Feature-specific Attention Research Articles

Cross-modal Transfer of Valence or Arousal from Music to Word Targets in Affective Priming?

ABSTRACT This registered report considers how emotion induced in an auditory modality (music) can influence affective evaluations of visual stimuli (words). Specifically, it seeks to determine which emotional dimension is transferred across modalities – valence or arousal – or whether the transferred dimension depends on the focus of attention (feature-specific attention allocation). Two experiments were carried out. The first was an affective priming paradigm that will allow for the orthogonal manipulation of valence and arousal in both the words and music, alongside a manipulation to direct participants’ attention to either the valence or the arousal dimension. Secondly, a lexical decision task allowed cross-modal transfer of valence and arousal to be probed without the focus of participants’ attention being manipulated. Congruence effects were present in the affective priming task – valence was transferred in both the valence and arousal tasks, whereas arousal was transferred in the arousal task only. Contrary to predictions, the lexical decision task did not exhibit any congruence effects.

Is subliminal face processing modulated by attentional task sets? Evidence from masked priming effects in a gender decision task

AbstractUnlike classical theories of automaticity, refined theories suggest that unconscious automatic processes depend on cognitive control settings. Cognitive control influences on unconscious word and object processing are well documented, but corresponding findings in the field of face processing are heterogeneous. The present study therefore investigated, whether subliminal face priming in a gender categorization task is susceptible to feature-specific attention. Participants performed a gender decision task by orthogonally varying gender congruency (prime-target: same vs. different gender) and emotion congruency (prime-target: same vs. different emotional facial expression) using a masked priming paradigm. Perceptual vs. emotional induction tasks, performed prior to prime presentation, served to activate corresponding attentional task sets. Subliminal gender priming (faster reactions to gender-congruent primes) differed as a function of induction task and emotional congruency. Following perceptual induction, gender priming was only obtained in the emotionally congruent condition, whereas following emotional induction gender priming was observed independently of emotional congruency. In line with the classical notion of automaticity, subliminal gender priming did not depend on a specific attentional focus. However, attention to shape facilitated subliminal processing of task-irrelevant emotional facial expressions. Most likely, mutual facilitation of emotionally congruent prime and target representations enhanced gender priming compared with emotionally incongruent pairings.

Extinction of likes and dislikes: effects of feature-specific attention allocation

ABSTRACTThe evaluative conditioning (EC) effect refers to the change in the liking of a neutral stimulus (conditioned stimulus, CS) due to its pairing with another stimulus (unconditioned stimulus, US). We examined whether the extinction rate of the EC effect is moderated by feature-specific attention allocation. In two experiments, CSs were abstract Gabor patches varying along two orthogonal, perceptual dimensions (i.e. spatial frequency and orientation). During the acquisition phase, one of these dimensions was predictive of the valence of the USs. During the extinction phase, CSs were presented alone and participants were asked to categorise the CSs either according to their valence, the perceptual dimension that was task-relevant during the acquisition phase, or a perceptual dimension that was task-irrelevant during the acquisition phase. As predicted, explicit valence measures revealed a linear increase in the extinction rate of the EC effect as participants were encouraged to assign attention to non-evaluative stimulus information during the extinction phase. In Experiment 1, Affect Misattribution Paradigm (AMP) data mimicked this pattern of results, although the effect just missed conventional levels of significance. In Experiment 2, the AMP data revealed an increase of the EC effect if attention was focused on evaluative stimulus information. Potential mechanisms to explain these findings are discussed.

Effects in the Affect Misattribution Procedure Are Modulated by Feature-Specific Attention Allocation

Abstract. We examined whether automatic stimulus evaluation as measured by the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP) is moderated by the degree to which attention is assigned to the evaluative stimulus dimension (i.e., feature-specific attention allocation, FSAA). In two experiments, one group of participants completed a standard AMP while attending to evaluative stimulus information. A second group of participants completed the AMP while attending to non-evaluative stimulus information. In line with earlier work, larger AMP effects were observed when participants were encouraged to attend to evaluative stimulus information than when they were not. These observations support the idea that the impact of FSAA on measures of automatic stimulus evaluation results from a genuine change in the degree of automatic stimulus evaluation rather than a change in the degree to which automatic stimulus evaluation is picked up by these measures.

