scholarly journals Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: an fMRI-eye-tracking co-registration study [preprint]

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ceh ◽  
Sonja Annerer-Walcher ◽  
Koschutnig Karl ◽  
Christof Körner ◽  
Mathias Benedek
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Parietal Lobe ◽  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Mental Load ◽  
Lingual Gyrus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Task Irrelevant ◽  
Attention Demands ◽  
Internal Attention

Many goal-directed, as well as spontaneous everyday activities (e.g., planning, mind-wandering), rely on an internal focus of attention. In this fMRI–eye-tracking coregistration study, we investigated brain mechanisms and eye behavior related to internally versus externally directed cognition. Building on an established paradigm, we manipulated internal attention demands within tasks utilizing conditional stimulus masking. Internally directed cognition involved bilateral activation of the lingual gyrus and inferior parietal lobe areas as well as wide-spread deactivation of visual networks. Moreover, internally directed cognition was related to greater pupil diameter, pupil diameter variance, blink duration, fixation disparity variance, and smaller amounts of microsaccades. FMRI–eye-tracking covariation analyses further revealed that larger pupil diameter was related to increased activation of basal ganglia and lingual gyrus. It can be concluded that internally and externally directed cognition are characterized by distinct neurophysiological signatures. The observed neurophysiological differences indicate that internally directed cognition is associated with reduced processing of task-irrelevant information and increased mental load. These findings shed further light on the interplay between neural and perceptual mechanisms contributing to an internal focus of attention.

scholarly journals Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An EEG-eye-tracking co-registration study [preprint]

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ceh ◽  
Sonja Annerer-Walcher ◽  
Christof Körner ◽  
Christian Rominger ◽  
Silivia E. Kober ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Alpha Activity ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Gating Mechanism ◽  
Eeg Alpha ◽  
Eeg Alpha Activity ◽  
Task Irrelevant ◽  
Attention Demands ◽  
Internal Attention

Many goal-directed, as well as spontaneous everyday activities (e.g., planning, mind wandering) rely on an internal focus of attention. In this EEG-eye-tracking co-registration study, we investigated effects of attention direction on EEG alpha activity and various relevant eye parameters. We used an established paradigm to manipulate internal attention demands within tasks by means of conditional stimulus masking. Consistent with previous research, IDC involved relatively higher EEG alpha activity (lower alpha desynchronization) at posterior cortical sites. Moreover, IDC was characterized by greater pupil diameter (PD) and PD variance, more and longer blinks, and fewer microsaccades, fixations and saccades. These findings show that internal versus external cognition is associated with robust differences in several neurophysiological indicators that contribute to suppress task-irrelevant information processing at the neural and perceptual level. In a second line of analysis, we explored the intrinsic temporal covariation between EEG alpha activity and eye parameters during rest. This analysis revealed a positive correlation of EEG alpha power with PD especially in bilateral parieto-occipital regions. Together, these findings suggest that EEG alpha activity and PD represent time-sensitive indicators of internal attention demands and are part of a neurophysiological gating mechanism to shield internal cognition from irrelevant sensory information.

scholarly journals Effects of ketamine on brain function during metacognition of episodic memory

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Lehmann ◽  
Claudia Neumann ◽  
Sven Wasserthal ◽  
Johannes Schultz ◽  
Achilles Delis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Parietal Lobe ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Lingual Gyrus ◽  
States Of Consciousness ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
Confidence Ratings

