scholarly journals Stimulating Music Supports Attention in Listeners with Attentional Difficulties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Woods ◽  
Gonçalo Sampaio ◽  
Tedra James ◽  
Emily Przysinda ◽  
Adam Hewett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Background Music ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Attentional Difficulties

Abstract Background music is widely used to sustain attention, but little is known about what musical properties aid attention. This may be due to inter-individual variability in neural responses to music. We test the hypothesis that music can sustain attention by affecting oscillations via acoustic amplitude modulation, differentially for those with varying levels of attentional difficulty. We first show that heavily-modulated music improves sustained attention for participants with more ADHD symptoms. FMRI showed this music elicited greater activity in attentional networks in this group only, and EEG showed greater stimulus-brain coupling for this group in response to the heavily-modulated music. Finally, we parametrically manipulated the depth and rate of amplitude modulations inserted in otherwise-identical music, and found that beta-range modulations helped more than other frequency ranges for participants with more ADHD symptoms. Results suggest the possibility of an oscillation-based neural mechanism for targeted music to support improved cognitive performance.

scholarly journals Stimulating music supports attention in listeners with attentional difficulties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin JP Woods ◽  
Goncalo Sempaio ◽  
Tedra James ◽  
Emily Przysinda ◽  
Adam Hewett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Amplitude Modulation ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Background Music ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Attentional Difficulties

Background music is widely used to sustain attention, but little is known about what musical properties aid attention. This may be due to inter-individual variability in neural responses to music. We test the hypothesis that music can sustain attention by affecting oscillations via acoustic amplitude modulation, differentially for those with varying levels of attentional difficulty. We first show that heavily-modulated music improves sustained attention for participants with more ADHD symptoms. FMRI showed this music elicited greater activity in attentional networks in this group only, and EEG showed greater stimulus-brain coupling for this group in response to the heavily-modulated music. Finally, we parametrically manipulated the depth and rate of amplitude modulations inserted in otherwise-identical music, and found that beta-range modulations helped more than other frequency ranges for participants with more ADHD symptoms. Results suggest the possibility of an oscillation-based neural mechanism for targeted music to support improved cognitive performance.

scholarly journals Attentional networks, vigilance, and distraction as a function of ADHD symptoms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Coll-Martín ◽  
Hugo Carretero-Dios ◽  
Juan Lupiáñez
Keyword(s):  
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Executive Attention ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Irrelevant Distractors ◽  
Attentional Difficulties ◽  
Do So

Attentional difficulties are a core axis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, establishing a consistent and detailed pattern of these neurocognitive alterations has not been an easy endeavor. The present study aimed at thoroughly characterizing three key attentional domains, namely, the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive attention), two components of vigilance (executive and arousal vigilance), and distraction. To do so, we modified a single, fine-grained task (the ANTI-Vea) by adding irrelevant distractors. One hundred and twenty undergraduates completed three questionnaires of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood and performed the ANTI-Vea. Despite the low reliability of some ANTI-Vea indexes, the task worked successfully. While ADHD symptoms in childhood were related to alerting network and arousal vigilance, ADHD in adulthood were linked to executive vigilance. No association between ADHD symptoms and executive attention and distraction was found. In general, our hypotheses about the relationships between ADHD symptoms and attentional processes, were supported only partially at most. We discuss our findings according to ADHD theories and attention measurement.

scholarly journals Working memory and intra-individual variability in response time mediate fluid intelligence deficits associated with ADHD symptoms

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Brydges ◽  
Krista Ozolnieks ◽  
Gareth Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Memory Response ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Inattention And Hyperactivity ◽  
Response Consistency