Feature Specific Attention and Return of Fear after Extinction

Anxiety disorders are often treated by repeatedly presenting stimuli that are perceptually similar to original stimuli to which fear was originally acquired. Fear can return after it is extinguished because of the differences between these stimuli. It may possible to attenuate return of fear by manipulating attention to the commonalities between feared stimuli and extinction stimuli. After acquiring fear for an animal-like stimulus by pairing with an electro-cutaneous shock, fear was extinguished by repeatedly presenting a similar stimulus. During extinction participants were asked questions that instructed them to attend towards the features in common between the acquisition and extinction stimulus or towards the unique features of the extinction stimulus. Return of fear was assessed by presenting a second perceptually similar stimulus after extinction. Participants showed a return in skin conductance responding after extinction in the unique condition, and not in the common condition. Both groups showed a return in self-report ratings of US expectancy. Neither group showed a return in fear potentiated startle, but there was evidence that this may have been due to individual differences in emotional attentional control. Our conclusions are limited by the use of a self-report measure of emotional attentional control and the absence of limits on the length of time participants could take to answer the extinction questions. It may be possible to enhance extinction and prevent a return of the physiological aspects of fear by manipulating attention during extinction. However, this does not appear to influence explicit expectancy of aversive outcomes. Individual differences in attentional control may influence this process.

How to Modify (Implicit) Evaluations of Fear-Related Stimuli: Effects of Feature-Specific Attention Allocation.

We demonstrate that feature-specific attention allocation influences the way in which repeated exposure modulates implicit and explicit evaluations toward fear-related stimuli. During an exposure procedure, participants were encouraged to assign selective attention either to the evaluative meaning (i.e., Evaluative Condition) or a non-evaluative, semantic feature (i.e., Semantic Condition) of fear-related stimuli. The influence of the exposure procedure was captured by means of a measure of implicit evaluation, explicit evaluative ratings, and a measure of automatic approach/avoidance tendencies. As predicted, the implicit measure of evaluation revealed a reduced expression of evaluations in the Semantic Condition as compared to the Evaluative Condition. Moreover, this effect generalized toward novel objects that were never presented during the exposure procedure. The explicit measure of evaluation mimicked this effect, although it failed to reach conventional levels of statistical significance. No effects were found in terms of automatic approach/avoidance tendencies. Potential implications for the treatment of anxiety disorders are discussed.

Is attention enough? A re-examination of the impact of feature-specific attention allocation on semantic priming effects in the pronunciation task.

In a series of articles, Spruyt and colleagues have developed the Feature-Specific Attention Allocation framework, stating that the semantic analysis of task-irrelevant stimuli is critically dependent upon dimension-specific attention allocation. In an adversarial collaboration, we replicate one experiment supporting this theory (Spruyt, de Houwer, & Hermans, 2009; Exp. 3), in which semantic priming effects in the pronunciation task were found to be restricted to stimulus dimensions that were task-relevant on induction trials. Two pilot studies showed the capability of our laboratory to detect priming effects in the pronunciation task, but also suggested that the original effect may be difficult to replicate. In this study, we tried to replicate the original experiment while ensuring adequate statistical power. Results show little evidence for dimension-specific priming effects. The present results provide further insight into the malleability of early semantic encoding processes, but also show the need for further research on this topic.

On the automaticity of the evaluative priming effect in the valent/non-valent categorization task.

It has previously been argued (a) that automatic evaluative stimulus processing is critically dependent upon feature-specific attention allocation and (b) that evaluative priming effects can arise in the absence of dimensional overlap between the prime set and the response set. In line with both claims, research conducted at our lab revealed that the evaluative priming effect replicates in the valent/non-valent categorization task. This research was criticized, however, because non-automatic, strategic processes may have contributed to the emergence of this effect. We now report the results of a replication study in which the operation of non-automatic, strategic processes was controlled for. A clear-cut evaluative priming effect emerged, thus supporting initial claims concerning feature-specific attention allocation and dimensional overlap.

