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Davidson MJ, Verstraten FAJ, Alais D. Walking modulates visual detection performance according to stride cycle phase. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2027. [PMID: 38453900 PMCID: PMC10920920 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45780-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Walking is among our most frequent and natural of voluntary behaviours, yet the consequences of locomotion upon perceptual and cognitive function remain largely unknown. Recent work has highlighted that although walking feels smooth and continuous, critical phases exist within each step for the successful coordination of perceptual and motor function. Here, we test whether these phasic demands impact upon visual perception, by assessing performance in a visual detection task during natural unencumbered walking. We finely sample visual performance over the stride cycle as participants walk along a smooth linear path at a comfortable speed in a wireless virtual reality environment. At the group-level, accuracy, reaction times, and response likelihood show strong oscillations, modulating at approximately 2 cycles per stride (~2 Hz) with a marked phase of optimal performance aligned with the swing phase of each step. At the participant level, Bayesian inference of population prevalence reveals highly prevalent oscillations in visual detection performance that cluster in two idiosyncratic frequency ranges (2 or 4 cycles per stride), with a strong phase alignment across participants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David Alais
- School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Tsai SY, Nasemann J, Qiu N, Töllner T, Müller HJ, Shi Z. Little engagement of attention by salient distractors defined in a different dimension or modality to the visual search target. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14375. [PMID: 37417320 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Singleton distractors may inadvertently capture attention, interfering with the task at hand. The underlying neural mechanisms of how we prevent or handle distractor interference remain elusive. Here, we varied the type of salient distractor introduced in a visual search task: the distractor could be defined in the same (shape) dimension as the target, a different (color) dimension, or a different (tactile) modality (intra-dimensional, cross-dimensional, and, respectively, cross-modal distractor, all matched for physical salience); and besides behavioral interference, we measured lateralized electrophysiological indicators of attentional selectivity (the N2pc, Ppc, PD , CCN/CCP, CDA, and cCDA). The results revealed the intra-dimensional distractor to produce the strongest reaction-time interference, associated with the smallest target-elicited N2pc. In contrast, the cross-dimensional and cross-modal distractors did not engender any significant interference, and the target-elicited N2pc was comparable to the condition in which the search display contained only the target singleton, thus ruling out early attentional capture. Moreover, the cross-modal distractor elicited a significant early CCN/CCP, but did not influence the target-elicited N2pc, suggesting that the tactile distractor is registered by the somatosensory system (rather than being proactively suppressed), without, however, engaging attention. Together, our findings indicate that, in contrast to distractors defined in the same dimension as the target, distractors singled out in a different dimension or modality can be effectively prevented to engage attention, consistent with dimension- or modality-weighting accounts of attentional priority computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Yang Tsai
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Nasemann
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Nan Qiu
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Töllner
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Hermann J Müller
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Zhuanghua Shi
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg, Germany
- Allgemeine und Experimentelle Psychologie, Department Psychologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Qiu N, Zhang B, Allenmark F, Nasemann J, Tsai SY, Müller HJ, Shi Z. Long-term (statistically learnt) and short-term (inter-trial) distractor-location effects arise at different pre- and post-selective processing stages. Psychophysiology 2023; 60:e14351. [PMID: 37277926 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A salient distractor interferes less with visual search if it appears at a location where it is likely to occur, referred to as distractor-location probability cueing. Conversely, if the current target appears at the same location as a distractor on the preceding trial, search is impeded. While these two location-specific "suppression" effects reflect long-term, statistically learnt and short-term, inter-trial adaptations of the system to distractors, it is unclear at what stage(s) of processing they arise. Here, we adopted the additional-singleton paradigm and examined lateralized event-related potentials (L-ERPs) and lateralized alpha (8-12 Hz) power to track the temporal dynamics of these effects. Behaviorally, we confirmed both effects: reaction times (RTs) interference was reduced for distractors at frequent versus rare (distractor) locations, and RTs were delayed for targets that appeared at previous distractor versus non-distractor locations. Electrophysiologically, the statistical-learning effect was not associated with lateralized alpha power during the pre-stimulus period. Rather, it was seen in an early N1pc referenced to the frequent distractor location (whether or not a distractor or a target occurred there), indicative of a learnt top-down prioritization of this location. This early top-down influence was systematically modulated by (competing) target- and distractor-generated bottom-up saliency signals in the display. In contrast, the inter-trial effect was reflected in an enhanced SPCN when the target was preceded by a distractor at its location. This suggests that establishing that an attentionally selected item is a task-relevant target, rather than an irrelevant distractor, is more demanding at a previously "rejected" distractor location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Qiu
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bei Zhang
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Fredrik Allenmark
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Nasemann
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Shao-Yang Tsai
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hermann J Müller
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Zhuanghua Shi
