1
|
Golob EJ, Nelson JT, Scheuerman J, Venable KB, Mock JR. Auditory spatial attention gradients and cognitive control as a function of vigilance. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13903. [PMID: 34342887 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Selection and effort are central to attention, yet it is unclear whether they draw on a common pool of cognitive resources, and if so, whether there are differences for early versus later stages of cognitive processing. This study assessed effort by quantifying the vigilance decrement, and spatial processing at early and later stages as a function of time-on-task. Participants performed an auditory spatial attention task, with occasional "catch" trials requiring no response. Psychophysiological measures included bilateral cerebral blood flow (transcranial Doppler), pupil dilation, and blink rate. The shape of attention gradients using reaction time indexed early processing, and did not significantly vary over time. Later stimulus-response conflict was comparable over time, except for a reduction to left hemispace stimuli. Target and catch trial accuracy decreased with time, with a more abrupt decrease for catch versus target trials. Diffusion decision modeling found progressive decreases in information accumulation rate and non-decision time, and the adoption of more liberal response criteria. Cerebral blood flow increased from baseline and then decreased over time, particularly in the left hemisphere. Blink rate steadily increased over time, while pupil dilation increased only at the beginning and then returned towards baseline. The findings suggest dissociations between resources for selectivity and effort. Measures of high subjective effort and temporal declines in catch trial accuracy and cerebral blood flow velocity suggest a standard vigilance decrement was evident in parallel with preserved selection. Different attentional systems and classes of computations that may account for dissociations between selectivity versus effort are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Golob
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jeremy T Nelson
- Military Health Institute, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Jaelle Scheuerman
- Department of Computer Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Kristen B Venable
- Department of Computer Science, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Pensacola, FL, USA.,Department of Intelligent Systems and Robotics, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Mock
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Golob EJ, Mock JR. Dynamics of auditory spatial attention gradients. Cognition 2019; 194:104058. [PMID: 31494432 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2019.104058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Auditory spatial attention faces the conflicting demands of focusing on the current task while also rapidly shifting location to unexpected stimuli. We examined the interplay of sustained focus and intermittent shifts in an auditory spatial attention task. Most trials required a choice response from a standard location in virtual space (L-R: -90°, 0°, +90°), but occasionally the location shifted between 45°-180°. Reaction time curves for angular shifts had a quadratic shape, with slowing for small shifts but faster reaction times for larger shifts. The reaction time curves were maintained at faster stimulus rates and usually scaled to fit the range of stimulus locations. However, focus on the right had an attenuated curve, and did not scale to the range of locations. The findings suggest two mechanisms: a top-down bias centered on standard locations that decreases with distance, and a bottom-up bias that under these conditions increases with distance from the standard location.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Golob
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, United States; Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, United States.
| | - Jeffrey R Mock
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Testing the Benefits of Neurofeedback on Selective Attention Measured Through Dichotic Listening. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2017; 41:157-64. [PMID: 26683198 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-015-9323-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The electrophysiological changes after a single session of neurofeedback training (↑SMR/↓Theta) and its effects on executive attention during a dichotic listening test with forced attentional procedures were measured in a sample of 20 healthy women. A pre-post moment test double blind design, with the inclusion of a group receiving sham neurofeedback, allowed for minimization of alien influences. The interaction of Moment × Group was significant, indicating an enhancement of SMR band after the real neurofeedback. The dichotic listening scores were correlated with the amplitude of Beta band in baseline conditions. The performance on the forced left attentional condition in dichotic listening was significantly improved and correlated positively with the post-training enhancement of the SMR band. The sham neurofeedback group also improved DL scores, so a clear affirmation about the benefits of neurofeedback training over cognitive performance could not be unambiguously established. It is concluded that the protocol showed a good independence and acceptable trainability in modifying the EEG results, but there was limited interpretability regarding cognitive outcomes.
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
Mock JR, Foundas AL, Golob EJ. Cortical activity during cued picture naming predicts individual differences in stuttering frequency. Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:3093-3101. [PMID: 27472545 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Developmental stuttering is characterized by fluent speech punctuated by stuttering events, the frequency of which varies among individuals and contexts. Most stuttering events occur at the beginning of an utterance, suggesting neural dynamics associated with stuttering may be evident during speech preparation. METHODS This study used EEG to measure cortical activity during speech preparation in men who stutter, and compared the EEG measures to individual differences in stuttering rate as well as to a fluent control group. Each trial contained a cue followed by an acoustic probe at one of two onset times (early or late), and then a picture. There were two conditions: a speech condition where cues induced speech preparation of the picture's name and a control condition that minimized speech preparation. RESULTS Across conditions stuttering frequency correlated to cue-related EEG beta power and auditory ERP slow waves from early onset acoustic probes. CONCLUSIONS The findings reveal two new cortical markers of stuttering frequency that were present in both conditions, manifest at different times, are elicited by different stimuli (visual cue, auditory probe), and have different EEG responses (beta power, ERP slow wave). SIGNIFICANCE The cue-target paradigm evoked brain responses that correlated to pre-experimental stuttering rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Mock
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
| | - Anne L Foundas
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| | - Edward J Golob
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Barraza P, Jaume-Guazzini F, Rodríguez E. Pre-stimulus EEG oscillations correlate with perceptual alternation of speech forms. Neurosci Lett 2016; 622:24-9. [PMID: 27105733 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2016.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Speech perception is often seen as a passive process guided by physical stimulus properties. However, ongoing brain dynamics could influence the subsequent perceptual organization of the speech, to an as yet unknown extent. To elucidate this issue, we analyzed EEG oscillatory activity before and immediately after the repetitive auditory presentation of words inducing the so-called verbal transformation effect (VTE), or spontaneous alternation of meanings due to its rapid repetition. Subjects indicated whether the meaning of the bistable word changed or not. For the Reversal more than for the Stable condition, results show a pre-stimulus local alpha desynchronization (300-50ms), followed by an early post-stimulus increase of local beta synchrony (0-80ms), and then a late increase and decrease of local alpha (200-340ms) and beta (360-440ms) synchrony respectively. Additionally, the ERPs showed that reversal positivity (RP) and reversal negativity components (RN), along with a late positivity complex (LPC) correlate with switching between verbal forms. Our results show how the ongoing dynamics brain is actively involved in the perceptual organization of the speech, destabilizing verbal perceptual states, and facilitating the perceptual regrouping of the elements composing the linguistic auditory stimulus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Barraza
- CIAE, Centro de Investigación Avanzada en Educación, Universidad de Chile, 8330014 Santiago, Chile.
