The goal is not special: Electrophysiological evidence for the simultaneous selection of goal and effector location during motor preparation

2012 ◽  
Vol 25 (0) ◽  
pp. 128-129
Author(s):  
Luke Mason ◽  
Jose van Velzen
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Action Planning ◽  
Motor Preparation ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
Action Goal ◽  
Annular Array ◽  
Visual Probe ◽  
Manual Movements ◽  
Selection Of

The Premotor Theory of Attention (Rizzolatti et al., 1987, 1994) predicts that the intention to carry out an action will cause enhanced perceptual processing at the location of the action goal. This enhancement is often interpreted as a shift of spatial attention and is presumed to serve the purpose of selecting one goal amongst many distracters towards which to plan an action (selection-for-action, Allport, 1987 and Neumann, 1987). Early research on the premotor effect focused on the planning of saccades, whilst more recent work has extended the principle of enhanced processing at the goal to uni-manual movements such as reaching, pointing and grasping. Unlike saccades, however, successful planning of such uni-manual movements implies selection of an effector as well as a goal. We investigated this effect by recording participants’ EEG whilst cueing them to point to one of six targets arranged in an annular array. Visual processing was measured by reference to the size of the posterior N1 event related potential, elicited in response to task-irrelevant visual ‘probe’ stimuli presented at one of the six locations in the interval between the presentation of an auditory cue and the execution of the movement. Results showed enhanced perceptual processing simultaneously at the location of the effector and at the location of the action goal. We conclude that action planning leads to a pattern of facilitation and inhibition in perception, which achieves the selection of all action relevant locations, not just that of the goal.

scholarly journals Neural changes in early visual processing after 6 months of mindfulness training in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Isbel ◽  
Jan Weber ◽  
Jim Lagopoulos ◽  
Kayla Stefanidis ◽  
Hannah Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Neural Activation ◽  
Visual Cue ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Attentional Performance

AbstractMindfulness has been shown to improve attentional performance, which is known to decline in aging. Long-latency electroencephalographic (EEG) event-related potential (ERP) changes have been reported immediately after mindfulness training, however the enduring stability of these effects is unknown. Furthermore, the ability of mindfulness to impact earlier stages of information processing is unclear. We examined neural activation using high density EEG in older adults engaged in mindfulness training to examine the long-term stability of training effects. After 6 months of training, mindfulness practitioners displayed enhanced neural activation during sensory encoding and perceptual processing of a visual cue. Enhanced perceptual processing of a visual cue was associated with increased neural activation during post-perceptual processing of a subsequent target. Similar changes were not observed in a control group engaged in computer-based attention training over the same period. Neural changes following mindfulness training were accompanied by behavioural improvements in attentional performance. Our results are suggestive of increased efficiency of the neural pathways subserving bottom-up visual processing together with an enhanced ability to mobilise top-down attentional processes during perceptual and post-perceptual processing following mindfulness training. These results indicate that mindfulness may enhance neural processes known to deteriorate in normal aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Visual Selection of the Future Reach Path in Obstacle Avoidance

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1846-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Baldauf
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Hand Movement ◽  
Motor Preparation ◽  
Hand Movements ◽  
Movement Preparation ◽  
Dot Probe ◽  
Manual Movements ◽  
Selection Of

In two EEG experiments, we studied the role of visual attention during the preparation of manual movements around an obstacle. Participants performed rapid hand movements to a goal position avoiding a central obstacle either on the left or right side, depending on the pitch of the acoustical go signal. We used a dot probe paradigm to analyze the deployment of spatial attention in the visual field during the motor preparation. Briefly after the go signal but still before the hand movement actually started, a visual transient was flashed either on the planned pathway of the hand (congruent trials) or on the opposite, movement-irrelevant side (incongruent trials). The P1/N1 components that were evoked by the onset of the dot probe were enhanced in congruent trials where the visual transient was presented on the planned path of the hand. The results indicate that, during movement preparation, attention is allocated selectively to the planned trajectory the hand is going to take around the obstacle.

Modulation of Early Perceptual Processing by Emotional Expression and Acquired Valence of Faces

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Aguado ◽  
Berenice Valdés-Conroy ◽  
Sonia Rodríguez ◽  
Francisco J. Román ◽  
Teresa Diéguez-Risco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Associative Learning ◽  
Face Perception ◽  
Emotional Expression ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
Affective Valence ◽  
Neutral Face ◽  
Early Posterior Negativity ◽  
New Evidence

Modulation of early perceptual processing by emotional expression and the affective valence of faces was explored in an event-related potential (ERP) study. An associative procedure was used where different neutral faces changed to happy, to angry or, in a control condition, stayed the same. Based on these changes in expression, participants had then to identify each neutral face as belonging to a friendly, hostile, or neutral individual. ERP measures revealed modulations at occipital-temporal sites of the P100 and N170 components by both the emotional expression and the valence of the associated neutral faces. The early posterior negativity (EPN) component, however, was only sensitive to emotional expression. These results are consistent with previous findings showing that emotional expression influences face perception since early stages of visual processing and provide new evidence that this influence can also be transferred to neutral faces through associative learning.

scholarly journals Electrophysiological evidence of different neural processing between visual and audiovisual inhibition of return

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyu Tang ◽  
Xueli Wang ◽  
Xing Peng ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
Chi Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multisensory Integration ◽  
Temporal Resolution ◽  
Inhibition Of Return ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Perceptual Processing ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Neural Processing ◽  
Electrophysiological Evidence ◽  
P3 Component

AbstractInhibition of return (IOR) refers to the slower response to targets appearing on the same side as the cue (valid locations) than to targets appearing on the opposite side as the cue (invalid locations). Previous behaviour studies have found that the visual IOR is larger than the audiovisual IOR when focusing on both visual and auditory modalities. Utilising the high temporal resolution of the event-related potential (ERP) technique we explored the possible neural correlates with the behaviour IOR difference between visual and audiovisual targets. The behavioural results revealed that the visual IOR was larger than the audiovisual IOR. The ERP results showed that the visual IOR effect was generated from the P1 and N2 components, while the audiovisual IOR effect was derived only from the P3 component. Multisensory integration (MSI) of audiovisual targets occurred on the P1, N1 and P3 components, which may offset the reduced perceptual processing due to audiovisual IOR. The results of early and late differences in the neural processing of the visual IOR and audiovisual IOR imply that the two target types may have different inhibitory orientation mechanisms.

scholarly journals Local and global visual processing and eating disorder traits: An event-related potential study

2016 ◽  
Vol 115 ◽  
pp. 27-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Moynihan ◽  
Mark Rose ◽  
Jose van Velzen ◽  
Jan de Fockert
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Potential Study

scholarly journals Neural coding of action planning: visual processing or visual memory?

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Simona Monaco ◽  
Elisa Pellencin ◽  
Malfatti Giulia ◽  
Turella Luca
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Neural Coding ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Action Planning

scholarly journals Decreased P2 Waveform Reflects Impaired Brain Executive Function Induced by 12 h of Low Homeostatic Sleep Pressure: Evidence From an Event-Related Potential Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingjing Zeng ◽  
Haijing Wu ◽  
Jialu Li ◽  
Haiteng Wang ◽  
Songyue Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Peak Latency ◽  
Peak Amplitude ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
The Impact

Homeostatic sleep pressure can cause cognitive impairment, in which executive function is the most affected. Previous studies have mainly focused on high homeostatic sleep pressure (long-term sleep deprivation); thus, there is still little related neuro-psycho-physiological evidence based on low homeostatic sleep pressure (12 h of continuous wakefulness) that affects executive function. This study aimed to investigate the impact of lower homeostatic sleep pressure on executive function. Our study included 14 healthy young male participants tested using the Go/NoGo task in normal resting wakefulness (10:00 am) and after low homeostatic sleep pressure (10:00 pm). Behavioral data (response time and accuracy) were collected, and electroencephalogram (EEG) data were recorded simultaneously, using repeated measures analysis of variance for data analysis. Compared with resting wakefulness, the participants’ response time to the Go stimulus was shortened after low homeostatic sleep pressure, and the correct response rate was reduced. Furthermore, the peak amplitude of Go–P2 decreased significantly, and the peak latency did not change significantly. For NoGo stimulation, the peak amplitude of NoGo–P2 decreased significantly (p < 0.05), and the peak latency was significantly extended (p < 0.05). Thus, the P2 wave is likely related to the attention and visual processing and reflects the early judgment of the perceptual process. Therefore, the peak amplitude of Go–P2 and NoGo–P2 decreased, whereas the peak latency of NoGo–P2 increased, indicating that executive function is impaired after low homeostatic sleep pressure. This study has shown that the P2 wave is a sensitive indicator that reflects the effects of low homeostatic sleep pressure on executive function, and that it is also an important window to observe the effect of homeostatic sleep pressure and circadian rhythm on cognitive function.

scholarly journals Visual attention spreads broadly but selects information locally

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Shioiri ◽  
Hajime Honjyo ◽  
Yoshiyuki Kashiwase ◽  
Kazumichi Matsumiya ◽  
Ichiro Kuriki
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Spatial Attention ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Spatial Spread ◽  
Local Selection ◽  
Unified View ◽  
Behavioral Evidence ◽  
P3 Component

Abstract Visual attention spreads over a range around the focus as the spotlight metaphor describes. Spatial spread of attentional enhancement and local selection/inhibition are crucial factors determining the profile of the spatial attention. Enhancement and ignorance/suppression are opposite effects of attention, and appeared to be mutually exclusive. Yet, no unified view of the factors has been provided despite their necessity for understanding the functions of spatial attention. This report provides electroencephalographic and behavioral evidence for the attentional spread at an early stage and selection/inhibition at a later stage of visual processing. Steady state visual evoked potential showed broad spatial tuning whereas the P3 component of the event related potential showed local selection or inhibition of the adjacent areas. Based on these results, we propose a two-stage model of spatial attention with broad spread at an early stage and local selection at a later stage.

scholarly journals Vocal threat enhances visual perception as a function of attention and sex

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 727-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annett Schirmer ◽  
Maria Wijaya ◽  
Esther Wu ◽  
Trevor B Penney
Keyword(s):  
Visual Perception ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Visual Task ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Potential Study ◽  
Visual Enhancement ◽  
Task Block ◽  
Task Irrelevant

Abstract This pre-registered event-related potential study explored how vocal emotions shape visual perception as a function of attention and listener sex. Visual task displays occurred in silence or with a neutral or an angry voice. Voices were task-irrelevant in a single-task block, but had to be categorized by speaker sex in a dual-task block. In the single task, angry voices increased the occipital N2 component relative to neutral voices in women, but not men. In the dual task, angry voices relative to neutral voices increased occipital N1 and N2 components, as well as accuracy, in women and marginally decreased accuracy in men. Thus, in women, vocal anger produced a strong, multifaceted visual enhancement comprising attention-dependent and attention-independent processes, whereas in men, it produced a small, behavior-focused visual processing impairment that was strictly attention-dependent. In sum, these data indicate that attention and listener sex critically modulate whether and how vocal emotions shape visual perception.

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