Resource allocation models of auditory working memory

Joseph, Sabine; Teki, Sundeep; Kumar, Sukhbinder; Griffiths, Timothy D.

doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2016.01.044

Cited by 23 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…The resulting regression coefficients at each individual vertex from both contrasts were then spatially smoothed across the surface (vertices) using an approximation to a 6 mm FWHM Gaussian kernel (Han et al, 2006) and morphed onto a common surface in MNI space, respectively (Freesurfer average brain; Fischl et al, 1999). For the interaction of temporal expectation and memory decay, the same linear regression was applied to the same data again but separately for each temporalexpectation condition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neural oscillations in the alpha range (8 -13 Hz) recorded using human EEG or MEG are modulated by manipulations of memory load. For example, alpha power increases as the number of items held in memory increases (Jensen et al, 2002;Busch and Herrmann, 2003;Leiberg et al, 2006;Obleser et al, 2012). This alpha-power increase is thought to protect the storage of items in memory (Roux and Uhlhaas, 2014) by functionally inhibiting task-irrelevant information and/or brain regions (Klimesch et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal Expectation Modulates the Cortical Dynamics of Short-Term Memory

et al. 2018

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Increased memory load is often signified by enhanced neural oscillatory power in the alpha range (8-13 Hz), which is taken to reflect inhibition of task-irrelevant brain regions. The corresponding neural correlates of memory decay, however, are not yet well understood. In the current study, we investigated auditory short-term memory decay in humans using a delayed matching-to-sample task with pure-tone sequences. First, in a behavioral experiment, we modeled memory performance over six different delay-phase durations. Second, in a MEG experiment, we assessed alpha-power modulations over three different delay-phase durations. In both experiments, the temporal expectation for the to-be-remembered sound was manipulated so that it was either temporally expected or not. In both studies, memory performance declined over time, but this decline was weaker when the onset time of the to-be-remembered sound was expected. Similarly, patterns of alpha power in and alpha-tuned connectivity between sensory cortices changed parametrically with delay duration (i.e., decrease in occipitoparietal regions, increase in temporal regions). Temporal expectation not only counteracted alpha-power decline in heteromodal brain areas (i.e., supramarginal gyrus), but also had a beneficial effect on memory decay, counteracting memory performance decline. Correspondingly, temporal expectation also boosted alpha connectivity within attention networks known to play an active role during memory maintenance. The present data show how patterns of alpha power orchestrate short-term memory decay and encourage a more nuanced perspective on alpha power across brain space and time beyond its inhibitory role. Our sensory memories of the physical world fade quickly. We show here that this decay of short-term memory can be counteracted by so-called temporal expectation; that is, knowledge of when to expect a sensory event that an individual must remember. We also show that neural oscillations in the "alpha" (8-13 Hz) range index both the degree of memory decay (for brief sound patterns) and the respective memory benefit from temporal expectation. Spatially distributed cortical patterns of alpha power show opposing effects in auditory versus visual sensory cortices. Moreover, alpha-tuned connectivity changes within supramodal attention networks reflect the allocation of neural resources as short-term memory representations fade.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal Expectation Modulates the Cortical Dynamics of Short-Term Memory

et al. 2018

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“…Such studies do demonstrate limitations in the number of durations that can be remembered, but give no indication of the precision with which each duration is remembered. Rhythm discrimination may in fact predispose subjects to use discrete categorical strategies for representing time, whereas for non-rhythmic time sequences, different neural mechanisms are thought to be recruited (Grahn and Brett, 2007; Grube et al, 2010; Joseph et al, 2016). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Working Memory for Sequences of Temporal Durations Reveals a Volatile Single-Item Store

Manohar

2016

Front. Psychol.

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When a sequence is held in working memory, different items are retained with differing fidelity. Here we ask whether a sequence of brief time intervals that must be remembered show recency effects, similar to those observed in verbal and visuospatial working memory. It has been suggested that prioritizing some items over others can be accounted for by a “focus of attention,” maintaining some items in a privileged state. We therefore also investigated whether such benefits are vulnerable to disruption by attention or expectation. Participants listened to sequences of one to five tones, of varying durations (200 ms to 2 s). Subsequently, the length of one of the tones in the sequence had to be reproduced by holding a key. The discrepancy between the reproduced and actual durations quantified the fidelity of memory for auditory durations. Recall precision decreased with the number of items that had to be remembered, and was better for the first and last items of sequences, in line with set-size and serial position effects seen in other modalities. To test whether attentional filtering demands might impair performance, an irrelevant variation in pitch was introduced in some blocks of trials. In those blocks, memory precision was worse for sequences that consisted of only one item, i.e., the smallest memory set-size. Thus, when irrelevant information was present, the benefit of having only one item in memory is attenuated. Finally we examined whether expectation could interfere with memory. On half the trials, the number of items in the upcoming sequence was cued. When the number of items was known in advance, performance was paradoxically worse when the sequence consisted of only one item. Thus the benefit of having only one item to remember is stronger when it is unexpectedly the only item. Our results suggest that similar mechanisms are used to hold auditory time durations in working memory, as for visual or verbal stimuli. Further, solitary items were remembered better when more items were expected, but worse when irrelevant features were present. This suggests that the “privileged” state of one item in memory is particularly volatile and susceptible to interference.

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“…Conversely, a listener might choose to withdraw attention from the voice of a talker that is difficult to distinguish from the surrounding hubbub after realizing that what they are saying is quite easily predicted from context and prior knowledge. In addition to such reciprocal trade-offs, at a minimum, working memory has to be considered as a segregated internal process (Rowe, Toni, Josephs, Frackowiak, & Passingham, 2000; Postle, 2006) subserving both perceptual and cognitive processes (Fougnie, 2008; Chun et al, 2011), see also Joseph et al (2016) for a recent review of resource allocation models of auditory working memory. However, even though there may be considerable functional overlap among the mechanisms that support the allocation of internal and external attention, there is converging evidence that external and internal (or perceptual and central) demands represent different dimensions of attentional processing and, therefore, as we argue in the next section, also of listening effort.…”

Section: Two Distinct Dimensions Of Attention In Effortful Listeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a taxonomic model of attention in effortful listening

Strauß

Francis

2017

Cogn Affect Behav Neurosci

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In recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying listening effort. Research on listening effort intersects with the development of active theories of speech perception and contributes to the broader endeavor of understanding speech perception within the context of neuroscientific theories of perception, attention, and effort. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of the problem, researchers vary widely in their precise conceptualization of the catch-all term listening effort. Very recent consensus work stresses the relationship between listening effort and the allocation of cognitive resources, providing a conceptual link to current cognitive neuropsychological theories associating effort with the allocation of selective attention. By linking listening effort to attentional effort, we enable the application of a taxonomy of external and internal attention to the characterization of effortful listening. More specifically, we use a vectorial model to decompose the demand causing listening effort into its mutually orthogonal external and internal components and map the relationship between demanded and exerted effort by means of a resource-limiting term that can represent the influence of motivation as well as vigilance and arousal. Due to its quantitative nature and easy graphical interpretation, this model can be applied to a broad range of problems dealing with listening effort. As such, we conclude that the model provides a good starting point for further research on effortful listening within a more differentiated neuropsychological framework.

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Resource allocation models of auditory working memory

Cited by 23 publications

References 49 publications

Temporal Expectation Modulates the Cortical Dynamics of Short-Term Memory

Temporal Expectation Modulates the Cortical Dynamics of Short-Term Memory

Working Memory for Sequences of Temporal Durations Reveals a Volatile Single-Item Store

Toward a taxonomic model of attention in effortful listening

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