Modifying N1 amplitude: Training an expectation that delayed auditory sensations result from a self-initiated action

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Modifying N1 amplitude: Training an expectation that delayed auditory sensations result from a self-initiated action Ruth B. Elijah1*, Mike E. Le Pelley1 and Thomas J. Whitford1 1 UNSW Australia, Australia Aim: Our ability to suppress self-generated sensations is dependent on the length of time between when an action is initiated and when the resultant sensory information is generated. Specifically, sensations that follow immediately from actions are attenuated to a larger degree than delayed sensations. The current study aimed to determine whether cortical responses to delayed self-initiated auditory events can be modified with training. Method: Electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings where undertaken while participants pressed a button to produce a tone that occurred either immediately or 100ms subsequent to the button-press. The event related potential (ERP) to the tone was generated, and the amplitude of N1 was extracted. Fifty participants were randomly assigned to one of two training groups; one group of participants (n=25) were repeatedly exposed to tones that followed immediately from their button-presses, whereas the other group (n=25) were repeatedly exposed to delayed tones. In order to evaluate the effect of training, participants’ evoked responses to immediate and delayed self-initiated tones were assessed before and after training. Results: Pre-training, the mean amplitude of N1 was significantly larger for delayed tones compared to immediate tones. Participants who were trained to the delayed tones showed a reduction in N1 amplitude across training, such that there was no difference in N1 between immediate and delayed tones post-training. This was in contrast to the participants who received training to immediate tones, who maintained a significantly larger N1 to delayed tones over immediate tones post-training. Conclusions: Repeated exposure to delayed sensory consequences of self-generated actions results in new learning about the temporal relationships between the action and the outcome, and, as such, increased cortical attenuation to temporally delayed sensations. This suggests that behavioural training could represent a potential avenue for alleviating sensory suppression deficits, such as those that have consistently been observed in patients with schizophrenia. References Elijah, R.B., Le Pelley, M.E. & Whitford, T.J. (2016). Modifying temporal expectations: Changing cortical responsivity to delayed self-initiated sensations with training. Biological Psychology, 120, 88-95. Keywords: Sensory Attenuation, N1-suppression, temporal expectation, corollary discharge, event-related potential (ERP) Conference: ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia, Adelaide,SA, Australia, 12 Dec - 14 Dec, 2016. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Abstract (student award) Citation: Elijah RB, Le Pelley ME and Whitford TJ (2016). Modifying N1 amplitude: Training an expectation that delayed auditory sensations result from a self-initiated action. Conference Abstract: ASP2016 - The 26th Annual Meeting of the Australasian Society for Psychophysiology, Adelaide Australia. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2016.221.00027 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: 19 Oct 2016; Published Online: 05 Dec 2016. * Correspondence: Ms. Ruth B Elijah, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia, ruth.elijah@unsw.edu.au 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 Ruth B Elijah Mike E Le Pelley Thomas J Whitford Google Ruth B Elijah Mike E Le Pelley Thomas J Whitford Google Scholar Ruth B Elijah Mike E Le Pelley Thomas J Whitford PubMed Ruth B Elijah Mike E Le Pelley Thomas J Whitford 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.