scholarly journals An Active Inference Model of Conscious Access with and without Report

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Whyte ◽  
Jakob Hohwy ◽  
Ryan Smith
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Masking ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Active Inference ◽  
Inference Model ◽  
Apparent Absence ◽  
Global Workspace ◽  
Cognitive Theories ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Cognitive Action

Cognitive theories of consciousness, such as global workspace theory and higher-order theories, posit that frontoparietal circuits play a crucial role in conscious access. However, recent studies using no-report paradigms have posed a challenge to cognitive theories by demonstrating conscious accessibility in the apparent absence of prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation. To address this challenge, this paper presents a computational model of conscious access, based upon active inference, that treats working memory gating as a cognitive action. We simulate a visual masking task and show that late P3b-like event-related potentials (ERPs), and increased PFC activity, are induced by the working memory demands of report. When reporting demands are removed, these late ERPs vanish and PFC activity is reduced. These results therefore reproduce, and potentially explain, results from no-report paradigms. However, even without reporting demands, our model shows that simulated PFC activity on visible stimulus trials still crosses the threshold for reportability – maintaining the link between PFC and conscious access. Therefore, our simulations show that evidence provided by no-report paradigms does not necessarily contradict cognitive theories of consciousness.

Human Event-Related Potentials to Higher-Order Acoustic Spatial Changes

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timo Ruusuvirta ◽  
Heikki Hämäläinen
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Mismatch Negativity ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Free Field ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Negative Polarity ◽  
Positive Polarity ◽  
Spatial Changes ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Human Event

Abstract Human event-related potentials (ERPs) to a tone continuously alternating between its two spatial loci of origin (middle-standards, left-standards), to repetitions of left-standards (oddball-deviants), and to the tones originally representing these repetitions presented alone (alone-deviants) were recorded in free-field conditions. During the recordings (Fz, Cz, Pz, M1, and M2 referenced to nose), the subjects watched a silent movie. Oddball-deviants elicited a spatially diffuse two-peaked deflection of positive polarity. It differed from a deflection elicited by left-standards and commenced earlier than a prominent deflection of negative polarity (N1) elicited by alone-deviants. The results are discussed in the context of the mismatch negativity (MMN) and previous findings of dissociation between spatial and non-spatial information in auditory working memory.

scholarly journals Temporal Dynamics of Attention during Encoding versus Maintenance of Working Memory: Complementary Views from Event-related Potentials and Alpha-band Oscillations

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 492-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas E. Myers ◽  
Lena Walther ◽  
George Wallis ◽  
Mark G. Stokes ◽  
Anna C. Nobre
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Alpha Band ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Frontoparietal Control Network ◽  
Anticipatory Attention ◽  
Processing Differences

Working memory (WM) is strongly influenced by attention. In visual WM tasks, recall performance can be improved by an attention-guiding cue presented before encoding (precue) or during maintenance (retrocue). Although precues and retrocues recruit a similar frontoparietal control network, the two are likely to exhibit some processing differences, because precues invite anticipation of upcoming information whereas retrocues may guide prioritization, protection, and selection of information already in mind. Here we explored the behavioral and electrophysiological differences between precueing and retrocueing in a new visual WM task designed to permit a direct comparison between cueing conditions. We found marked differences in ERP profiles between the precue and retrocue conditions. In line with precues primarily generating an anticipatory shift of attention toward the location of an upcoming item, we found a robust lateralization in late cue-evoked potentials associated with target anticipation. Retrocues elicited a different pattern of ERPs that was compatible with an early selection mechanism, but not with stimulus anticipation. In contrast to the distinct ERP patterns, alpha-band (8–14 Hz) lateralization was indistinguishable between cue types (reflecting, in both conditions, the location of the cued item). We speculate that, whereas alpha-band lateralization after a precue is likely to enable anticipatory attention, lateralization after a retrocue may instead enable the controlled spatiotopic access to recently encoded visual information.

Abnormal auditory N400 in a case of zolpidem dependence, during a working memory test

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis A. Liappas ◽  
Charalabos C. Papageorgiou ◽  
Andreas D. Rabavilas
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Context Processing ◽  
Gaba A ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
N400 Component ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Term Management

AbstractZolpidem is a GABA (A) agonist, which is indicated for the short-term management of insomnia. Recent research provide evidence suggesting that zolpidem produces spatial working memory (WM) deficits and dependence; however, the underlying mechanisms of these effects are unknown. Since the auditory N400 component of event-related potentials (ERPS) is considered as an index of memory use of context processing, the present study focused on N400 waveform of ERPs elicited during a WM task in a case suffering from zolpidem dependence. The patterns of N400 waveform of this case were compared to the patterns obtained from healthy controls. This comparison revealed that zolpidem dependence is accompanied by reduced amplitudes located at posterior brain areas and diffuse prolongation of N400. These findings may indicate that zolpidem dependence manifests alterations with regard to the memory use of context processing, involving or affecting a wide-ranging network of the brain's structures.

scholarly journals Fear not! Anxiety biases attentional enhancement of threat without impairing working memory filtering

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Salahub ◽  
Stephen Emrich
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Working Memory ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Attentional Control ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Memory Storage ◽  
Attentional Biases ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Filtering Efficiency ◽  
Memory Resources

