Differential processing of hierarchical visual stimuli in young and older healthy adults: An event-related potentials (ERP) study.

PreprintWhen learning rule-based categories, sufficient cognitive resources are needed to test hypotheses, maintain the currently active rule in working memory, update rules after feedback, and to select a new rule if necessary. Prior research has demonstrated that conjunctive rules are more complex than unidimensional rules and place greater demands on executive functions like working memory. In our study, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a conjunctive rule-based category learning task with trial-by-trial feedback. In line with prior research, correct categorization responses resulted in a larger stimulus-locked late positive complex compared to incorrect responses, possibly indexing the updating of rule information in memory. Incorrect trials elicited a pronounced feedback-locked P300 elicited which suggested a disconnect between perception, and the rule-based strategy. We also examined the differential processing of stimuli that were able to be correctly classified by the suboptimal single-dimensional rule (“easy” stimuli) versus those that could only be correctly classified by the optimal, conjunctive rule (“difficult” stimuli). Among strong learners, a larger, late positive slow wave emerged for difficult compared to easy stimuli, suggesting differential processing of category items even though strong learners performed well on the conjunctive category set. Overall, the findings suggest that ERP combined with computational modelling can be used to better understand the cognitive processes involved in rule-based category learning

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ERP Evidence for a Shifting Attention Deficit in Patients with Damage to the Cerebellum

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.1994.6.4.388 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 388-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Natacha A. Akshoomoff ◽

Eric Courchesne

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit ◽

Visual Stimuli ◽

Young Patients ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Single Location ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Shifting Attention

In a previous study, we found that patients with damage to the neocerebellum were significantly impaired in the ability to rapidly shift their attention between ongoing sequences of auditory and visual stimuli (Akshoomoff & Courchesne, 1992). In the present study, young patients with damage to the neoccrebelluni were found to be impaired in rapidly shifting their mention between visual stimuli that occurred within a single location. Event-related potentials recorded during the shifting attention experiment suggested that this reflects a deficit in the. covert ability to selectively activate and deactivate attention. These results lend Further support to the hypothesis that the neocerebellum plays a role in the ability to rapidly shift attention.

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Dunn’s Model of Sensory Processing: An Investigation of the Axes of the Four-Quadrant Model in Healthy Adults

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci9020035 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 35 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alexia E. Metz ◽

Daniella Boling ◽

Ashley DeVore ◽

Holly Holladay ◽

Jo Fu Liao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensory Processing ◽

Behavioral Response ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Personality Questionnaire ◽

Passive Behavior ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Low Threshold ◽

Axis I ◽

Four Quadrant

We examined the behavioral response (BR) and threshold (T) axes of Dunn’s four-quadrant model of sensory processing (1997). We assessed whether they are ordinal ranges and if variation is associated with other similarly described characteristics: Introversion/Extraversion (I/E) of Eysenck’s personality model (Sato, 2005), and somatosensory event related potentials (SERP) and their gating (Davies & Gavin, 2007). From healthy adults (n = 139), we obtained: Adult/Adolescent Profile (A/ASP, Brown & Dunn, 2002) and Eysenck’s Personality Questionnaire, Brief Version (Sato, 2005) scores and peak amplitude and gating factor of SERP P50. We found that BR scores did not differ across normative categories of the A/ASP, but T scores significantly increased along the axis. I/E scores did not vary with BR scores. There were no differences or correlations in P50 amplitudes and gating with T scores. The findings suggest that the BR axis may not reflect a construct with ordinal range, but the T axis may. Dunn’s concept of BR appears to be distinct from Eysenck’s concept of I/E. SERP and its gating may not be directly reflective of sensory processing thresholds in healthy adults. Conclusions are limited by having few participants with passive behavior regulation or low threshold patterns of processing.

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