Mental rotation in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus).

1997 ◽  
Vol 200 (9) ◽  
pp. 1309-1316 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Mauck ◽  
G Dehnhardt
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Horizontal Plane ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Mirror Image ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lion

Mental rotation is a widely accepted concept that suggests an analogue mode of visual information-processing in certain visuospatial tasks. Typically, these tasks demand the discrimination between the image and mirror-image of rotated figures, for which human subjects need an increasing reaction time depending on the angular disparity between the rotated figures. In pigeons, tests of this kind yielded a time-independent rotational invariance, suggested as being the result of a non-analogue information-processing that has evolved in response to the horizontal plane that birds perceive from above while flying. Given that marine mammals use the water surface as the horizontal plane for orientation while diving, the ability of a California sea lion to mentally rotate two-dimensional shapes was tested. Using a successive two-alternative matching-to-sample procedure, the animal had to decide between the image and mirror-image of a previously shown sample. Both stimuli were rotated by a multiple of 30 degrees with respect to the sample. The animal's reaction time was measured by a computer-controlled touch-screen device, rewarding the animal for pressing its snout against the stimulus matching the sample. A linear regression analysis of the animal's mean reaction time against the angular rotation of the stimulus yielded a significant correlation coefficient. Thus, the present data can be explained by the mental rotation model, predicting an image-like representation of visual stimuli in this species. The present results therefore correspond well with those found for human subjects, but are inconsistent with the data reported for pigeons.

Mental Rotation of Perspective Stimuli in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)

2003 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Petra Stich ◽  
Guido Dehnhardt ◽  
Björn Mauck
Keyword(s):  
Mental Rotation ◽  
Zalophus Californianus ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lion

Diffusive Feedback Influences on Hierarchical Information Processing

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 744-770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ai Miyamoto ◽  
Jun Hasegawa ◽  
Meihong Zheng ◽  
Osamu Hoshino
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Sensory Stimulation ◽  
Cells Of Origin ◽  
Orientation Specificity ◽  
Membrane Oscillations ◽  
Reaction Speed

In visual information processing, feedforward projection from primary to secondary visual cortex (V1-to-V2) is essential for integrating combinations of oriented bars in order to extract angular information embedded within contours that represent the shape of objects. For feedback (V2-to-V1) projection, two distinct types of pathways have been observed: clustered projection and diffused projection. The former innervates V1 domains with a preferred orientation similar to that of V2 cells of origin. In contrast, the latter innervates without such orientation specificity. V2 cells send their axons to V1 domains with both similar and dissimilar orientation preferences. It is speculated that the clustered feedback projection has a role in contour integration. The role of the diffused feedback projection, however, remains to be seen. We simulated a minimal, functional V1-V2 neural network model. The diffused feedback projection contributed to achieving ongoing-spontaneous subthreshold membrane oscillations in V1 cells, thereby reducing the reaction time of V1 cells to a pair of bars that represents specific angular information. Interestingly, the feedback influence took place even before V2 responses, which might stem largely from ongoing-spontaneous signaling from V2. We suggest that the diffusive feedback influence from V2 could act early in V1 responses and accelerate their reaction speed to sensory stimulation in order to rapidly extract angular information.

The Influence of Different Doses of Caffeine on Visual Task Performance

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Ruijter ◽  
Monicque M. Lorist ◽  
Jan Snel
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Output Stage ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Output Stages

Abstract In this study the influence of caffeine as an energy-increasing substance on visual information processing was examined. Subjects were presented with a dual-task consisting of two choice reaction time tasks. In addition, one of the tasks was presented at two levels of difficulty, influencing the decision-making process. Doses of 1.0, 3.0, and 7.5 mg/kg body weight caffeine and 3.0 mg/kg body weight lactose were administered (within-subjects design). The effect of caffeine was expected to be observable in terms of improved performance on measures like reaction time and type and number of errors, as well as in components of the event-related brain potential (ERP). The highest caffeine dose shortened reaction times on both the primary and the secondary task as compared to placebo. Overall there was a linear decline in reaction times on both tasks with increasing caffeine dose. As measured from ERP results, there was an increasing P3 amplitude as caffeine dose increased, indicating that the quantity of information processed was larger under caffeine. There was, however, no evidence of extra energy in terms of more hits and fewer misses or false alarms. Moreover, subjects reported no doserelated differences in amount of effort needed to perform the dual-task. It is concluded that the effect of caffeine, which is supposed to have its impact on both the input and the output stages of information processing, was evident in the output stage in the form of shortened reaction times. However, no effect of caffeine could be observed at the input stage, probably due to a data limited process.

