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ELife Jun 2024Intentional eye movements depend on where peripheral attention is voluntarily deployed beforehand, but they can be directed elsewhere shortly afterwards.
Intentional eye movements depend on where peripheral attention is voluntarily deployed beforehand, but they can be directed elsewhere shortly afterwards.
Topics: Attention; Humans; Eye Movements
PubMed: 38856050
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.99560 -
Nature Reviews. Neuroscience Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Attention; Animals; Brain
PubMed: 38622274
DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00818-w -
Cognition Jul 2023Probability weighting is one of the most powerful theoretical constructs in descriptive models of risky choice and constitutes a central component of cumulative prospect...
Probability weighting is one of the most powerful theoretical constructs in descriptive models of risky choice and constitutes a central component of cumulative prospect theory (CPT). Probability weighting has been shown to be related to two facets of attention allocation: one analysis showed that differences in the shape of CPT's probability-weighting function are linked to differences in how attention is allocated across attributes (i.e., probabilities vs. outcomes); another analysis (that used a different measure of attention) showed a link between probability weighting and differences in how attention is allocated across options. However, the relationship between these two links is unclear. We investigate to what extent attribute attention and option attention independently contribute to probability weighting. Reanalyzing data from a process-tracing study, we first demonstrate links between probability weighting and both attribute attention and option attention within the same data set and the same measure of attention. We then find that attribute attention and option attention are at best weakly related and have independent and distinct effects on probability weighting. Moreover, deviations from linear weighting mainly emerged when attribute attention or option attention were imbalanced. Our analyses enrich the understanding of the cognitive underpinnings of preferences and illustrate that similar probability-weighting patterns can be associated with very different attentional policies. This complicates an unambiguous psychological interpretation of psycho-economic functions. Our findings indicate that cognitive process models of decision making should aim to concurrently account for the effects of different facets of attention allocation on preference. In addition, we argue that the origins of biases in attribute attention and option attention need to be better understood.
Topics: Humans; Decision Making; Choice Behavior; Attention; Probability
PubMed: 37058827
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105441 -
Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No... Jun 2024Several evidence-based guidelines of rehabilitative intervention for attentional disturbance following acquired brain injury have been published. The author introduced... (Review)
Review
Several evidence-based guidelines of rehabilitative intervention for attentional disturbance following acquired brain injury have been published. The author introduced two cutting-edge guidelines: Japan Stroke Society Guideline 2021 for the Treatment of Stroke [Revised version 2023]; and INCOG 2.0 Guideline for Cognitive Rehabilitation Following Traumatic Brain Injury, PartII: Attention and Information Processing Speed (2023). The effect of the cognitive rehabilitation should be evaluated by change of performance in real-world tasks and activities as well as measures of various neuropsychological tests including paced auditory serial addition task (PASAT) and trail making test. Direct attention training such as Attention Process Training (APT) series or computer-based training may be useful especially for stroke patients. Dual-task training may specifically improve multi-tasking performance. Time pressure management can improve speed of performance on everyday tasks for patients with slowed information processing. Metacognitive training using everyday activities may be recommended for mild to moderate impairments. Modifications of environment and/or tasks may also be helpful to decrease errors in daily activities.
Topics: Humans; Attention; Stroke Rehabilitation; Neuropsychological Tests
PubMed: 38853502
DOI: 10.11477/mf.1416202671 -
Cognition Sep 2023Research has found substantial negative effects of divided attention (DA) during encoding but less substantial effects when attention is divided during retrieval, an...
Research has found substantial negative effects of divided attention (DA) during encoding but less substantial effects when attention is divided during retrieval, an asymmetry which has been interpreted as indicating that different control processes or forms of attention are involved in encoding and retrieval (e.g., Chun & Johnson, 2011; Craik, Govoni, Naveh-Benjamin, & Anderson, 1996; Long, Kuhl, & Chun, 2018). The extant evidence, however, is not strong support for qualitative differences and might simply indicate differential sensitivity. The present experiments document a stronger, double dissociation by focusing on the Attentional Boost Effect (ABE) - a phenomenon in which the detection of targets in a secondary task enhances encoding of co-occurring stimuli. The dual-task interaction account proposes that the classical negative effects produced by dual-task interference are offset by a transient increase in externally-directed attention brought about by target detection. Since externally-directed attention is less valuable for retrieval processes, the ABE should result in a net negative effect when applied in the test phase because the dual-task interference would no longer be offset by the externally-directed boost occurring during target trials. Experiments 1, 2 and 4 confirmed the predictions by showing that test words paired with target stimuli were recognized significantly worse than test words paired with distractor stimuli. In contrast, Experiments 3 and 4 replicated the usual positive effects of the ABE with respect to encoding. We discuss these findings in light of recent theoretical proposals suggesting that encoding and retrieval processes are subserved by different forms of attention (external [perceptual] vs. internal [reflective]). Implications for the Transfer-Appropriate-Processing view of memory are also illustrated.
Topics: Humans; Memory; Attention; Mental Recall
PubMed: 37354786
DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105509 -
Trends in Cognitive Sciences Jun 2024Despite a constant deluge of sensory stimulation, only a fraction of it is used to guide behavior. This selective processing is generally referred to as attention, and... (Review)
Review
Despite a constant deluge of sensory stimulation, only a fraction of it is used to guide behavior. This selective processing is generally referred to as attention, and much research has focused on the neural mechanisms controlling it. Recently, research has broadened to include more ways by which different species selectively process sensory information, whether due to the sensory input itself or to different behavioral and brain states. This work has produced a complex and disjointed body of evidence across different species and forms of attention. However, it has also provided opportunities to better understand the breadth of attentional mechanisms. Here, we summarize the evidence that suggests that different forms of selective processing are supported by mechanisms both common and distinct.
