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Li Y, Wang S, Shan Q, Xia X. Singleton effect decreases under time pressure: An fNIRS study. Brain Cogn 2023; 171:106074. [PMID: 37566997 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2023.106074] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Time pressure affects multiple cognitive processes but how it affects attention capture remains unclear. Two experiments were carried out in the present study to assess whether time pressure prevents attention from capturing by salient distractors and explore the underlying neural mechanisms using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The results of behavioral tests showed that the singleton effect decreased (Experiment 2) or even disappeared (Experiment 1) when the subject was under time pressure. Neuroimaging data showed that under time pressure, a salient distractor elicited greater activation in the left middle frontal gyrus/inferior frontal gyrus and bilateral superior parietal lobule, brain areas that are thought to be involved in cognitive inhibition and control of spatial attentional shifts. These findings suggest that the reduction or disappearance of the singleton effect under time pressure results from enhanced inhibition of and/or accelerated disengagement from salient distractors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Li
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China.
| | - Susu Wang
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Qianqian Shan
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xingxing Xia
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China; Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079, China
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Zhang B, Weidner R, Allenmark F, Bertleff S, Fink GR, Shi Z, Müller HJ. Statistical Learning of Frequent Distractor Locations in Visual Search Involves Regional Signal Suppression in Early Visual Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:2729-2744. [PMID: 34727169 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Observers can learn locations where salient distractors appear frequently to reduce potential interference-an effect attributed to better suppression of distractors at frequent locations. But how distractor suppression is implemented in the visual cortex and within the frontoparietal attention networks remains unclear. We used fMRI and a regional distractor-location learning paradigm with two types of distractors defined in either the same (orientation) or a different (color) dimension to the target to investigate this issue. fMRI results showed that BOLD signals in early visual cortex were significantly reduced for distractors (as well as targets) occurring at the frequent versus rare locations, mirroring behavioral patterns. This reduction was more robust with same-dimension distractors. Crucially, behavioral interference was correlated with distractor-evoked visual activity only for same- (but not different-) dimension distractors. Moreover, with different- (but not same-) dimension distractors, a color-processing area within the fusiform gyrus was activated more when a distractor was present in the rare region versus being absent and more with a distractor in the rare versus frequent locations. These results support statistical learning of frequent distractor locations involving regional suppression in early visual cortex and point to differential neural mechanisms of distractor handling with different- versus same-dimension distractors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Zhang
- General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München 80802, Germany
| | - Ralph Weidner
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany
| | - Fredrik Allenmark
- General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München 80802, Germany
| | - Sabine Bertleff
- Traffic Psychology and Acceptance, Institute for Automotive Engineering (ika), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Jülich 52428, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne University, Cologne 50937, Germany
| | - Zhuanghua Shi
- General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München 80802, Germany
| | - Hermann J Müller
- General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München 80802, Germany
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Jamoulle T, Ran Q, Meersmans K, Schaeverbeke J, Dupont P, Vandenberghe R. Posterior Intraparietal Sulcus Mediates Detection of Salient Stimuli Outside the Endogenous Focus of Attention. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:1455-1469. [PMID: 34467392 PMCID: PMC8971085 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual consciousness is shaped by the interplay between endogenous selection and exogenous capture. If stimulus saliency is aligned with a subject’s attentional priorities, endogenous selection will be facilitated. In case of a misalignment, endogenous selection may be compromised as attentional capture is a strong and automatic process. We manipulated task-congruent versus -incongruent saliency in a functional magnetic resonance imaging change-detection task and analyzed brain activity patterns in the cortex surrounding the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) within the Julich-Brain probabilistic cytoarchitectonic mapping reference frame. We predicted that exogenous effects would be seen mainly in the posterior regions of the IPS (hIP4–hIP7–hIP8), whereas a conflict between endogenous and exogenous orienting would elicit activity from more anterior cytoarchitectonic areas (hIP1–hIP2–hIP3). Contrary to our hypothesis, a conflict between endogenous and exogenous orienting had an effect early in the IPS (mainly in hIP7 and hIP8). This is strong evidence for an endogenous component in hIP7/8 responses to salient stimuli beyond effects of attentional bottom-up sweep. Our results suggest that hIP7 and hIP8 are implicated in the individuation of attended locations based on saliency as well as endogenous instructions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarik Jamoulle
