No abstract

Synchronizing movements with events in the surrounding environment is a ubiquitous aspect of behavior. Experiments studying multimodal integration and rhythmic synchronization tend to focus on how bimodal (e.g., audio-visual) stimuli enhances synchronization performance (i.e., reduced variability) compared with synchronization with its unimodal constituents. As such, it is unclear whether trimodal (i.e., audio-visual-tactile) stimuli may yield additional performance benefits. To address this, we developed a multimodal sensorimotor synchronization assessment that incorporates audio, visual, and vibrotactile stimuli. Results replicate performance improvements with bimodal compared with unimodal stimuli. However, trimodal stimuli yields less, or in some cases no advantage compared with bimodal stimuli. These results demonstrate that in this case, increasing the amount of sensory information beyond bimodal stimuli yields little or no additional performance benefits.

Temporal orienting of attention plays an important role in our day-to-day lives and can utilize timing information from exogenous or endogenous sources. Yet, it is unclear what neural mechanisms give rise to temporal attention and it is debated whether both exogenous and endogenous forms of temporal attention share a common neural source. Here, older adult non-musicians (N=47, 24F) were randomized to undergo 8 weeks of either rhythm training, which places demands on exogenous temporal attention, or word search training as a control. The goal was to assess (1) the neural basis of exogenous temporal attention and, (2) whether training-induced improvements in exogenous temporal attention can transfer to enhanced endogenous temporal attention abilities – thereby providing support for a common neural mechanism of temporal attention. Pre- and post-training, exogenous temporal attention was assessed using a rhythmic synchronization paradigm, whereas endogenous temporal attention was evaluated via a temporally-cued visual discrimination task. Results showed that rhythm training improved performance on the exogenous temporal attention task, which was associated with increased inter-trial coherence (ITC) within the delta (1-4 Hz) band as assessed by EEG recordings. Source localization revealed increased delta-band ITC arose from a sensorimotor network, including pre-motor cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, post-central gyrus, and the inferior parietal lobule. Despite these improvements in exogenous temporal attention, such benefits were not transferred to endogenous attentional ability. These results support the notion that exogenous and endogenous temporal attention utilize independent neural sources, with exogenous temporal attention relying on the precise timing of delta band oscillations within a sensorimotor network.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT:Allocating attention to specific points in time is known as temporal attention, and may arise from external (exogenous) or internal (endogenous) sources. Despite its importance to our daily lives, it is unclear how the brain gives rise to temporal attention and whether exogenous- or endogenous-based sources for temporal attention rely on shared brain regions. Here, we demonstrate that musical rhythm training improves exogenous temporal attention, which was associated with more consistent timing of neural activity in sensory and motor processing brain regions. However, these benefits did not extend to endogenous temporal attention, indicating that temporal attention relies on different brain regions depending on the source of timing information.

Playing a musical instrument engages numerous cognitive abilities, including sensory perception, selective attention, and short-term memory. Mounting evidence indicates that engaging these cognitive functions during musical training will improve performance of these same functions. Yet, it remains unclear the extent these benefits may extend to nonmusical tasks, and what neural mechanisms may enable such transfer. Here, we conducted a preregistered randomized clinical trial where nonmusicians underwent 8 wk of either digital musical rhythm training or word search as control. Only musical rhythm training placed demands on short-term memory, as well as demands on visual perception and selective attention, which are known to facilitate short-term memory. As hypothesized, only the rhythm training group exhibited improved short-term memory on a face recognition task, thereby providing important evidence that musical rhythm training can benefit performance on a nonmusical task. Analysis of electroencephalography data showed that neural activity associated with sensory processing and selective attention were unchanged by training. Rather, rhythm training facilitated neural activity associated with short-term memory encoding, as indexed by an increased P3 of the event-related potential to face stimuli. Moreover, short-term memory maintenance was enhanced, as evidenced by increased two-class (face/scene) decoding accuracy. Activity from both the encoding and maintenance periods each highlight the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) as a source for training-related changes. Together, these results suggest musical rhythm training may improve memory for faces by facilitating activity within the SPL to promote how memories are encoded and maintained, which can be used in a domain-general manner to enhance performance on a nonmusical task.

As digital streaming media matures, consumers and publishers have become interested in short duration ads (i.e., <10 s). However, previous research on memory retention for short-duration ad content utilized video or audio-video experiences where attention is directed toward the ad. Therefore, it is unclear whether this study is relevant to audio-only content, and it is unknown if similar memory retention may be achieved when attention is not directed toward the ad (i.e., incidental memory).To study the incidental memory of short audio ads, participants were recruited to play a driving game while listening to music with periodic ad breaks (pods). Each pod contained a 2, 4, and 8-s ad. Results showed each ad duration was able to leave an impression on both recall and recognition memory. Whereas the duration of the ad generally did not affect incidental memory, ads placed first or last in a pod were remembered best. Together, the data indicates that audio ads less than 10-s are a viable option to raise awareness for brand name, product name and company location. Moreover, these results indicate audio ads may leave an impression even when the listener is engaged in other tasks, such as driving or playing a video game.