The influence of focused-attention meditation states on the cognitive control of sequence learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 11-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell W. Chan ◽  
Maarten A. Immink ◽  
Kurt Lushington
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Focused Attention

scholarly journals Focused-attention meditation increases cognitive control during motor sequence performance: Evidence from the N2 cortical evoked potential

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Weili Chan ◽  
Phillip M. Alday ◽  
Lena Zou ◽  
Kurt Lushington ◽  
Matthias Schlesewsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
The Other ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Central Regions

Previous work found that single-session focused attention meditation (FAM) enhanced motor sequence learning through increased cognitive control as a mechanistic action, although electrophysiological correlates of sequence learning performance following FAM were not investigated. We measured the persistent frontal N2 event-related potential (ERP) that is closely related to cognitive control processes and its ability to predict behavioural measures. Twenty-nine participants were randomised to one of three conditions reflecting the level of FAM experienced prior to a serial reaction time task (SRTT): 21 sessions of FAM (FAM21, N= 12), a single FAM session (FAM1, N= 9) or no preceding FAM control (Control, N= 8). Continuous 64-channel EEG were recorded during SRTT and N2 amplitudes for correct trials were extracted. Component amplitude, regions of interests, and behavioural outcomes were compared using mixed effects regression models between groups. FAM21 exhibited faster reaction time performances in majority of the learning blocks compared to FAM1 and Control. FAM21 also demonstrated a significantly more pronounced N2 over majority of anterior and central regions of interests during SRTT compared to the other groups. When N2 amplitudes were modelled against general learning performance, FAM21 showed the greatest rate of amplitude decline over anterior and central regions. The combined results suggest that FAM training provided greater cognitive control enhancement for improved sequence learning performance compared to the other groups. Importantly, FAM training facilitates dynamic modulation of cognitive control: lower levels of general learning performance was supported by greater levels of activation, whilst higher levels of general learning required less activation.

scholarly journals A comparison of single-session focused attention meditation and computerised attention task instantaneous effects on cognitive control in sequence learning

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Weili Chan ◽  
Maarten Alberto Immink ◽  
Kurt Lushington
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Attention Allocation ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Learning Effects ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
And Control

Chan et al. (2017) demonstrated that top-down control states established in FAM persist to influence subsequent sequence learning through increased stimulus-based planning. To test if top-down control influences on attention allocation and contribute to sequence learning effects of FAM, we compared against a computerised attention task (CAT). We investigated if effort, arousal or pleasure associated with FAM or CAT, explained the influence on sequence learning. Relative to Control, FAM and CAT resulted in shorter reaction time (RT) in the SRTT. FAM resulted in a greater rate of improvement than both CAT and control across training blocks of the SRTT, aligned with general practice benefits associated with reliance on stimulus-based planning. Neither effort, arousal or pleasure associated with FAM, CAT or control conditions correlated with SRTT performance or learning indices. Enhanced sequence learning following FAM is attributed to increased top-down control states established by FAM that transfer to subsequent sequence learning.

Long-Term Effects of Concussions on Psychomotor Speed and Cognitive Control Processes During Motor Sequence Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christelle Beaulieu ◽  
Alexandre Turcotte-Giroux ◽  
Frédérike Carrier-Toutant ◽  
Benoit Brisson ◽  
Pierre Jolicoeur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Motor Sequence Learning ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Psychomotor Speed ◽  
Control Processes

Abstract. In asymptomatic multiple-concussion athletes, studies evidenced long-term impairments in psychomotor speed, motor sequence learning, and cognitive control processes, as indexed by the Error Negativity (Ne), also commonly referred to as the Error-related Negativity (ERN). In healthy controls, motor sequence learning during a Serial Reaction Time (SRT) task is associated with an increase in Ne/ERN amplitude. The objective of this paper is to investigate whether concussion effects on cognitive control are associated with sequence learning changes in asymptomatic multi-concussion athletes. Thirty-seven athletes (18 nonconcussed; 19 concussed) completed a SRT task during which continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded. Ne/ERN amplitude modulation from early to late learning blocks of the task was measured. Median reaction times (RTs) were computed to assess psychomotor speed and motor sequence learning. Psychomotor speed was significantly reduced in concussed athletes. Accentuated Ne/ERN amplitude from early to late learning blocks significantly correlated with motor sequence learning in nonconcussed athletes. In contrast, Ne/ERN amplitude was found to decrease significantly with task progression in concussed athletes who nonetheless achieved normal motor sequence learning. Multiple concussions detrimentally affect psychomotor speed. Unlike nonconcussed athletes, motor sequence learning in multi-concussion athletes was not associated with Ne/ERN amplitude modulation, indicating that cognitive control processes do not centrally contribute to learning of a motor sequence after repeated concussions.