Abstract Only little research has been conducted on the pharmacological underpinnings of metacognition. Here, we tested the modulatory effects of a single intravenous dose (100 ng/ml) of the N-methyl-D-aspartate-glutamate-receptor antagonist ketamine, a compound known to induce altered states of consciousness, on metacognition and its neural correlates. Fifty-three young, healthy adults completed two study phases of an episodic memory task involving both encoding and retrieval in a double-blind, placebo-controlled fMRI study. Trial-by-trial confidence ratings were collected during retrieval. Effects on the subjective state of consciousness were assessed using the 5D-ASC questionnaire. Confirming that the drug elicited a psychedelic state, there were effects of ketamine on all 5D-ASC scales. Acute ketamine administration during retrieval had deleterious effects on metacognitive sensitivity (meta-d′) and led to larger metacognitive bias, with retrieval performance (d′) and reaction times remaining unaffected. However, there was no ketamine effect on metacognitive efficiency (meta-d′/d′). Measures of the BOLD signal revealed that ketamine compared to placebo elicited higher activation of posterior cortical brain areas, including superior and inferior parietal lobe, calcarine gyrus, and lingual gyrus, albeit not specific to metacognitive confidence ratings. Ketamine administered during encoding did not significantly affect performance or brain activation. Overall, our findings suggest that ketamine impacts metacognition, leading to significantly larger metacognitive bias and deterioration of metacognitive sensitivity as well as unspecific activation increases in posterior hot zone areas of the neural correlates of consciousness.

An eye-tracking study on the effect of infographic structures on viewer’s comprehension and cognitive load

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azam Majooni ◽  
Mona Masood ◽  
Amir Akhavan
Keyword(s):  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Cognitive Load ◽  
Pupil Diameter ◽  
Information Graphics ◽  
Basic Premise ◽  
Quantitative Evidence ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
Movement Data ◽  
Graphical Design ◽  
Tracking Devices

The basic premise of this research is investigating the effect of layout on the comprehension and cognitive load of the viewers in the information graphics. The term ‘Layout’ refers to the arrangement and organization of the visual and textual elements in a graphical design. The experiment conducted in this study is designed based on two stories and each one of these stories is presented with two different layouts. During the experiment, eye-tracking devices are applied to collect the gaze data including the eye movement data and pupil diameter fluctuation. In the research on the modification of the layouts, contents of each story are narrated using identical visual and textual elements. The analysis of eye-tracking data provides quantitative evidence concerning the change of layout in each story and its effect on the comprehension of participants and variation of their cognitive load. In conclusion, it can be claimed that the comprehension from the zigzag form of the layout was higher with a less imposed cognitive load.

scholarly journals Dissociating Reward- and Attention-driven Biasing of Global Feature-based Selection in Human Visual Cortex

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haydee G. Garcia-Lazaro ◽  
Mandy V. Bartsch ◽  
Carsten N. Boehler ◽  
Ruth M. Krebs ◽  
Sarah E. Donohue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Target Color ◽  
Selective Area ◽  
Early Visual Cortex ◽  
Feature Based ◽  
Irrelevant Color ◽  
Task Irrelevant ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Attention Demands

Objects that promise rewards are prioritized for visual selection. The way this prioritization shapes sensory processing in visual cortex, however, is debated. It has been suggested that rewards motivate stronger attentional focusing, resulting in a modulation of sensory selection in early visual cortex. An open question is whether those reward-driven modulations would be independent of similar modulations indexing the selection of attended features that are not associated with reward. Here, we use magnetoencephalography in human observers to investigate whether the modulations indexing global color-based selection in visual cortex are separable for target- and (monetary) reward-defining colors. To assess the underlying global color-based activity modulation, we compare the event-related magnetic field response elicited by a color probe in the unattended hemifield drawn either in the target color, the reward color, both colors, or a neutral task-irrelevant color. To test whether target and reward relevance trigger separable modulations, we manipulate attention demands on target selection while keeping reward-defining experimental parameters constant. Replicating previous observations, we find that reward and target relevance produce almost indistinguishable gain modulations in ventral extratriate cortex contralateral to the unattended color probe. Importantly, increasing attention demands on target discrimination increases the response to the target-defining color, whereas the response to the rewarded color remains largely unchanged. These observations indicate that, although task relevance and reward influence the very same feature-selective area in extrastriate visual cortex, the associated modulations are largely independent.

scholarly journals Thinking Outside the Block: External Focus of Attention Improves Reaction Times and Movement Preparation Times in Collegiate Track Sprinters

