Automatic change detection during the performance of a continuous visual task

Abstract

The brain's automatic detection of change within the visual environment can be examined by recording visual mismatch negativity (vMMN), a negative deflection in the visual event-related potential evoked by infrequent deviant stimuli presented within a sequence of common standard stimuli. In this study, we examine whether automatic visual change detection occurs even when the visual cortex is concurrently processing other visual information at the focus of attention. We ensured that attention was strongly engaged upon a highly demanding and continuous central task, while at the same time presenting in the peripheral field a sequence of task-irrelevant standard stimuli interspersed by infrequent deviant stimuli. A significant vMMN was evoked. However, decreasing the rarity of deviation resulted in the abolition of the vMMN response.