Sustained attention is related to heartbeat counting task performance but not to self-reported aspects of interoception and mindfulness

Sustained attention is the ability to continually concentrate on task-relevant information, even in the presence of distraction. Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying this ability is critical for comprehending attentional processes as well as neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by attentional deficits, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In this study, we aimed to investigate how trait-like critical oscillations during rest relate to the P300 evoked potential—a biomarker commonly used to assess attentional deficits. We measured long−range temporal correlations (LRTC) in resting-state EEG oscillations as index for criticality of the signal. In addition, the attentional performance of the subjects was assessed as reaction time variability (RTV) in a continuous performance task following an oddball paradigm. P300 amplitude and latencies were obtained from EEG recordings during this task. We found that, after controlling for individual variability in task performance, LRTC were positively associated with P300 amplitudes but not latencies. In line with previous findings, good performance in the sustained attention task was related to higher P300 amplitudes and earlier peak latencies. Unexpectedly, we observed a positive relationship between LRTC in ongoing oscillations during rest and RTV, indicating that greater criticality in brain oscillations during rest relates to worse task performance. In summary, our results show that resting-state neuronal activity, which operates near a critical state, relates to the generation of higher P300 amplitudes. Brain dynamics close to criticality potentially foster a computationally advantageous state which promotes the ability to generate higher event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes.

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Sustained Attention in a Counting Task: Normal Performance and Functional Neuroanatomy

NeuroImage ◽

10.1006/nimg.2002.1168 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 411-420 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

F. Ortuño ◽

N. Ojeda ◽

J. Arbizu ◽

P. López ◽

J.M. Martı́-Climent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sustained Attention ◽

Functional Neuroanatomy ◽

Counting Task ◽

Normal Performance

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Multiple Neuronal Networks Mediate Sustained Attention

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/089892903770007416 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 1028-1038 ◽

Cited By ~ 216

Author(s):

Natalia S. Lawrence ◽

Thomas J. Ross ◽

Ray Hoffmann ◽

Hugh Garavan ◽

Elliot A. Stein

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Visual Information ◽

Cognitive Strategies ◽

Vigilance Task ◽

Neural Substrates ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Parahippocampal Gyrus ◽

The Neural Networks ◽

Task Irrelevant

Sustained attention deficits occur in several neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still incompletely understood. To that end, functional MRI was used to investigate the neural substrates of sustained attention (vigilance) using the rapid visual information processing (RVIP) task in 25 healthy volunteers. In order to better understand the neural networks underlying attentional abilities, brain regions where task-induced activation correlated with task performance were identified. Performance of the RVIP task activated a network of frontal, parietal, occipital, thalamic, and cerebellar regions. Deactivation during task performance was seen in the anterior and posterior cingulate, insula, and the left temporal and parahippocampal gyrus. Good task performance, as defined by better detection of target stimuli, was correlated with enhanced activation in predominantly right fronto-parietal regions and with decreased activation in predominantly left temporo-limbic and cingulate areas. Factor analysis revealed that these performance-correlated regions were grouped into two separate networks comprised of positively activated and negatively activated intercorrelated regions. Poor performers failed to significantly activate or deactivate these networks, whereas good performers either activated the positive or deactivated the negative network, or did both. The fact that both increased activation of task-specific areas and increased deactivation of task-irrelevant areas mediate cognitive functions underlying good RVIP task performance suggests two independent circuits, presumably reflecting different cognitive strategies, can be recruited to perform this vigilance task.

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Repeated visual distracter exposure enhances new discrimination learning and sustained attention task performance in rats

Behavioural Processes ◽

10.1016/j.beproc.2012.11.004 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 92 ◽

pp. 147-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Adam H. Hirsh ◽

Joshua A. Burk

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Discrimination Learning ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Attention Task ◽

Visual Distracter

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Sustaining attention for a prolonged period of time increases temporal variability in cortical responses

10.1101/501544 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leon C. Reteig ◽

Ruud L. van den Brink ◽

Sam Prinssen ◽

Michael X Cohen ◽

Heleen A. Slagter

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Temporal Variability ◽

Attentional Control ◽

Initial Level ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Time On Task ◽

