Automaticity, Attention, and Executive Control, and their relation to Mismatch Negativity

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Automaticity, Attention, and Executive Control, and their relation to Mismatch Negativity Leon Y. Deouell1* 1 Department of psychology,interdisciplinary center for neural computation,The Hebrew University, Israel The terms ‘pre-attentive’ and ‘automatic’ are ubiquitously associated with the mismatch negativity (MMN). Moreover, MMN is frequently used as a primary test measure for pre-attentive or automatic processing. However, there are apparently mixed results concerning the sensitivity of MMN to variation in the attentional load in the primary task. We measured the robustness of the MMN in a series of studies using especially the ‘attentional blink’ paradigm. In this task, two targets (T1 and T2) embedded in a rapid (11 Hz) sequence of distracters (rapid serial visual presentation) had to be reported. Load was manipulated by varying the contrast of the stimuli and manipulating their duration. We tested both the overall task effects and the trial-by-trial correlation between task performance and the MMN, both before T1 (to assess top-down attention to the task) and post-T1, during the ‘attentional blink’ period. The attentional blink is a reduction in T2 detection rate when it appears between ~100 to ~400 ms after T1. We find that while MMN remains robust despite highly demanding task loads, and in that sense it is automatic, it is not impenetrable: although the effects were small, the MMN amplitude significantly reflected momentary attentional fluctuations as manifested in the primary task performance. This requires some qualification of the term ‘automatic’. Moreover, we found that during a visual ‘attentional blink’, when the subjects missed T2, the MMN was augmented relative to trials when T2 was detected. This suggests the possible involvement of executive inhibitory control over MMN generation, which is reduced during the blink. Thus, whereas the generation of MMN seems to be the default response of the auditory system to deviations outside the scope of the present task, this response is susceptible to various effects of resource limitation and inhibition. Supported by the National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel Conference: MMN 09 Fifth Conference on Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and its Clinical and Scientific Applications, Budapest, Hungary, 4 Apr - 7 Apr, 2009. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Symposium 6: Attention and consciousness Citation: Deouell LY (2009). Automaticity, Attention, and Executive Control, and their relation to Mismatch Negativity. Conference Abstract: MMN 09 Fifth Conference on Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and its Clinical and Scientific Applications. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.05.085 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 25 Mar 2009; Published Online: 25 Mar 2009. * Correspondence: Leon Y Deouell, Department of psychology,interdisciplinary center for neural computation,The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, msleon@huji.ac.il Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Leon Y Deouell Google Leon Y Deouell Google Scholar Leon Y Deouell PubMed Leon Y Deouell Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.