| | - Francisco Jaume-Guazzini
- School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8940000 Santiago, Chile; School of Education, Universidad Mayor, 7500994 Santiago, Chile.
| | - Eugenio Rodríguez
- School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8940000 Santiago, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yurgil KA, Golob EJ. Cortical potentials in an auditory oddball task reflect individual differences in working memory capacity. Psychophysiology 2013; 50:1263-74. [PMID: 24016201 PMCID: PMC4082305 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study determined whether auditory cortical responses associated with mechanisms of attention vary with individual differences in working memory capacity (WMC) and perceptual load. The operation span test defined subjects with low versus high WMC, who then discriminated target/nontarget tones while EEG was recorded. Infrequent white noise distracters were presented at midline or ±90° locations, and perceptual load was manipulated by varying nontarget frequency. Amplitude of the N100 to distracters was negatively correlated with WMC. Relative to targets, only high WMC subjects showed attenuated N100 amplitudes to nontargets. In the higher WMC group, increased perceptual load was associated with decreased P3a amplitudes to distracters and longer-lasting negative slow wave to nontargets. Results show that auditory cortical processing is associated with multiple facets of attention related to WMC and possibly higher-level cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate A. Yurgil
- VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA 92161
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| | - Edward J. Golob
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
- Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
LOPEZ-GORDO MA, PELAYO F, PRIETO A, FERNANDEZ E. AN AUDITORY BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE WITH ACCURACY PREDICTION. Int J Neural Syst 2012; 22:1250009. [DOI: 10.1142/s0129065712500098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Fully auditory Brain-computer interfaces based on the dichotic listening task (DL-BCIs) are suited for users unable to do any muscular movement, which includes gazing, exploration or coordination of their eyes looking for inputs in form of feedback, stimulation or visual support. However, one of their disadvantages, in contrast with the visual BCIs, is their lower performance that makes them not adequate in applications that require a high accuracy. To overcome this disadvantage, we employed a Bayesian approach in which the DL-BCI was modeled as a Binary phase shift keying receiver for which the accuracy can be estimated a priori as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio. The results showed the measured accuracy to match the predefined target accuracy, thus validating this model that made possible to estimate in advance the classification accuracy on a trial-by-trial basis. This constitutes a novel methodology in the design of fully auditory DL-BCIs that let us first, define the target accuracy for a specific application and second, classify when the signal-to-noise ratio guarantees that target accuracy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. LOPEZ-GORDO
- Department of Systems and Automatic Engineering, Electronic Technologic and Electronic, University of Cadiz, C/Chile 1, 11002, Cadiz, Spain
| | - F. PELAYO
- Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, University of Granada, C/Periodista Daniel Saucedo, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - A. PRIETO
- Department of Computer Architecture and Technology, University of Granada, C/Periodista Daniel Saucedo, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - E. FERNANDEZ
- Institute of Bioengineering, University of Miguel Hernandez, Avenida de la Universidad, 03202, Elche, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
"Binaural rivalry": dichotic listening as a tool for the investigation of the neural correlate of consciousness. Brain Cogn 2011; 76:218-24. [PMID: 21421284 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2011.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2010] [Revised: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Since about two decades neuroscientists have systematically faced the problem of consciousness: the aim is to discover the neural activity specifically related to conscious perceptions, i.e. the biological properties of what philosophers call qualia. In this view, a neural correlate of consciousness (NCC) is a precise pattern of brain activity that specifically accompanies a particular conscious experience. Almost all studies aimed at investigating the NCC have been carried out in the visual system. One of the most promising paradigms is based on sensory stimuli which elicit bistable percepts, as they allow to decouple subjective perception from the characteristics of the physical stimulation. Such kind of perception can be produced in the visual modality by using particular images (e.g. Rubin's vase/face figure) or by presenting two dissimilar stimuli separately to the two eyes (binocular rivalry). The stimuli compete for perceptual dominance and each image is visible in turn for a few seconds, while the other is suppressed. The use of this methodology has led to important findings concerning visual consciousness, which are briefly discussed. For the investigation of auditory consciousness, a similar stimulation paradigm can be achieved by using dichotic listening, consisting in two different stimuli presented each to one ear, which compete for perception (binaural rivalry). The principal aim of the present mini-review is to discuss the few contributes facing the issue of auditory consciousness and to advance the use of dichotic listening and binaural rivalry as valid tools for its investigation.
Collapse
|