Sports ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila Kovacs ◽  
Garrett Miles ◽  
Harsimran Baweja
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Movement Preparation ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
Coaching Methods ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles

While focusing attention on external cues (EF) has been shown to enhance performance track and field coaches tend to provide instructions that promote internal focus of attention (IF) during block starts. The aims of this study were to determine: (1) whether promoting EF versus IF would improve reaction time (RT) of sprinters, and (2) if changes occur at the level of central processes during movement preparation (premotor RT) or peripheral processes during movement execution (motor RT). Twelve collegiate track sprinters (age 20.8 ± 1.7) completed three testing sessions under EF, IF, and no focus instruction (NF) conditions. RT was recorded from the left and right blocks. Muscle activation time (EMG) was recorded from the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles. Mean rear foot RT was significantly shorter (p < 0.0001) under the EF (212.11 ms) compared with the IF (234.21 ms) and NF conditions (236.87 ms). Front foot RT was significantly shorter (p < 0.05) during EF (250.24 ms), compared to IF (266.98 ms) but not shorter than the NF (268.73 ms) condition. Mean premotor RT under the EF condition (157.75 ms) was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) compared with the IF (181.90 ms) and NF (173.60 ms) conditions. No differences were found in motor RT across conditions (p > 0.05). Adopting an EF improves RT during sprint starts. This improvement likely originates from a shortening in movement preparation time, as opposed to a faster excitation contraction coupling of the muscle fibers. These findings could potentially contribute to the development of new coaching methods aimed at improving the starting technique of athletes.

Verbal Cues and Attentional Focus: A Simulated Target-Shooting Experiment

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa D. Raisbeck ◽  
Jed A. Diekfuss
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Verbal Cues ◽  
Task Load ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Gun Barrel ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Nasa Task Load Index ◽  
Learning And Performance

Performance benefits exist for an external focus of attention compared with an internal focus of attention for performance and learning (Wulf, 2013). It is unknown, however, if varying the number of verbal cues affects learning and performance. Focus of attention and the number of verbal cues were manipulated during a simulated handgun-shooting task. For the internal focus conditions, participants were told to focus on their hand, arm, and wrist, whereas the external focus instructions were to focus on the gun, gun barrel, and gun stock. To manipulate the number of verbal cues, participants received instruction to focus on a single verbal cue or multiple verbal cues. Shooting performance was assessed at baseline, acquisition, and at two separate retention phases (immediate, delayed) that included transfer tests. Participants completed the NASA—Task Load Index to assess workload following all trials. Participants who received one verbal cue performed significantly better during immediate retention than those who received three verbal cues. Participants who used external focus of attention instructions had higher performance and reported less workload at delayed retention compared to those who used internal focus instructions. This research provides further support for the benefits of an external focus and highlights the importance of minimizing the number of verbal cues.

scholarly journals Do Children Benefit External Focus of Attention as Much as Adults? A Motor Learning Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somaye Roshandel ◽  
Hamidreza Taheri ◽  
Amir Moghadam
Keyword(s):  
Motor Skills ◽  
Retention Test ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Focus Of Attention ◽  
Learning Study ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
External Focus ◽  
Internal Focus ◽  
And Task

Recent evidence supports advantages of an external focus of attention on learning motor skills, however, there is a need to retest these finding for children and comparing them with adults. Thus, the purpose of current study was to determine the effect of different attentional focus on learning a motor skill in children and adults. Thirty children (8-12 year) and thirty adults (25-42 years) were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) Children external focus of attention (EFA), (2) Children- internal focus of attention (IFA), (3) Adults- External focus of attention (EFA), (4) Adults- internal focus of attention (IFA). Following initial instructions and task demonstration, participants performed 60 darts throwing in six blocks and 24 hours later performed 10 additional throws for retention test. Results revealed that children benefited from EFA and IFA instruction in the same manner, however, adults benefited from EFA more than IFA instruction. Future studies should continue to examine effects of different attentional focus on other skills.

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