddball > Standard	precentral gyrus	L	6	?28	?12	52	127300	9.35
		cerebellar lobule VI	R		24	?58	?26	4829	8.88
		inferior parietal lobule	R	40	46	?40	54	3680	8.84
		IFG pars opercularis	L	6	?48	8	30	966	6.93
		caudate nucleus	R		14	8	12	675	5.52
		insula	L	13	?30	22	8	340	6.02
		thalamus	L		?12	?22	8	334	5.63
		cerebellar lobule VIIB	L		?26	?76	?50	333	5.64
		putamen	L		?22	2	8	178	5.03
	Oddball < Standard	posterior cingulate gyrus	L	23	?4	?50	32	1184	6.88
		anterior cingulate gyrus and paracingulate gyrus	L	10	?14	46	?4	389	5.43
		middle occipital gyrus	L	39	?42	?76	34	311	5.94
		precuneus	R	23	14	?54	20	310	5.38
		superior frontal gyrus	L	8	?18	34	46	284	5.49
		middle occipital gyrus	R	19	48	?78	26	114	6.61
		fusiform gyrus	L	37	?30	?38	?16	109	5.59
		central operculum	L	40	?28	?40	24	84	6.26
		middle temporal gyrus	L	21	?62	?6	?14	76	5.95
		IFG pars orbitalis	L	45	?54	30	?2	72	4.53
		cerebellar peduncle II	R		24	?78	?38	59	4.95
Task-irrelevant	Oddball > Standard	fusiform gyrus	L	37	?30	?44	?20	175	6.49
		lingual gyrus	R	19	32	?84	?18	49	5.32

Table 2 Interaction between salience level and salience relevance and simple-effect analyses (uncorrected, p < 0.001, k ≥ 46)

Conditions Contrast		Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Conditions Contrast		Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
salience level × salience relevance		postcentral gyrus	L	1	?50	?34	54	6179	8.71
		superior parietal lobule	R	7	44	?46	58	1476	6.59
		cerebellar lobule VIII	R		20	?62	?52	415	7.92
		cerebellar lobule VI	R		30	?52	?30	396	7.96
		precentral gyrus	R	6	58	10	30	242	5.63
		precentral gyrus	L	6	?60	6	26	186	4.69
		insula	R	13	36	22	0	157	4.9
		cerebellar vermis	R		4	?66	?10	130	5.51
		insula	L	45	?32	20	8	112	5.33
		cerebellar lobule VI	L		?24	?58	?24	97	4.75
		cerebellar vermis	L		?2	?32	?2	68	4.67
		cerebellar lobule VIII	L		?26	?62	?54	55	6.28
Task-relevant	Oddball > Standard	precentral gyrus	L	6	?28	?12	52	127300	9.35
		cerebellar lobule VI	R		24	?58	?26	4829	8.88
		inferior parietal lobule	R	40	46	?40	54	3680	8.84
		IFG pars opercularis	L	6	?48	8	30	966	6.93
		caudate nucleus	R		14	8	12	675	5.52
		insula	L	13	?30	22	8	340	6.02
		thalamus	L		?12	?22	8	334	5.63
		cerebellar lobule VIIB	L		?26	?76	?50	333	5.64
		putamen	L		?22	2	8	178	5.03
	Oddball < Standard	posterior cingulate gyrus	L	23	?4	?50	32	1184	6.88
		anterior cingulate gyrus and paracingulate gyrus	L	10	?14	46	?4	389	5.43
		middle occipital gyrus	L	39	?42	?76	34	311	5.94
		precuneus	R	23	14	?54	20	310	5.38
		superior frontal gyrus	L	8	?18	34	46	284	5.49
		middle occipital gyrus	R	19	48	?78	26	114	6.61
		fusiform gyrus	L	37	?30	?38	?16	109	5.59
		central operculum	L	40	?28	?40	24	84	6.26
		middle temporal gyrus	L	21	?62	?6	?14	76	5.95
		IFG pars orbitalis	L	45	?54	30	?2	72	4.53
		cerebellar peduncle II	R		24	?78	?38	59	4.95
Task-irrelevant	Oddball > Standard	fusiform gyrus	L	37	?30	?44	?20	175	6.49
		lingual gyrus	R	19	32	?84	?18	49	5.32

Figure 7. Brain regions jointly activated by cognitive control and salience processing.
Red indicates increased activation.

Figure 7. Brain regions jointly activated by cognitive control and salience processing.Red indicates increased activation.

Table 3 Brain regions jointly activated by cognitive control and salience processing (FDR, p < 0.05, k ≥ 46)

Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
superior parietal lobule	L	7	?28	?68	48	101210	17.47
cerebellar lobule VI	R		26	?66	?26	3181	9.60
angular gyrus	R	39	32	?60	46	2966	12.47
precentral gyrus	R	6	34	?4	50	2058	10.52
inferior occipital gyrus	L	37	?46	?66	?12	1451	10.33
insula	L	13	?32	20	12	639	10.51
insula	R	13	32	20	8	522	7.60
thalamus	L		?10	?18	8	423	5.03
caudate nucleus	R	48	16	?4	18	162	5.31
cerebellar lobule VIII	L		?24	?72	?50	159	9.17

Table 3 Brain regions jointly activated by cognitive control and salience processing (FDR, p < 0.05, k ≥ 46)

Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
superior parietal lobule	L	7	?28	?68	48	101210	17.47
cerebellar lobule VI	R		26	?66	?26	3181	9.60
angular gyrus	R	39	32	?60	46	2966	12.47
precentral gyrus	R	6	34	?4	50	2058	10.52
inferior occipital gyrus	L	37	?46	?66	?12	1451	10.33
insula	L	13	?32	20	12	639	10.51
insula	R	13	32	20	8	522	7.60
thalamus	L		?10	?18	8	423	5.03
caudate nucleus	R	48	16	?4	18	162	5.31
cerebellar lobule VIII	L		?24	?72	?50	159	9.17

Figure 8. MVPA results distinguishing cognitive control and salience processing.
Red indicates brain regions that contributed significantly to decoding.

Figure 8. MVPA results distinguishing cognitive control and salience processing.Red indicates brain regions that contributed significantly to decoding.

Table 4 Brain regions distinguishing cognitive control and salience processing (uncorrected, p < 0.005, k ≥ 46)

Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
posterior occipitoparietal junction	R	7	22	?64	42	183	3.94
precentral gyrus /FEF	R	6	30	?6	46	87	3.51

Table 4 Brain regions distinguishing cognitive control and salience processing (uncorrected, p < 0.005, k ≥ 46)

Brain Region	L/R	BA	MNI			k	t
Brain Region	L/R	BA	x	y	z	k	t
posterior occipitoparietal junction	R	7	22	?64	42	183	3.94
precentral gyrus /FEF	R	6	30	?6	46	87	3.51

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