scholarly journals Association between Physical and Motor Fitness with Cognition in Children

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akbar Moradi ◽  
Esmaeil Sadri Damirchi ◽  
Mohammad Narimani ◽  
Samad Esmaeilzadeh ◽  
Inga Dziembowska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Multiple Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
Motor Fitness

Background and objective: There is an increased interest in exploring the association between fitness components with cognitive development in children in recent years. One of the scopes is to find the best exercise prescription to enhance health and cognition. Most of the studies so far have focused on cardiorespiratory fitness with little evidence on other fitness components. The present study aimed to explore the association between physical fitness (PF) and motor fitness (MF) with cognitive performance in children. Methods: Two hundred and six schoolboys (11.0 ± 0.8 y) underwent a battery of tests to measure information processing speed (i.e., simple and choice reaction time) and inhibitory control (i.e., Simon task). PF components (i.e., flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance) and MF components (speed and agility) were measured. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders (i.e., age, socioeconomic status, %fat and physical activity) revealed no relationship between flexibility, speed, muscular strength, and endurance with either information processing tasks or inhibitory control tasks. However, a positive association was observed between agility with both congruent reaction time and incongruent reaction time. Conclusions: No relationship was observed between the underlying fitness components with either information processing or inhibitory control. However, an association was observed between agility with inhibitory control.

scholarly journals Visual information processing in older adults: reaction time and motor unit pool modulation

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 2630-2639 ◽  
Author(s):  
MinHyuk Kwon ◽  
Evangelos A. Christou
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Motor Unit ◽  
Visual Feedback ◽  
Force Control ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Visual Information Processing ◽  
Force Variability ◽  
Premotor Time

Presently, there is no evidence that magnification of visual feedback has motor implications beyond impairments in force control during a visuomotor task. We hypothesized that magnification of visual feedback would increase visual information processing, alter the muscle activation, and exacerbate the response time in older adults. To test this hypothesis, we examined whether magnification of visual feedback during a reaction time task alters the premotor time and the motor unit pool activation of older adults. Participants responded as fast as possible to a visual stimulus while they maintained a steady ankle dorsiflexion force (15% maximum) either with low-gain or high-gain visual feedback of force. We quantified the following: 1) response time and its components (premotor and motor time), 2) force variability, and 3) motor unit pool activity of the tibialis anterior muscle. Older adults exhibited longer premotor time and greater force variability than young adults. Only in older adults, magnification of visual feedback lengthened the premotor time and exacerbated force variability. The slower premotor time in older adults with high-gain visual feedback was associated with increased force variability and an altered modulation of the motor unit pool. In conclusion, our findings provide novel evidence that magnification of visual feedback also exacerbates premotor time during a reaction time task in older adults, which is correlated with force variability and an altered modulation of motor unit pool. Thus these findings suggest that visual information processing deficiencies in older adults could result in force control and reaction time impairments. NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is unknown whether magnification of visual feedback has motor implications beyond impairments in force control for older adults. We examined whether it impairs reaction time and motor unit pool activation. The findings provide novel evidence that magnification of visual feedback exacerbates reaction time by lengthening premotor time, which implicates time for information processing in older adults, which is correlated with force variability and an altered modulation of motor unit pool.

Rapid visual information processing as a cognitive endophenotype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 435-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S.-F. Gau ◽  
W.-L. Huang
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Attention Deficit ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Attention Performance ◽  
Rapid Visual Information Processing

BackgroundDeficits in sustained attention and reaction time are core features of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about attention performance in unaffected siblings. Hence, we examined sustained attention and reaction time in youths with ADHD, unaffected siblings and controls to test whether impaired performance in attention tasks can be a potential endophenotype of ADHD.MethodWe recruited 438 probands with clinical diagnosis of ADHD according to DSM-IV criteria, 180 unaffected siblings, and 173 healthy controls without lifetime ADHD. They were assessed using psychiatric interviews, Conners’ Continuous Performance Test, and the tasks involving attention performance of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB): Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP), Reaction Time (RTI) and Match to Sample Visual Search (MTS). Multi-level models were used for data analysis.ResultsCompared with the controls, probands with ADHD and unaffected siblings had significantly higher total misses, lower probability of hits in the RVP task and probands with ADHD performed worse in the RTI and MTS tasks after controlling for sex, age, co-morbidity, parental educational levels and IQ. The duration of methylphenidate use and IQ but not psychiatric co-morbidity or current use of methylphenidate were associated with deficits in sustained attention in probands with ADHD.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that attention performance assessed by the RVP task, but not the RTI or MTS tasks, of the CANTAB may be a useful cognitive endophenotype for ADHD genetic studies.

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