Feature-Specific Attention Allocation Modulates the Generalization of Recently Acquired Likes and Dislikes

We examined whether the generalization of recently acquired likes and dislikes depends on feature-specific attention allocation. Likes and dislikes were established by means of an evaluative-conditioning procedure in which participants were presented with several exemplars of two subordinate categories (e.g., young men vs. old women). Whereas exemplars of one category were consistently paired with negative stimuli, exemplars of the second category were consistently paired with positive stimuli. In addition, we manipulated feature-specific attention allocation for specific stimulus dimensions (e.g., gender vs. age), either during (Experiments 1 and 2) or before the acquisition phase of the experiment (Experiment 3). Both direct and indirect attitude measures revealed a clear impact of this manipulation on attitude generalization. More specifically, only generalization stimuli that were similar to the CSs in terms of the stimulus dimension that was selectively attended to were evaluated in a manner that was congruent with the acquired liking of those CSs.

Attention please: Evaluative priming effects in a valent/non-valent categorisation task (reply to Werner & Rothermund, 2013)

It has previously been argued (a) that automatic evaluative stimulus processing is dependent upon feature-specific attention allocation (FSAA) and (b) that evaluative priming effects can arise in the absence of dimensional overlap between the prime set and the response set. In opposition to these claims, Werner and Rothermund (2013) recently reported that they were unable to replicate the evaluative priming effect in a valent/non-valent categorisation task. In this manuscript, I report the results of a conceptual replication of the studies by Werner and Rothermund (2013). A clear-cut evaluative priming effect was found, thus supporting the initial claims about FSAA and dimensional overlap. An explanation for these divergent findings is discussed.

Feature-specific attention allocation overrules the orienting response to emotional stimuli

Emotional stimuli are generally thought to be processed in an unconditional fashion. Recent behavioral studies suggest, however, that emotional stimulus processing is critically dependent on attention toward emotional stimulus features. We set out to test this hypothesis using EEG measurements and a modified oddball paradigm. Unexpected emotional stimuli evoked amplitude variations of the P3a (an ERP marker of attention orienting) when attention was directed to emotional stimulus properties but not when non-emotional stimulus properties were attended to. We conclude that emotional stimulus processing is not unconditional, but dependent on top-down attentional control.

Do different perceptual task sets modulate electrophysiological correlates of masked visuomotor priming? Attention to shape and color put to the test

According to classical theories, automatic processes operate independently of attention. Recent evidence, however, shows that masked visuomotor priming, an example of an automatic process, depends on attention to visual form versus semantics. In a continuation of this approach, we probed feature-specific attention within the perceptual domain and tested in two event-related potential (ERP) studies whether masked visuomotor priming in a shape decision task specifically depends on attentional sensitization of visual pathways for shape in contrast to color. Prior to the masked priming procedure, a shape or a color decision task served to induce corresponding task sets. ERP analyses revealed visuomotor priming effects over the occipitoparietal scalp only after the shape, but not after the color induction task. Thus, top-down control coordinates automatic processing streams in congruency with higher-level goals even at a fine-grained level.

On the malleability of automatic attentional biases: Effects of feature-specific attention allocation

In two experiments, we examined the extent to which automatic attentional biases, as indexed by performance in the emotional Stroop task (Experiment 1) and the dot-probe task (Experiment 2), are modulated by feature-specific attention allocation. In both experiments, participants were encouraged to attend to either affective stimulus information (affective groups) or non-affective semantic stimulus information (non-affective groups). In both experiments, an attentional bias towards negative stimuli was found in the affective groups but not in the non-affective groups. In Experiment 1, we also observed an attentional bias towards non-affective semantic stimulus information in the non-affective group but not in the affective groups. We argue that these effects are due to a modulation of automatic stimulus processing by feature-specific attention allocation. Our data demonstrate that automatic attentional biases toward negative stimuli are not unconditional but instead depend on the relevance of negative information. Moreover, the results of Experiment 1 suggest that attention is automatically biased towards non-affective stimulus dimensions that are currently relevant.