Individuals with anxiety have attentional biases toward threat-related distractors. This deficit in attentional control has been shown to impact visual working memory (VWM) filtering efficiency, as anxious individuals inappropriately store threatening distractors in VWM. It remains unclear, however, whether this mis-allocation of memory resources is due to inappropriate attentional enhancement of threatening distractors, or to a failure in suppression. Here, we used a systematically lateralized VWM task with fearful and neutral faces to examine event-related potentials related to attentional selection (N2pc), suppression (PD), and working memory maintenance (CDA). We found that state anxiety correlated with attentional enhancement of threat-related distractors, such that more anxious individuals had larger N2pc amplitudes toward fearful distractors than neutral distractors. However, there was no correlation between anxiety and memory storage of fearful distractors (CDA). These findings demonstrate that anxiety biases attention toward fearful distractors, but that this bias does not always guarantee increased memory storage of threat-related distractors.

scholarly journals Cognitive Changes in Conjunctive Rule-Based Category Learning: An ERP Approach

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahel Rabi ◽  
Marc F Joanisse ◽  
Tianshu Zhu ◽  
John Paul Minda
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Category Learning ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Learning Rule ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Rule Based ◽  
Differential Processing ◽  
Conjunctive Rule ◽  
Related Potentials

PreprintWhen learning rule-based categories, sufficient cognitive resources are needed to test hypotheses, maintain the currently active rule in working memory, update rules after feedback, and to select a new rule if necessary. Prior research has demonstrated that conjunctive rules are more complex than unidimensional rules and place greater demands on executive functions like working memory. In our study, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a conjunctive rule-based category learning task with trial-by-trial feedback. In line with prior research, correct categorization responses resulted in a larger stimulus-locked late positive complex compared to incorrect responses, possibly indexing the updating of rule information in memory. Incorrect trials elicited a pronounced feedback-locked P300 elicited which suggested a disconnect between perception, and the rule-based strategy. We also examined the differential processing of stimuli that were able to be correctly classified by the suboptimal single-dimensional rule (“easy” stimuli) versus those that could only be correctly classified by the optimal, conjunctive rule (“difficult” stimuli). Among strong learners, a larger, late positive slow wave emerged for difficult compared to easy stimuli, suggesting differential processing of category items even though strong learners performed well on the conjunctive category set. Overall, the findings suggest that ERP combined with computational modelling can be used to better understand the cognitive processes involved in rule-based category learning

scholarly journals Object maintenance beyond their visible parts in working memory

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 347-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyi Chen ◽  
Thomas Töllner ◽  
Hermann J. Müller ◽  
Markus Conci
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Change Detection ◽  
Visual Working Memory ◽  
Memory Load ◽  
Mental Image ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Visual Input ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Physically Identical ◽  
Partially Occluded

Completion of a partially occluded object requires that a representation of the whole is constructed based on the information provided by the physically specified parts of the stimulus. Such processes of amodal completion rely on the generation and maintenance of a mental image that renders the completed object in visual working memory (VWM). The present study examined this relationship between VWM storage and processes of object completion. We recorded event-related potentials to track VWM maintenance by means of the contralateral delay activity (CDA) during a change detection task in which composite objects (notched shapes abutting an occluding shape) to be memorized were primed to induce either a globally completed object or a noncompleted, mosaic representation. The results revealed an effect of completion in VWM despite physically identical visual input: change detection was more accurate for completed compared with mosaic representations when observers were required to memorize two objects, and these differences were reduced with four memorized items. At the electrophysiological level, globally completed (vs. mosaic) objects gave rise to a corresponding increase in CDA amplitudes. These results indicate that although incorporating the occluded portions of the presented shapes requires mnemonic resources, the complete object representations thus formed in VWM improve change detection performance by providing a more simple, regular shape. Overall, these findings demonstrate that mechanisms of object completion modulate VWM, with the memory load being determined by the structured representations of the memorized stimuli. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows that completion of partially occluded objects requires visual working memory (VWM) resources. In the experiment reported, we induced observers to memorize a given visual input either as completed or as noncompleted objects. The results revealed both a behavioral performance advantage for completed vs. noncompleted objects despite physically identical input, and an associated modulation of an electrophysiological component that reflects VWM object retention, thus indicating that constructing an integrated object consumes mnemonic resources.

Association Between the Visual N1-P2 Complex and Neuroticism

2021 ◽  
pp. 155005942110399
Author(s):  
Bowen Xiu ◽  
Christopher Andanty ◽  
Nasia Dai ◽  
Clement C. Zai ◽  
Ariel Graff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Significant Performance ◽  
Impaired Attention ◽  
Electroencephalographic Activity ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
P200 Amplitude

Neuroticism is a personality trait associated with impaired attention, memory, and error detection. Thus, the present study investigated the visual N100 and P200 event-related potentials components associated with attention using a 2-back working memory task in healthy neurotic and nonneurotic participants, evaluated using the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness Five Factor Inventory. A total of 35 healthy participants were asked to perform the 2-back task while recording electroencephalographic activity from 64 electrodes on the scalp. Analysis of the N100 and P200 amplitude and latency in high neuroticism and low neuroticism subjects showed an increased P200 amplitude and latency for high neuroticism subjects in the frontal and parietal regions, respectively. However, there were no significant performance differences between the high and low neuroticism subjects for the 2-back working memory task. Therefore, the results suggest that neuroticism is associated with the P200 component elicited in the context of a working memory task.

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