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neuropsychologicalcondition characterised by inattention and hyperactivity. Cognitive deficits are commonly observed in ADHD patients, including impaired working memory, response consistency, and fluid intelligence, which are theorised to be associated with one another. We aimed to determine if decreased fluid intelligence was associated with ADHD, and was mediated by deficits in working memory and intra-individual variability (IIV) in motor responding. The present study tested 142 young adults from the general population on a range of working memory, response time, and fluid intelligence tasks, and an ADHD self-report symptoms questionnaire. Results showed that total and hyperactive ADHD symptoms correlated significantly and negatively with fluid intelligence, but this association was fully mediated by both working memory and IIV in response time. However, inattentive symptoms were not associated with fluid intelligence. These results have important implications for clinicians using speeded psychometric tests as part of their assessment battery.

scholarly journals Towards an individualised neural assessment of receptive language in children

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Petit ◽  
Nicholas A. Badcock ◽  
Tijl Grootswagers ◽  
Anina N. Rich ◽  
Jon Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Grade System ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Lexical Semantic ◽  
Research Grade

AbstractPurposeWe aimed to develop a non-invasive neural test of language comprehension to use with non-speaking children for whom standard behavioural testing is unreliable (e.g., minimally-verbal autism). Our aims were three-fold. First, we sought to establish the sensitivity of two auditory paradigms to elicit neural responses in individual neurotypical children. Second, we aimed to validate the use of a portable and accessible electroencephalography (EEG) system, by comparing its recordings to those of a research-grade system. Third, in light of substantial inter-individual variability in individuals’ neural responses, we assessed whether multivariate decoding methods could improve sensitivity.MethodsWe tested the sensitivity of two child-friendly covert N400 paradigms. Thirty-one typically developing children listened to identical spoken words that were either strongly predicted by the preceding context or violated lexical-semantic expectations. Context was given by a cue word (Experiment 1) or sentence frame (Experiment 2) and participants either made an overall judgement on word relatedness or counted lexical-semantic violations. We measured EEG concurrently from a research-grade system, Neuroscan’s SynAmps2, and an adapted gaming system, Emotiv’s EPOC+.ResultsWe found substantial inter-individual variability in the timing and topology of N400-like effects. For both paradigms and EEG systems, traditional N400 effects at the expected sensors and time points were statistically significant in around 50% of individuals. Using multivariate analyses, detection rate increased to 88% of individuals for the research-grade system in the sentences paradigm, illustrating the robustness of this method in the face of inter-individual variations in topography.ConclusionsThere was large inter-individual variability in neural responses, suggesting inter-individual variation in either the cognitive response to lexical-semantic violations, and/or the neural substrate of that response. Around half of our neurotypical participants showed the expected N400 effect at the expected location and time point. A low-cost, accessible EEG system provided comparable data for univariate analysis but was not well suited to multivariate decoding. However, multivariate analyses with a research-grade EEG system increased our detection rate to 88% of individuals. This approach provides a strong foundation to establish a neural index of language comprehension in children with limited communication.

scholarly journals Cognitive performance along the migraine cycle: A negative exploratory study

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 251581632095113
Author(s):  
Maria Ana Quadros ◽  
Marta Granadeiro ◽  
Amparo Ruiz-Tagle ◽  
Carolina Maruta ◽  
Raquel Gil-Gouveia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Episodic Migraine ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Control Performance ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Attack Frequency ◽  
Cognitive Difficulties ◽  
Z Scores

Migraine patients frequently report cognitive difficulties in the proximity and during migraine attacks. We performed an exploratory comparison of executive functioning across the four stages of the migraine cycle. Consecutive patients with episodic migraine undertook cognitive tests for attention, processing speed, set-shifting, and inhibitory control. Performance was compared between patients in different migraine stages, controlling for attack frequency and prophylactic medication. One hundred forty-three patients (142 women, average age 36.2 ± 9.9 years) were included, 28 preictal (≤48 h before the attack), 21 ictal (during the attack), 18 postictal (≤24 h after attack), and 76 interictal. Test performance (age and literacy adjusted z-scores) was not significantly different across migraine phases, despite a tendency for a decline before the attack. This negative study shows that cognitive performance fluctuates as patients approach the attack. To control for individual variability, this comparison needs to be better characterized longitudinally with a within-patient design.