Unconscious semantic activation depends on feature-specific attention allocation

We examined whether semantic activation by subliminally presented stimuli is dependent upon the extent to which participants assign attention to specific semantic stimulus features and stimulus dimensions. Participants pronounced visible target words that were preceded by briefly presented, masked prime words. Both affective and non-affective semantic congruence of the prime-target pairs were manipulated under conditions that either promoted selective attention for affective stimulus information or selective attention for non-affective semantic stimulus information. In line with our predictions, results showed that affective congruence had a clear impact on word pronunciation latencies only if participants were encouraged to assign attention to the affective stimulus dimension. In contrast, non-affective semantic relatedness of the prime-target pairs produced no priming at all. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that unconscious activation of (affective) semantic information is modulated by feature-specific attention allocation.

Modulation of neuronal responses during covert search for visual feature conjunctions

While searching for an object in a visual scene, an observer's attentional focus and eye movements are often guided by information about object features and spatial locations. Both spatial and feature-specific attention are known to modulate neuronal responses in visual cortex, but little is known of the dynamics and interplay of these mechanisms as visual search progresses. To address this issue, we recorded from directionally selective cells in visual area MT of monkeys trained to covertly search for targets defined by a unique conjunction of color and motion features and to signal target detection with an eye movement to the putative target. Two patterns of response modulation were observed. One pattern consisted of enhanced responses to targets presented in the receptive field (RF). These modulations occurred at the end-stage of search and were more potent during correct target identification than during erroneous saccades to a distractor in RF, thus suggesting that this modulation is not a mere presaccadic enhancement. A second pattern of modulation was observed when RF stimuli were nontargets that shared a feature with the target. The latter effect was observed during early stages of search and is consistent with a global feature-specific mechanism. This effect often terminated before target identification, thus suggesting that it interacts with spatial attention. This modulation was exhibited not only for motion but also for color cue, although MT neurons are known to be insensitive to color. Such cue-invariant attentional effects may contribute to a feature binding mechanism acting across visual dimensions.

Modulation of automatic semantic priming by feature-specific attention allocation

We argue that the semantic analysis of task-irrelevant stimuli is modulated by feature-specific attention allocation. In line with this hypothesis, we found semantic priming of pronunciation responses to depend upon the extent to which participants focused their attention upon specific semantic stimulus dimensions. In Experiment 1, we examined the impact of feature-specific attention allocation upon affective priming. In Experiment 2, we examined the impact of feature-specific attention allocation upon nonaffective semantic priming. In Experiment 3, affective relatedness and nonaffective semantic relatedness were manipulated orthogonally under conditions that either promoted selective attention for affective stimulus information or selective attention for nonaffective semantic stimulus information. In each of these experiments, significant semantic priming emerged only for stimulus information that was selectively attended to. Implications for the hypothesis that the extraction of word meaning proceeds in an automatic, unconditional fashion are discussed.

CAUDATE VOLUME AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS PATIENTS AND IN HEALTHY CONTROLS

We examined whether semantic activation by subliminally presented stimuli is dependent upon the extent to which participants assign attention to specific semantic stimulus features and stimulus dimensions. Participants pronounced visible target words that were preceded by briefly presented, masked prime words. Both affective and non-affective semantic congruence of the prime-target pairs were manipulated under conditions that either promoted selective attention for affective stimulus information or selective attention for non-affective semantic stimulus information. In line with our predictions, results showed that affective congruence had a clear impact on word pronunciation latencies only if participants were encouraged to assign attention to the affective stimulus dimension. In contrast, non-affective semantic relatedness of the prime-target pairs produced no priming at all. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that unconscious activation of (affective) semantic information is modulated by feature-specific attention allocation.

