How do we measure attention? Using factor analysis to establish construct validity of neuropsychological tests

We investigated whether standardized neuropsychological tests and experimental cognitive paradigms measure the same cognitive faculties. Specifically, do neuropsychological tests commonly used to assess attention measure the same construct as attention paradigms used in cognitive psychology and neuroscience? We built on the “general attention factor”, comprising several widely used experimental paradigms (Huang et al., 2012). Participants (n = 636) completed an on-line battery (TestMyBrain.org) of six experimental tests [Multiple Object Tracking, Flanker Interference, Visual Working Memory, Approximate Number Sense, Spatial Configuration Visual Search, and Gradual Onset Continuous Performance Task (Grad CPT)] and eight neuropsychological tests [Trail Making Test versions A & B (TMT-A, TMT-B), Digit Symbol Coding, Forward and Backward Digit Span, Letter Cancellation, Spatial Span, and Arithmetic]. Exploratory factor analysis in a subset of 357 participants identified a five-factor structure: (1) attentional capacity (Multiple Object Tracking, Visual Working Memory, Digit Symbol Coding, Spatial Span), (2) search (Visual Search, TMT-A, TMT-B, Letter Cancellation); (3) Digit Span; (4) Arithmetic; and (5) Sustained Attention (GradCPT). Confirmatory analysis in 279 held-out participants showed that this model fit better than competing models. A hierarchical model where a general cognitive factor was imposed above the five specific factors fit as well as the model without the general factor. We conclude that Digit Span and Arithmetic tests should not be classified as attention tests. Digit Symbol Coding and Spatial Span tap attentional capacity, while TMT-A, TMT-B, and Letter Cancellation tap search (or attention-shifting) ability. These five tests can be classified as attention tests.

Evaluating the Effect of Stimuli Color and Frequency on SSVEP

Brain–computer interfaces (BCI) can extract information about the subject’s intentions by registering and processing electroencephalographic (EEG) signals to generate actions on physical systems. Steady-state visual-evoked potentials (SSVEP) are produced when the subject stares at flashing visual stimuli. By means of spectral analysis and by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of its harmonic contents, the observed stimulus can be identified. Stimulus color matters, and some authors have proposed red because of its ability to capture attention, while others refuse it because it might induce epileptic seizures. Green has also been proposed and it is claimed that white may generate the best signals. Regarding frequency, middle frequencies are claimed to produce the best SNR, although high frequencies have not been thoroughly studied, and might be advantageous due to the lower spontaneous cerebral activity in this frequency band. Here, we show white, red, and green stimuli, at three frequencies: 5 (low), 12 (middle), and 30 (high) Hz to 42 subjects, and compare them in order to find which one can produce the best SNR. We aim to know if the response to white is as strong as the one to red, and also if the response to high frequency is as strong as the one triggered by lower frequencies. Attention has been measured with the Conner’s Continuous Performance Task version 2 (CPT-II) task, in order to search for a potential relationship between attentional capacity and the SNR previously obtained. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows the best SNR with the middle frequency, followed by the low, and finally the high one. White gives as good an SNR as red at 12 Hz and so does green at 5 Hz, with no differences at 30 Hz. These results suggest that middle frequencies are preferable and that using the red color can be avoided. Correlation analysis also show a correlation between attention and the SNR at low frequency, so suggesting that for the low frequencies, more attentional capacity leads to better results.

