Attention switching function of memory-comparison-based change detection system in the visual modality

Abstract

To elucidate the attention switching function of a memory-comparison-based change detection system in the visual modality, the effects of task-irrelevant infrequent stimulus-size decrements that engaged memory-comparison-based change detection as well as stimulus-size increments that engaged memory-comparison-based change detection and refractoriness-based rareness detection on behavioral and event-related brain potential (ERP) measures were assessed using the distraction paradigm. Both size increments and size decrements caused distraction in forced-choice task performance, which was mirrored by a posterior negativity (peaking at around 240-260 ms, posterior N2) and a broad positivity (420-460 ms, P3a) that reflected attentional capture. Preceding these effects, size increments elicited a posterior negativity (120-140 ms, change-related negativity), while size decrements elicited a posterior positivity (140-160 ms, change-related positivity) and an anterior positivity (160-180 ms, frontal positivity). Taken together, these results indicate an attention switching function of a memory-comparison-based change detection system in the visual modality, which is most probably indexed by change-related positivity.

Distraction in a visual multi-deviant paradigm: Behavioral and event-related potential effects

“…In the present study, a doublepeaked distribution of the deviance-related negativity was obtained, a pattern that had already been reported by others (e.g. Berti and Schröger, 2004;Kimura et al, 2008;Maekawa et al, 2005). The first deviance-related component coincides with the onset of the N1 component, and the refractoriness of feature-processing neuronal populations might be involved in its elicitation.…”

The automatic processing of visual information at different visual acuity levels: An ERP study

“…MMN is thought to reflect memory-comparison-based automatic processing. Although the MMN component has been widely investigated in auditory modality, analogue of auditory MMN was also found in response to visual deviants such as color (Czigler et al, 2002), size (Kimura et al, 2008), shape (Grimm et al, 2009), duration (Qiu et al, 2011), even complex visual stimuli such as facial expressions (Zhao and Li, 2006) and especially orientation (Czigler and Pato, 2009;Flynn et al, 2009;Kimura et al, 2010;Sulykos and Czigler, 2011). Since vMMN is elicited by discriminable changes in vision irrespective of the participants' attention, it is not surprising that the vMMN has recently received considerable attention as a tool of visual cognitive sciences (see for a review (Kimura, 2012;Kimura et al, 2011) and clinical research (Maekawa et al, 2013).…”

The Pre-attentive Processing under Background of Industrial Automatic Control: Evidence from the vMMN

“…In this paradigm, the VMMN may be induced by refractoriness or sensory memory mismatch negativity (Jacobsen, Schroger, Horenkamp, & Winkler, 2003;Kenemans, Jong, & Verbaten, 2003;Kimura, Katayama, & Murohashi, 2006). Sometimes, they can be simultaneously induced (Kimura, Katayama, & Murohashi, 2008). Cziger (2007) experimented with Oddball sequence and equal probability Control sequence; he found that real VMMN should be the difference element that equals the deviant stimuli ERPs in Oddball minus the equal probability stimuli ERPs in Control sequence.…”

“…He called it Control-MMN. Recently, a subtle experimental design reveals that vMMN in Oddball paradigm is composed by refractoriness and sensory memory matching effect (Kimura, Katayama, & Murohashi, 2008;Kimura, Katayama, Ohira, & Schroeger, 2009). The temporal region under Oddball paradigm includes two negative components, one is early Oddball-MMN at 100ms-150ms, it reflects the difference of refractory effects between deviant stimulus and standard stimulus; the other is Control-MMN negative components at 200ms-250ms, it is the vMMN based on real sensory memory (Kimura, et al 2008).…”

“…Recently, a subtle experimental design reveals that vMMN in Oddball paradigm is composed by refractoriness and sensory memory matching effect (Kimura, Katayama, & Murohashi, 2008;Kimura, Katayama, Ohira, & Schroeger, 2009). The temporal region under Oddball paradigm includes two negative components, one is early Oddball-MMN at 100ms-150ms, it reflects the difference of refractory effects between deviant stimulus and standard stimulus; the other is Control-MMN negative components at 200ms-250ms, it is the vMMN based on real sensory memory (Kimura, et al 2008). The most reliable way to acquire the real VMMN is to use Control sequence and Oddball sequence simultaneously, using deviant stimuli in Oddball sequence minus the ERPs equal probability stimuli in Control sequence to eliminate the refractory effect so as to research the subject's pre-attention automatic processing (Kimura, et al 2008).…”