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Qian Ran
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Meersmans
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Schaeverbeke
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Dupont
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Allocation of attention in 3D space is adaptively modulated by relative position of target and distractor stimuli. Atten Percept Psychophys 2020; 82:1063-1073. [PMID: 31773511 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-019-01878-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Allocation of attention across different depth planes is a prerequisite for visual selection in a three-dimensional environment. Previous research showed that participants successfully used stereoscopic depth information to focus their attention. This, however, does not mean that salient information from other depth planes is completely neglected. The present study investigated the question of whether competing visual information is differentially processed when displayed in a single depth plane or across two different depth planes. Moreover, it was of interest whether potential effects were further modulated by the items' relative spatial position (near or far). In three experiments participants performed a variant of the additional singleton paradigm. Targets were defined by stereoscopic depth information and as such appeared either in a near or far depth plane. Distractor stimuli were displayed in the same or in the opposed depth plane. The results consistently showed that visual selection was slower when target and distractor coincided within the same depth plane. There was no general advantage for targets presented in near or far depth planes. However, differential effects of target depth plane and the target-distractor relation were observed. Selection of near targets was more affected by distractors within the same depth plane while far targets were identified more slowly when the amount of information in closer depth planes increased. While attentional resources could not be exclusively centered to a distinct depth plane, the allocation of attention might be organized along an egocentric gradient through space and varies with the organization of the visual surrounding.
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Sprague TC, Itthipuripat S, Vo VA, Serences JT. Dissociable signatures of visual salience and behavioral relevance across attentional priority maps in human cortex. J Neurophysiol 2018; 119:2153-2165. [PMID: 29488841 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00059.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational models posit that visual attention is guided by activity within spatial maps that index the image-computable salience and the behavioral relevance of objects in the scene. These spatial maps are theorized to be instantiated as activation patterns across a series of retinotopic visual regions in occipital, parietal, and frontal cortex. Whereas previous research has identified sensitivity to either the behavioral relevance or the image-computable salience of different scene elements, the simultaneous influence of these factors on neural "attentional priority maps" in human cortex is not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that visual salience and behavioral relevance independently impact the activation profile across retinotopically organized cortical regions by quantifying attentional priority maps measured in human brains using functional MRI while participants attended one of two differentially salient stimuli. We found that the topography of activation in priority maps, as reflected in the modulation of region-level patterns of population activity, independently indexed the physical salience and behavioral relevance of each scene element. Moreover, salience strongly impacted activation patterns in early visual areas, whereas later visual areas were dominated by relevance. This suggests that prioritizing spatial locations relies on distributed neural codes containing graded representations of salience and relevance across the visual hierarchy. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We tested a theory which supposes that neural systems represent scene elements according to both their salience and their relevance in a series of "priority maps" by measuring functional MRI activation patterns across human brains and reconstructing spatial maps of the visual scene. We found that different regions indexed either the salience or the relevance of scene items, but not their interaction, suggesting an evolving representation of salience and relevance across different visual areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Sprague
- Department of Psychology, New York University , New York, New York.,Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Sirawaj Itthipuripat
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Learning Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangmod, Thung Kru, Bangkok , Thailand.,Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University , Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Vy A Vo
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - John T Serences
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Kavli Institute for Brain and Mind, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California
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Bertleff S, Fink GR, Weidner R. Attentional capture: Role of top-down focused spatial attention and the need to search among multiple locations. VISUAL COGNITION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/13506285.2017.1338813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Bertleff
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine – INM 3, Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
| | - G. R. Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine – INM 3, Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
| | - R. Weidner
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine – INM 3, Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
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