EFEITO DE UM PROGRAMA DE 35 SEMANAS DE TREINAMENTO DE FUTEBOL BASEADO NA GAME BASED APPROACH SOBRE A CAPACIDADE FÍSICA E ATENCIONAL DE CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES / EFFECT OF A 35 WEEK SOCCER TRAINING PROGRAM BASED ON GAME BASED APPROACH ON THE PHYSICAL AND ATTENTIONAL CAPACITY OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Nos últimos anos tem crescido o interesse na utilização de uma abordagem baseada em jogos ou Game Based Approach (GBA) para ensinar e treinar futebol. Neste contexto, recorre-se aos jogos reduzidos e condicionados para promover o desenvolvimento dos praticantes. Porém, ainda são poucos os estudos que investigaram o efeito da GBA na capacidade física e especialmente em aspectos atencionais. Sendo assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar o efeito de um programa de 35 semanas de treinamento de futebol baseado na GBA sobre a capacidade cardiorrespiratória, potência muscular de membros inferiores e capacidade atencional de crianças e adolescentes. Para análise estatística comparou-se as variáveis antes e após a intervenção através do teste t pareado e do Wilcoxon, adotando nível de significância de p<0,05. Os resultados demonstraram que houve manutenção do VO2 máximo, aumento da potência muscular de membros inferiores (748±205W vs 1250±607W, pré e pós, respectivamente; p=0,001), diminuição do tempo de reação (pré=707±124ms vs pós=665±140ms; p=0,023) e aumento no número de acertos (pré=81±20 vs pós=87±16; p=0,041) no teste de Flanker. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que aulas baseadas na GBA podem ser uma alternativa para melhorar a capacidade física e atencional de crianças e adolescentes. In recent years, the interest of coaches and researchers about Game Based Approach (GBA) to teach and coach soccer has grown. Is this context, small-sided and conditioned games are being increasingly used as a tool for player’s development. However, few studies have investigated the effect of GBA on physical capacity and especially on attentional aspects. Thus, the present study aimed to verify the effect of 35-week GBA soccer training program on cardiorespiratory fitness, lower limb muscle power, reaction time and visual attention of children and adolescents. For statistical analysis, variables were compared before and after the intervention using the paired t test and Wilcoxon, and the significance level adopted was p<0.05. The results showed a maintenance of maximum VO2 and increased lower limb muscle power (748±205W vs 1250±607W, before and after, respectively; p=0.001). In attentional capacity, a decreased in reaction time (before=707±124ms vs after=665±140ms; p=0.023), and an increased number of correct answers (before=81±20 vs after=87±16; p=0.041) in Flanker Test. The study concluded that GBA, lasting 35 weeks, can be an alternative to improve children’s physical and attentional capacity performance. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0623/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Spectral and Anatomical Patterns of Large-Scale Synchronization Predict Human Attentional Capacity

The capacity of visual attention determines how many visual objects may be perceived at any moment. This capacity can be investigated with multiple object tracking (MOT) tasks, which have shown that it varies greatly between individuals. The neuronal mechanisms underlying capacity limits have remained poorly understood. Phase synchronization of cortical oscillations coordinates neuronal communication within the fronto-parietal attention network and between the visual regions during endogenous visual attention. We tested a hypothesis that attentional capacity is predicted by the strength of pretarget synchronization within attention-related cortical regions. We recorded cortical activity with magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG) while measuring attentional capacity with MOT tasks and identified large-scale synchronized networks from source-reconstructed M/EEG data. Individual attentional capacity was correlated with load-dependent strengthening of theta (3–8 Hz), alpha (8–10 Hz), and gamma-band (30–120 Hz) synchronization that connected the visual cortex with posterior parietal and prefrontal cortices. Individual memory capacity was also preceded by crossfrequency phase–phase and phase–amplitude coupling of alpha oscillation phase with beta and gamma oscillations. Our results show that good attentional capacity is preceded by efficient dynamic functional coupling and decoupling within brain regions and across frequencies, which may enable efficient communication and routing of information between sensory and attentional systems.

Attentional control predicts pronominalization irrespective of competing referents

Two story-continuation experiments replicate a well-known effect whereby speakers use fewer pronouns to refer to the main character of a story when an additional character is present in the scene/discourse. This effect arises even when characters are different sex/gender and a pronoun would be unambiguous, a finding originally attributed to competition for attentional resources in the speaker’s representation of the discourse (Arnold &amp; Griffin, 2007). However earlier work did not explicitly test this account. Here we investigate the role of inhibition and attention switching on referential choice across one- and two-characters scenes in 200 participants aged 19-82. Attentional capacity did not predict pronominalization differences across scenes. Instead, our results lend support to an alternative account whereby lower pronominal use in two-character scenes reflects participants’ accurate assessment that the subject is more likely to be the topic when no additional character is present.