Executive Function, Cognitive Control, and Sequence Learning in Deaf Children with Cochlear Implants

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Pisoni ◽  
Christopher M. Conway ◽  
William Kronenberger ◽  
Shirley Henning ◽  
Esperanza Anaya
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Deaf Children

scholarly journals Focused-attention meditation increases cognitive control during motor sequence performance: Evidence from the N2 cortical evoked potential

2020 ◽  
Vol 384 ◽  
pp. 112536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell W. Chan ◽  
Phillip M. Alday ◽  
Lena Zou-Williams ◽  
Kurt Lushington ◽  
Matthias Schlesewsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Evoked Potential ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Sequence Performance

scholarly journals Single-session and training effects of focused-attention meditation on neurophysiological and behavioural correlates of cognitive control during motor sequence learning

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Weili Chan ◽  
Phillip M. Alday ◽  
Lena Zou ◽  
Kurt Lushington ◽  
Matthias Schlesewsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Focused Attention ◽  
Motor Sequence ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Central Regions ◽  
N200 Component ◽  
And Control

Recent theoretical models outline that motor sequence learning involves cognitive control processes that affects stimulus- or plan-based control, although clear contributions from the have not been delineated. Previously, we found that single-session focused attention meditation (FAM) enhanced stimulus-based control through increased top-down activation. In the present experiment, we aimed to understand if single-session FAM effects could be enhanced with short-term FAM training in behavioural reaction time, and neurophysiological indices in the form event-related potentials (ERP). We investigated the N200 component that is closely related to top-down activation, and the error-related negatively (ERN) component that is closely related to error processing for plan development. 29 participants were randomised to one of three conditions reflecting the level of FAM experienced prior to a serial reaction time task (SRTT): 21 sessions of FAM (FAM21, N= 12), a single FAM session (FAM1, N= 9) or no preceding FAM control (Control, N= 8). Continuous 64-channel EEG were recorded during SRTT whereby N200 amplitudes for correct trials, and ERN using mean difference in amplitudes for correct and error trials, were extracted. Component amplitudes, topography and behavioural outcomes were compared using linear mixed effects regression models between groups. Firstly, FAM21 exhibited faster reaction time performances in majority of the learning blocks compared to FAM1 and Control. FAM21 also demonstrated a significantly more pronounced N200 component over all anterior and the central regions during SRTT compared to FAM1 and Control. When N200 amplitudes were modelled against general learning performance, FAM21 also showed the greatest rate of decline over all anterior and the central regions during SRTT compared to FAM1 and Control. No robust differences in the ERN component were found that supported our predictions. The N200 is associated with top-down cognitive control processes, and hence may index stimulus-based learning effects; whilst the ERN is associated with error and updating of an internalised plan that may index plan-based learning effects. Firstly, our results show that after FAM training, top-down activation is increased for better block-on-block RT performances compared to the other groups. More importantly, FAM training facilitates more efficient and dynamic modulation of top-down activation such that at high levels of general learning performance, less top-down control is needed to maintain the performance.

Cognitive control constrains memory attributions

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colleen M. Kelley ◽  
Larry L. Jacoby
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Control

Abstract Cognitive control constrains retrieval processing and so restricts what comes to mind as input to the attribution system. We review evidence that older adults, patients with Alzheimer's disease, and people with traumatic brain injury exert less cognitive control during retrieval, and so are susceptible to memory misattributions in the form of dramatic levels of false remembering.

Nonhuman sequence learning findings argue against Hoerl and McCormack's two systems of temporal cognition

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. De Corte ◽  
Edward A. Wasserman
Keyword(s):  
Sequence Learning ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Ordinal Position ◽  
Temporal Cognition ◽  
Two Systems

Abstract Hoerl & McCormack propose that animals learn sequences through an entrainment-like process, rather than tracking the temporal addresses of each event in a given sequence. However, past research suggests that animals form “temporal maps” of sequential events and also comprehend the concept of ordinal position. These findings suggest that a clarification or qualification of the authors’ hypothesis is needed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document