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Dolci C, Rashal E, Santandrea E, Ben Hamed S, Chelazzi L, Macaluso E, Boehler CN. The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study. Neuroimage 2024; 286:120514. [PMID: 38211706 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120514] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Visual attention can be guided by statistical regularities in the environment, that people implicitly learn from past experiences (statistical learning, SL). Moreover, a perceptually salient element can automatically capture attention, gaining processing priority through a bottom-up attentional control mechanism. The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics of SL and if it shapes attentional target selection additively with salience processing, or whether these mechanisms interact, e.g. one gates the other. In a visual search task, we therefore manipulated target frequency (high vs. low) across locations while, in some trials, the target was salient in terms of colour. Additionally, halfway through the experiment, the high-frequency location changed to the opposite hemifield. EEG activity was simultaneously recorded, with a specific interest in two markers related to target selection and post-selection processing, respectively: N2pc and SPCN. Our results revealed that both SL and saliency significantly enhanced behavioural performance, but also interacted with each other, with an attenuated saliency effect at the high-frequency target location, and a smaller SL effect for salient targets. Concerning processing dynamics, the benefit of salience processing was more evident during the early stage of target selection and processing, as indexed by a larger N2pc and early-SPCN, whereas SL modulated the underlying neural activity particularly later on, as revealed by larger late-SPCN. Furthermore, we showed that SL was rapidly acquired and adjusted when the spatial imbalance changed. Overall, our findings suggest that SL is flexible to changes and, combined with salience processing, jointly contributes to establishing attentional priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Dolci
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, Italy.
| | - Einat Rashal
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; School of Psychology, Keele University, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Santandrea
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Suliann Ben Hamed
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc-Jeannerod, UMR5229, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 1, Lyon, France
| | - Leonardo Chelazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Emiliano Macaluso
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, (CRNL), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, U1028 UMR5292, IMPACT, Bron F-69500, France
| | - C Nico Boehler
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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