Effects of feature-selective attention on auditory pattern and location processing

Recent neuroimaging studies have suggested that spatial versus nonspatial changes in acoustic stimulation are processed along separate cortical pathways. However, it has remained unclear in how far change-related responses are modulated by selective attention. Thus, we aimed at testing effects of feature-selective attention on the cortical representation of pattern and location of complex natural sounds using human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) adaptation. We consecutively presented the following pairs of animal vocalizations: (a) two identical animal vocalizations, (b) same animal vocalizations at different locations, (c) different animal vocalizations at the same location, and (d) different animal vocalizations at different locations. Subjects underwent this stimulation under two different task conditions requiring either to match sound identity or location. We observed significant fMRI adaptation effects within the bilateral superior temporal sulcus (STS), planum temporale (PT) and right anterior insula for location changes. For pattern changes, we found adaptation effects within the bilateral superior temporal lobe, in particular along the superior temporal gyrus (STG), PT and posterior STS, the bilateral anterior insula and inferior frontal areas. While the adaptation effects within the pattern-selective temporal lobe areas were robust to task requirements, adaptation within the more posterior location-selective areas was modulated by feature-specific attention. In contrast, inferior frontal cortex and anterior insular exhibited adaptation effects mainly during the location matching task. Given that the location matching task was significantly more difficult than the pattern matching, our data suggest that frontal and insular regions were modulated by task difficulty rather than feature-specific attention.

Feature-based attention at work: Neuronal oscillations signify top-down control during continous visual tracking and memory retention

Event Abstract Back to Event Feature-based attention at work: Neuronal oscillations signify top-down control during continous visual tracking and memory retention Gernot G. Supp1*, J. F. Hipp1 and A.K Engel1 1 Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany One obvious need in everyday life of humans is to select visual information in a context-dependent, goal-directed manner. Attentional processes are of critical relevance to control the perception and memorization of visual features such as shape or motion. To investigate whether feature-specific attention is associated with changes of oscillatory neural activity, we performed a MEG-study using a continuous shape- and motion-tracking paradigm. Participants (n=25) fixated centrally while they were presented with a smoothly shaped blob that permanently changed its shape and position. The color of the fixation point cued the subject to continuously attend and memorize one of two visual features (either shape or motion). This feature-specific tracking interval was followed by a period of continued visual stimulation during which the subject had to memorize the respective object feature just tracked previously (retention interval). At the end of each trial the subjects indicated in a two-alternative forced choice regime, which shape or which motion had been perceived just before the color change of the fixation point. The transitions between intervals were designed to ensure a sustained attentional engagement of the subjects (flat hazard rate; mean condition duration: 4s). In total, our set-up yielded five experimental conditions that were solely defined by cued instructions, while physical stimulation was identical across all conditions: tracking of shape / motion, retention of shape / motion and one baseline condition (visual stimulation without a task). Magnetic brain signals were recorded using a 275-channel whole-head MEG system. The 2-(tasks)-by-2-(feature-types) design enabled us to analyze oscillatory brain responses on the basis of pairwise contrasts and conjunction analysis by means of spectral analysis and source localization (linear beamforming). We found that the visual stimulation profoundly increased gamma power (> 50 Hz) bilaterally in early visual brain regions along the entire time course of the trials (i.e. persistent gamma activity in the range of seconds). Importantly, the engagement in a given task directed to a particular feature was found to selectively increase gamma oscillations in specific brain areas. Whereas tracking of shape led to a bilateral gamma power increase in extrastriate occipital brain regions, motion tracking was associated with an increase of gamma power in left parietal (anterior IPS) and bilateral frontal (FEF) cortical areas. Retention of shape information yielded a weaker but similar gamma activation pattern as compared to tracking of the same feature. Similarly, retention of motion led to a left parietal and bilateral frontal gamma increase, comparable to the activation pattern during motion tracking. However, gamma activity during retention of motion was characterized by a significantly lower gamma power in extrastriate occipital cortices as compared to tracking. These results suggest that deployment of feature-based attention is reflected by a gamma power increase in distinct networks that involve, in a specific and context-dependent manner, extrastriate, parietal and frontal brain areas. Conference: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience, Bodrum, Turkey, 1 Sep - 5 Sep, 2008. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Brain Electrical Oscillations in Cognition Citation: Supp GG, