Gazing to look vs. gazing to think: Gaze cueing is modulated by the perception of others' external vs. internal attention

AbstractPrevious studies have associated visual working memory (VWM) capacity with the use of internal attention. Retrocues, which direct internal attention to a particular object or feature dimension, can improve VWM performance (i.e., retrocue benefit, RCB). However, so far, no study has investigated the relationship between VWM capacity and the magnitudes of RCBs obtained from object-based and dimension-based retrocues. The present study explored individual differences in the magnitudes of object- and dimension-based RCBs and their relationships with VWM capacity. Participants completed a VWM capacity measurement, an object-based cue task, and a dimension-based cue task. We confirmed that both object- and dimension-based retrocues could improve VWM performance. We also found a significant positive correlation between the magnitudes of object- and dimension-based RCB indexes, suggesting a partly overlapping mechanism between the use of object- and dimension-based retrocues. However, our results provided no evidence for a correlation between VWM capacity and the magnitudes of the object- or dimension-based RCBs. Although inadequate attention control is usually assumed to be associated with VWM capacity, the results suggest that the internal attention mechanism for using retrocues in VWM retention is independent of VWM capacity.

Download Full-text

The mental wormhole: Internal attention shifts without regard for distance

Attention Perception & Psychophysics ◽

10.3758/s13414-012-0305-0 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. 1199-1215 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Ryan T. Tanoue ◽

Marian E. Berryhill

Keyword(s):

Internal Attention ◽

Attention Shifts

Download Full-text

Socially induced negative affective knowledge modulates early face perception but not gaze cueing of attention

Psychophysiology ◽

10.1111/psyp.13876 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Magdalena Matyjek ◽

Bartłomiej Kroczek ◽

Magdalena Senderecka

Keyword(s):

Face Perception ◽

Gaze Cueing

Download Full-text

Functional Delineation of Prefrontal Networks Underlying Working Memory in Schizophrenia: A Cross-data-set Examination

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_01726 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-29

Author(s):

Nicole Sanford ◽

Todd S. Woodward

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Mixed Model ◽

Data Sets ◽

Generation Task ◽

Data Set ◽

Set Switching ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽

Task Conditions ◽

Experiment Analysis ◽

Internal Attention

Abstract Background: Working memory (WM) impairment in schizophrenia substantially impacts functional outcome. Although the dorsolateral pFC has been implicated in such impairment, a more comprehensive examination of brain networks comprising pFC is warranted. The present research used a whole-brain, multi-experiment analysis to delineate task-related networks comprising pFC. Activity was examined in schizophrenia patients across a variety of cognitive demands. Methods: One hundred schizophrenia patients and 102 healthy controls completed one of four fMRI tasks: a Sternberg verbal WM task, a visuospatial WM task, a Stroop set-switching task, and a thought generation task (TGT). Task-related networks were identified using multi-experiment constrained PCA for fMRI. Effects of task conditions and group differences were examined using mixed-model ANOVA on the task-related time series. Correlations between task performance and network engagement were also performed. Results: Four spatially and temporally distinct networks with pFC activation emerged and were postulated to subserve (1) internal attention, (2) auditory–motor attention, (3) motor responses, and (4) task energizing. The “energizing” network—engaged during WM encoding and diminished in patients—exhibited consistent trend relationships with WM capacity across different data sets. The dorsolateral-prefrontal-cortex-dominated “internal attention” network exhibited some evidence of hypoactivity in patients, but was not correlated with WM performance. Conclusions: Multi-experiment analysis allowed delineation of task-related, pFC-anchored networks across different cognitive constructs. Given the results with respect to the early-responding “energizing” network, WM deficits in schizophrenia may arise from disruption in the “energization” process described by Donald Stuss' model of pFC functions.

Download Full-text

Review for "Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study"

10.1002/brb3.1790/v1/review1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa-Marie Vortmann

Keyword(s):

Eye Tracking ◽

Internal Attention

Download Full-text

No experimental evidence for emotion-specific gaze cueing in a threat context

Cognition & Emotion ◽

10.1080/02699931.2018.1554554 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 1144-1154 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abbie L. Coy ◽

Nicole L. Nelson ◽

Catherine J. Mondloch

Keyword(s):

Experimental Evidence ◽

Gaze Cueing

Download Full-text

Eye contact during joint attention with a humanoid robot modulates oscillatory brain activity

10.31234/osf.io/eam3d ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽

Francesco Bossi ◽

Agnieszka Wykowska

Keyword(s):

Joint Attention ◽

Humanoid Robot ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Eye Contact ◽

Mu Rhythm ◽

Brain Response ◽

Functional Roles ◽

Gaze Cueing ◽

Human Partner ◽

Oscillatory Brain Activity

Eye contact established by a human partner has been shown to affect various cognitive processes of the receiver. However, little is known about humans’ responses to eye contact established by a humanoid robot. Here, we aimed at examining humans’ oscillatory brain response to eye contact with a humanoid robot. Eye contact (or lack thereof) was embedded in a gaze cueing task and preceded the phase of gaze-related attentional orienting. In addition to examining the effect of eye contact on the recipient, we also tested its impact on gaze cueing effects. Results showed that participants rated eye contact as more engaging and responded with higher desynchronization of alpha-band activity in left fronto-central and central electrode clusters when the robot established eye contact with them, compared to no eye contact condition. However, eye contact did not modulate gaze cueing effects. The results are interpreted in terms of the functional roles involved in alpha central rhythms (potentially interpretable also as mu rhythm), including joint attention and engagement in social interaction.

Download Full-text