scholarly journals Unconstrained multivariate EEG decoding can help detect lexical-semantic processing in individual children

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Petit ◽  
Nicholas A. Badcock ◽  
Tijl Grootswagers ◽  
Alexandra Woolgar
Keyword(s):  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Semantic Processing ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Neural Signals ◽  
Individual Subject ◽  
Lexical Semantic ◽  
Semantic Comprehension ◽  
Autistic Population

AbstractIn conditions such as minimally-verbal autism, standard assessments of language comprehension are often unreliable. Given the known heterogeneity within the autistic population, it is crucial to design tests of semantic comprehension that are sensitive in individuals. Recent efforts to develop neural signals of language comprehension have focused on the N400, a robust marker of lexical-semantic violation at the group level. However, homogeneity of response in individual neurotypical children has not been established. Here, we presented 20 neurotypical children with congruent and incongruent visual animations and spoken sentences while measuring their neural response using EEG. Despite robust group-level responses, we found high inter-individual variability in response to lexico-semantic anomalies. To overcome this, we analysed our data using temporally and spatially unconstrained MVPA, supplemented by descriptive analyses to examine the timecourse, topography, and strength of the effect. Our results show that neurotypical children exhibit heterogenous responses to lexical-semantic violation, implying that any application to heterogenous disorders such as ASD will require individual-subject analyses that are robust to variation in topology and timecourse of neural responses.

scholarly journals Which Factors Influence Attentional Functions? Attention Assessed by KiTAP in 105 6- to 10-Year-Old Children

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Tremolada ◽  
Livia Taverna ◽  
Sabrina Bonichini
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
School Grade ◽  
Attentional Difficulties ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

This research revealed the children with difficulties in attentional functions in healthy children attending primary school and aimed to identify the possible socio-demographic factors such as child’s age, gender and school’s grade that could influence attentive performance. The participants were 105 children aged 6-10 years (M age=8.6; SD=1.04), 57 females, attending primary schools. Family economic condition attested mostly at a medium level (63.5%) and parents had more frequently 13 years of schooling. The computerized test KiTAP was administered to children to assess attentional functions. Results showed higher frequency of omissions and false alarms and a reduced speed in Alertness, Go/No go and Sustained Attention tasks comparing to Italian norms. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were run with school grade, gender and current age as independent variables and mean reaction times (and standard deviation), number of omissions and of false alarms as dependent ones. Results showed male gender and attending a lower primary school grade impacting on lower attentional performance in several subtests. Females showed the best performances in distractibility and impulsive reaction tendencies tests, while higher school grade positively influenced the divided and sustained attention. These results could be useful to identify children with major attentional difficulties and some recommendations for futures studies and implement attention empowerment programmes were proposed.

scholarly journals An Event-related Potential Study of Selective Auditory Attention in Children and Adults

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Coch ◽  
Lisa D. Sanders ◽  
Helen J. Neville
Keyword(s):  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Posterior Distribution ◽  
Dichotic Listening ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Auditory Attention ◽  
Attention Effect ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Adults And Children

In a dichotic listening paradigm, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded to linguistic and nonlinguistic probe stimuli embedded in 2 different narrative contexts as they were either attended or unattended. In adults, the typical N1 attention effect was observed for both types of probes: Probes superimposed on the attended narrative elicited an enhanced negativity compared to the same probes when unattended. Overall, this sustained attention effect was greater over medial and left lateral sites, but was more posteriorly distributed and of longer duration for linguistic as compared to nonlinguistic probes. In contrast, in 6-to 8-year-old children the ERPs were morphologically dissimilar to those elicited in adults and children displayed a greater positivity to both types of probe stimuli when embedded in the attended as compared to the unattended narrative. Although both adults and children showed attention effects beginning at about 100 msec, only adults displayed left-lateralized attention effects and a distinct, posterior distribution for linguistic probes. These results suggest that the attentional networks indexed by this task continue to develop beyond the age of 8 years.

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