Topics: Attention; Humans; Brain; Animals
PubMed: 38388258
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2024.01.005 -
Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No... Jun 2024Short-term memory is crucial for higher cognitive functions, yet its storage capacity is severely limited. Thus, it is necessary to selectively retain information... (Review)
Review
Short-term memory is crucial for higher cognitive functions, yet its storage capacity is severely limited. Thus, it is necessary to selectively retain information relevant to our goals by controlling attention. This is facilitated by working memory, which consists of short-term storage and executive attention. In this review, I introduce the psychological model and measurement tasks of working memory and discuss the significance of attentional control for remembering information appropriately and stably.
Topics: Humans; Memory, Short-Term; Attention; Cognition
PubMed: 38853501
DOI: 10.11477/mf.1416202670 -
Journal of Neurophysiology Oct 2023Attention and divisive normalization both contribute to making visual processing more efficient. Attention selectively increases the neural gain of relevant information...
Attention and divisive normalization both contribute to making visual processing more efficient. Attention selectively increases the neural gain of relevant information in the early visual cortex, resulting in stronger perceived salience for attended regions or features. Divisive normalization improves processing efficiency by suppressing responses to homogeneous inputs and highlighting salient boundaries, facilitating sparse coding of inputs. Theoretical and empirical research suggest a tight link between attention and normalization, wherein attending to a stimulus results in a release from normalization, thereby allowing for an increase in neural response gain. In the present study, we address whether attention alters the qualitative properties of normalization. Specifically, we examine how attention influences the feature-tuned nature of normalization, whereby suppression is stronger between visual stimuli whose orientation contents are similar, and weaker when the orientations are different. Ten human observers viewed stimuli that varied in orientation content while we acquired fMRI BOLD responses under two attentional states: attending toward or attending away from the stimulus. Our results indicate that attention does not alter the specificity of feature-tuned normalization. Instead, attention seems to enhance visuocortical responses evenly, regardless of the degree of orientation similarity within the stimulus. Since visuocortical responses exhibit adaptation to statistical regularities in natural scenes, we conclude that while attention can selectively increase the gain of responses to attended items, it does not appear to alter the ecologically relevant correspondence between orientation differences and strength of tuned normalization. The magnitude of visuocortical BOLD responses scales with orientation differences in visual stimuli, with the strongest response suppression for collinear stimuli and least suppression for orthogonal, in a way that appears to match natural scene statistics. We examined the effects of attention on this feature-tuned property of suppression and found that while attending to a stimulus increases the overall gain of visuocortical responses, the qualitative properties of feature-tuning remain unchanged, suggesting attention preserves tuned normalization properties.
Topics: Humans; Photic Stimulation; Visual Perception; Attention; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37706234
DOI: 10.1152/jn.00194.2023 -
Brain and Nerve = Shinkei Kenkyu No... Jun 2024Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a symptom of unilateral brain damage resulting in failure to report sensory phenomena in the contra-lesional space. It is associated... (Review)
Review
Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is a symptom of unilateral brain damage resulting in failure to report sensory phenomena in the contra-lesional space. It is associated with motor impairment as well as sensory deficits. Recent research suggests that USN, may be caused by a disruption in the interhemispheric balance of the visual attention network. Based on this hypothesis, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS), such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is utilized in the rehabilitation of USN patients. Presently, inhibitory stimulation by continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) on contra-lesional parietal cortex are believed to be the most promising method. Conversely, compensation by attentional network of the non-lesioned hemisphere plays an important role in the recovery of USN. Recent imaging studies revealed that functional and structural connectivity of attentional networks within a lesioned hemisphere and between lesioned and non-lesioned hemispheres affects spontaneous recovery and effectiveness of rehabilitation approach such as prism adaptation therapy. These findings are useful in elucidating the pathophysiology of USN and predicting functional outcome. Furthermore, we hope that understanding the pathophysiology will enable the development of new rehabilitation strategies and appropriate treatment selection.
Topics: Humans; Perceptual Disorders; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation; Attention
PubMed: 38853505
DOI: 10.11477/mf.1416202674 -
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Jun 2024In recent decades, a growing body of evidence has confirmed the existence of rhythmic fluctuations in attention, but the effect of inter-individual variations in these...
In recent decades, a growing body of evidence has confirmed the existence of rhythmic fluctuations in attention, but the effect of inter-individual variations in these attentional rhythms has yet to be investigated. The aim of this review is to identify trends in the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) literature that could be indicative of between-subject differences in rhythmic attention. A narrative review of the rhythmic attention and electrophysiological ADHD research literature was conducted, and the commonly-reported difference in slow-wave power between ADHD subjects and controls was found to have the most relevance to an understanding of rhythmic attention. A systematic review of the literature examining electrophysiological power differences in ADHD was then conducted to identify studies with conditions similar to those utilised in the rhythmic attention research literature. Fifteen relevant studies were identified and reviewed. The most consistent finding in the studies reviewed was for no spectral power differences between ADHD subjects and controls. However, the strongest trend in the studies reporting power differences was for higher power in the delta and theta frequency bands and lower power in the alpha band. In the context of rhythmic attention, this trend is suggestive of a slowing in the frequency and/or increase in the amplitude of the attentional oscillation in a subgroup of ADHD subjects. It is suggested that this characteristic electrophysiological modulation could be indicative of a global slowing of the attentional rhythm and/or an increase in the rhythmic recruitment of neurons in frontal attention networks in individuals with ADHD.
Topics: Humans; Attention; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Electroencephalography; Periodicity
PubMed: 38198019
DOI: 10.1007/s10484-023-09618-x