Vigilance Decrement ◽

Attention Task ◽

Related Potentials

AbstractOur ability to stay focused is limited: prolonged performance of a task typically results in mental fatigue and decrements in performance over time. This so-called vigilance decrement has been attributed to depletion of attentional resources, though other factors such as reductions in motivation likely also play a role. In this study, we examined three EEG markers of attentional control, to elucidate which stage of attentional processing is most affected by time-on-task and motivation. To elicit the vigilance decrement, participants performed a sustained attention task for 80 minutes without breaks. After 60 minutes, participants were motivated by an unexpected monetary incentive to increase performance in the final 20 minutes. We found that task performance and self-reported motivation declined rapidly, reaching a stable levels well before the motivation manipulation was introduced. Thereafter, motivation increased back up to the initial level, and remained there for the final 20 minutes. While task performance also increased, it did not return to the initial level, and fell to the lowest level overall during the final 10 minutes. This pattern of performance changes was mirrored by the trial-to-trial consistency of the phase of theta (3–7 Hz) oscillations, an index of the variability in timing of the neural response to the stimulus. As task performance decreased, temporal variability increased, suggesting that attentional stability is crucial for sustained attention performance. The effects of attention on our two other EEG measures—early P1/N1 event-related potentials and pre-stimulus alpha (9–14 Hz) power—did not change with time-on-task or motivation. In sum, these findings show that the vigilance decrement is accompanied by a decline in only some facets of attentional control, which cannot be fully brought back online by increases in motivation. The vigilance decrement might thus not occur due to a single cause, but is likely multifactorial in origin.

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Captivated by thought: “Sticky” thinking leaves traces of perceptual decoupling in task-evoked pupil size

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0243532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0243532

Author(s):

Stefan Huijser ◽

Mathanja Verkaik ◽

Marieke K. van Vugt ◽

Niels A. Taatgen

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Cognitive Control ◽

Task Performance ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Pupil Size ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Thought Processes ◽

Spontaneous Thought ◽

Response Task

Throughout the day, we may sometimes catch ourselves in patterns of thought that we experience as rigid and difficult to disengage from. Such “sticky” thinking can be highly disruptive to ongoing tasks, and when it turns into rumination constitutes a vulnerability for mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. The main goal of the present study was to explore the stickiness dimension of thought, by investigating how stickiness is reflected in task performance and pupil size. To measure spontaneous thought processes, we asked participants to perform a sustained attention to response task (SART), in which we embedded the participant’s concerns to potentially increase the probability of observing sticky thinking. The results indicated that sticky thinking was most frequently experienced when participants were disengaged from the task. Such episodes of sticky thought could be discriminated from neutral and non-sticky thought by an increase in errors on infrequent no-go trials. Furthermore, we found that sticky thought was associated with smaller pupil responses during correct responding. These results demonstrate that participants can report on the stickiness of their thought, and that stickiness can be investigated using pupillometry. In addition, the results suggest that sticky thought may limit attention and exertion of cognitive control to the task.

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Pressing Obligations or Inspiring Potentials? The Influence of the Ought vs. Expected Selves on Task Performance

Europe’s Journal of Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejop.v11i2.943 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 349-362

Author(s):

Waclaw Bak ◽

Slawomir Ciastek ◽

Malgorzata Michalczuk

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Self Knowledge ◽

Ought Self

This paper focuses on the effects of activating expected self as compared to the effects of activating the ought self. The expected self is a component of self-knowledge that pertains to the perception of one’s capabilities and potentials. Two experimental studies compared participants’ task performance after manipulating the momentary accessibility of the expected self vs. the ought self. In Study 1, contrary to expectations, the activation of the expected self resulted in poorer outcomes when the task required sustained attention. However, an interesting mood difference was revealed, which led us to hypothesise that activating the expected self results in slower (i.e., less hasty) work while performing the task. This hypothesis was confirmed in the second study.

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Examining the effects of goal-setting, feedback, and incentives on sustained attention

10.31234/osf.io/97t8w ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Matthew Kyle Robison ◽

Nash Unsworth ◽

Gene Arnold Brewer

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Sustained Attention ◽

Task Engagement ◽

Vigilance Decrement ◽

Dependent Variables ◽

Specific Goal ◽

Cash Incentive ◽

Setting Theory ◽

Standard Set

Across four experiments we examined the effects of goal-setting, feedback, and incentivizing manipulations on sustained attention. In addition to measuring task performance, we measured subjective attentional states and momentary feelings of motivation and alertness. Experiment 1 compared two specific goal conditions - one difficult and one easy - to a standard set of instructions. The specific goal conditions both reduced RTs and attenuated the vigilance decrement but did not impact task engagement (motivation or task-unrelated thoughts). Experiment 2 manipulated both goal-setting and feedback across conditions. The combination of a specific goal and feedback had strong effects on both task performance and task engagement. Additionally, feedback increased task engagement (higher motivation and fewer task-unrelated thoughts) regardless of whether or not it was paired with a specific goal. Experiment 3 examined the effect of pairing goals with a reward. Participants in one reward condition (time-based incentive) reported higher motivation, but did not show better task performance. Offering a cash incentive to meet a goal did not have an effect on any dependent variables. Finally, in an effort to examine whether more moderately-difficult goals might lead to optimal performance, Experiment 4 examined a broader range of goals. However we did not see an effect of a moderately-difficult goal on any of the dependent variables. None of the experimental manipulations were effective in mitigating or eliminating the vigilance decrement. We discuss the theoretical implications of the results with regard to goal-setting theory and theories of vigilance.

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