- General and Experimental Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Olson RL, Cleveland DJ, Materia M. Effects of Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Neurophysiological and Behavioral Correlates of Cognitive Function. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:bs13050401. [PMID: 37232638 DOI: 10.3390/bs13050401] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute aerobic exercise exerts a small beneficial effect on cognition. Previous research primarily examines cognitive changes following a bout of exercise, while little is currently known about changes in cognitive performance during exercise. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of low-intensity cycling on cognitive function indexed by behavioral (response accuracy; reaction time) and neurocognitive (P3 mean amplitude; P3 centroid latency) responses. Twenty-seven (Mage = 22.9 ± 3.0 years old) individuals were counterbalanced into low-intensity exercise (EX) and seated control (SC) conditions spread across two testing sessions. During each condition, participants completed a 10 min resting baseline period, 20 min of either sustained cycling or seated rest, and a 20 min recovery period. Primary outcomes were assessed at 10 min intervals (five blocks total) throughout each condition via a modified visual oddball task while electroencephalography (EEG) responses were measured. Across time blocks, both conditions exhibited faster reaction times on frequent trials but reduced accuracy to rare trials, suggesting a speed-accuracy tradeoff. There were no differences between conditions in P3 centroid latency, whereas a significant reduction in P3 amplitude was observed during the 20 min exercise period compared to the control condition. Taken together, results suggest that exercise at lower doses may have minimal influence on behavioral outcomes of cognitive performance but may impact more basic measures of brain function. Information gathered from this study may aid in the development of appropriate exercise prescriptions for populations looking to specifically target cognitive function deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan L Olson
- Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - David J Cleveland
- Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Melissa Materia
- Department of Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Recreation, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
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Yuan X, Li D, Hu Y, Qi M, Kong Y, Zhao C, Huang J, Song Y. Neural and behavioral evidence supporting the relationship between habitual exercise and working memory precision in healthy young adults. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1146465. [PMID: 37090810 PMCID: PMC10116001 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1146465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionWorking memory (WM) is a well-known fundamental ability related to various high-level cognitive functions, such as executive functioning, decision-making, and problem-solving. Although previous studies have posited that chronic exercise may improve cognitive functions, its underlying neural mechanisms and whether habitual exercise is associated with individual WM ability remain unclear.MethodsIn the current study, 36 participants reported their habitual physical activity through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In addition to assessments of intelligence quotient (IQ), WM storage capacity (K score), and visuomotor coordination capacity, electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were recorded while the participants performed a WM precision task fusing conventional visual and motor retrospective cue (retro-cue) WM tasks.ResultsWe found that greater amounts of and higher frequencies of vigorous-intensity exercise were highly correlated with smaller recall errors in the WM precision task. Contralateral delay activity (CDA), a well-known WM-related event-related potential (ERP) component evoked by the valid retro-cue, predicted individual behavioral recall error. Participants who met the medium or high level of IPAQ criteria (the regular exercise group) showed smaller behavioral recall error and larger CDA than participants who did not meet the criteria (the irregular exercise group). The two groups did not differ in other assessments, such as IQ, WM storage capacity, and visuomotor coordination ability.DiscussionHabitual exercise was specifically correlated with individual differences in WM precision, rather than IQ, WM storage capacity, and visuomotor coordination ability, suggesting potential mechanisms of how modulations of chronic exercise improve cognition through visual and/or motor WM precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuye Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongwei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengdi Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanjun Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenguang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Cognition and Neuroergonomics, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
- School of Systems Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Center for Cognition and Neuroergonomics, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
- *Correspondence: Jing Huang,
| | - Yan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning and IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Human visual processing during walking: Dissociable pre- and post-stimulus influences. Neuroimage 2022; 264:119757. [PMID: 36414209 PMCID: PMC9771827 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Walking influences visual processing but the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the influence of walking on pre-stimulus and stimulus-induced visual neural activity and behavioural performance in a discrimination task while participants were standing or freely walking. The results showed dissociable pre- and post-stimulus influences by the movement state. Walking was associated with a reduced pre-stimulus alpha power, which predicted enhanced N1 and decreased P3 components during walking. This pre-stimulus alpha activity was additionally modulated by time on the task, which was paralleled by a similar behavioural modulation. In contrast, the post-stimulus alpha power was reduced in its modulation due to stimulus onset during walking but showed no evidence of modulation by time on the task. Additionally, stimulus parameters (eccentricity, laterality, distractor presence significantly influenced post-stimulus alpha power, whereas the visually evoked components showed no evidence of such an influence. There was further no evidence of a correlation between pre-stimulus and post stimulus alpha power. We conclude that walking has two dissociable influences on visual processing: while the walking induced reduction in alpha power suggests an attentional state change that relates to visual awareness, the post-stimulus influence on alpha power modulation indicates changed spatial visual processing during walking.
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Differential effects of walking across visual cortical processing stages. Cortex 2022; 149:16-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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