Multimodal Effects of Local Context on Target Detection: Evidence from P3b

Abstract

We used the P300 component to investigate how changes in local context influenced the ability to detect target stimuli. Local context was defined as the occurrence of a short predictive series of stimuli before delivery of a target event. EEG was recorded in 12 subjects during auditory and visual sessions. Stimuli were presented in the center of the auditory and visual field and consisted of 15% targets (1000 Hz tone or downward facing triangle) and 85% of equal amounts of three types of standards (1500 Hz, 2000 Hz and 2500 Hz tones or triangles facing left, upwards and right). Recording blocks consisted of targets preceded by either randomized sequences of standards or by sequences including a three-standard predictive sequence signaling the occurrence of a subsequent target event. Subjects pressed a button in response to targets. Peak target P300 (P3b) amplitude and latency were evaluated for targets after predictive and non-predictive sequences using conventional averaging and a novel single-trial analysis procedure. Reaction times were shorter for predictable targets than for nonpredicted targets. P3b latency was shorter for predicted targets than for non-predictive targets, and there were no significant P3b amplitude differences between predicted and random targets, as determined by both conventional averaging and single-trial analysis. Comparable effects on amplitude and latency were observed in both the auditory and visual modalities. The results indicate that local context has differential effects on P3b amplitude and latency, and exerts modality independent effects on cognitive processing.

Local contextual processing of abstract and meaningful real-life images in professional athletes

“…P3b amplitude increases with increasing stimulus value or relevance to the task (Wilkinson and Morlock 1967;Johnson 1986). In addition, local predictive contextual information has been reported to affect P3b latency (Fogelson et al 2009b;Fogelson and Fernandez-del-Olmo 2011). Past findings show variable effects of exercise and sports on P3b.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that predictive local context, defined as the occurrence of a short predictive series of visual stimuli before delivery of a target event, facilitates target detection (Fogelson et al 2009b;Fogelson et al 2010;Fogelson and Fernandez-del-Olmo 2011). These studies identified several neural correlates associated with the facilitation of local contextual processing.…”

“…In the present study, we employed a previously reported paradigm (Fogelson et al 2009b(Fogelson et al , 2010 to investigate the effect of a sequence of abstract stimuli versus a logical sequence of real-life images on local contextual processing. The objective of the study was to determine whether the faciltatory effect of predictive local context that consists of real-life images would be greater in comparison with utilization of abstract stimuli (Fogelson et al 2009b;Hemsley 2005;Fenske et al 2006;Eger et al 2007).…”

“…The objective of the study was to determine whether the faciltatory effect of predictive local context that consists of real-life images would be greater in comparison with utilization of abstract stimuli (Fogelson et al 2009b;Hemsley 2005;Fenske et al 2006;Eger et al 2007). To this end, subjects performed three sessions of the same task.…”

“…In each session, a different set of visual stimuli were presented. In one session, the stimuli consisted of triangles facing either left, up, right, or down (Fogelson et al 2009b). In another session, four different images of a basketball player throwing a ball toward a basket were presented, while another session displayed four different images of a baseball player pitching a baseball.…”