Cognitive control predicted by color vision, and vice versa

Abstract

One of the most important functions of cognitive control is to continuously adapt cognitive processes to changing and often conflicting demands of the environment. Dopamine (DA) has been suggested to play a key role in the signaling and resolution of such response conflict. Given that DA is found in high concentration in the retina, color vision discrimination has been suggested as an index of DA functioning and in particular blue-yellow color vision impairment (CVI) has been used to indicate a central hypodopaminergic state. We used color discrimination (indexed by the total color distance score; TCDS) to predict individual differences in the cognitive control of response conflict, as reflected by conflict-resolution efficiency in an auditory Simon task. As expected, participants showing better color discrimination were more efficient in resolving response conflict. Interestingly, participants showing a blue-yellow CVI were associated with less efficiency in handling response conflict. Our findings indicate that color vision discrimination might represent a promising predictor of cognitive controlability in healthy individuals. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 DOI AbstractOne of the most important functions of cognitive control is to continuously adapt cognitive processes to changingand often conflicting demands of the environment.Dopamine (DA) has been suggested to play a key role in the signaling and resolution of such response conflict.Given that DA is found in high concentration in the retina, color vision discrimination has been suggested as an index of DA functioning and in particular blue-yellow color vision impairment (CVI) has been used to indicate a central hypodopaminergic state. We used color discrimination (indexed by the total color distance score; TCDS) to predict individual differences in the cognitive control of response conflict, as reflected by conflict-resolution efficiency in an auditory Simon task. As expected, participants showing better color discrimination were more efficient in resolving response conflict.Interestingly, participantsshowing a blue-yellow CVIwere associated withless efficiency in handling response conflict.Our findings indicate that color vision discrimination might represent a promising predictor of cognitive controlability in healthy individuals.

Color vision predicts processing modes of goal activation during action cascading

“…Previous research has suggested CV in the blue-yellow domain is particularly indicative of DA function (Banaschewski et al, 2006;Colzato et al, 2014;Desai et al, 1997;Hulka et al, 2013;Melun et al, 2001;Roessner et al, 2008), although this is not always the case (Barbato, Rinalduzzi, Laurenti, Ruggieri, & Accornero, 1994;Büttner et al, 1995;Shuwairi et al, 2002). However, our results do not indicate a relationship between specific blue-yellow impairment and stop-change performance.…”

“…One study so far has demonstrated CV can predict DA-related cognitive performance. Specifically, CV in healthy young adults predicted individual differences in the cognitive control of response conflict, with better CV predicting reduced response conflict in an auditory Simon task (Colzato, Sellaro, Hulka, Quednow, & Hommel, 2014).…”

“…In contrast, if CV were to primarily reflect D1 receptor function then we would expect better CV to predict a more serial strategy. Because previous studies indicate DA function might be particularly related to CV in the blue-yellow domain (Banaschewski et al, 2006;Colzato et al, 2014;Desai et al, 1997;Hulka et al, 2013;Melun et al, 2001;Roessner et al, 2008), we also investigated whether blue-yellow CV in particular predicts the action cascading strategy.…”

People are different: tyrosine's modulating effect on cognitive control in healthy humans may depend on individual differences related to dopamine function

“…It has been proposed that deficits in color vision, particularly blue-yellow impairment, indicate a central hypodopaminergic state (Roy et al, 2003 ). This proposition is consistent with the recent finding that color discrimination predicts cognitive control, with better discrimination being associated with more efficient conflict-resolution in an auditory Simon task (Colzato et al, 2014b ). Given the relation between color vision and DA level, we argue that color vision can predict the effect of TYR supplementation.…”

Color Vision Deficiency and Functional Disorders Among Israeli Male Adolescents Between 2007 and 2013

“…For example, individuals with color vision deficiency showed more difficulties in goaldirected activity and in adapting their responses to misleading auditory stimuli while performing their task. 5 Moreover, both adults and children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have repeatedly shown color vision impairments, specifically in the blue spectrum. 6,7 ADHD has been linked with a hypo-dopaminergic state in the retina, thus depressing the perception of dopamine-sensitive ''blue'' cones.…”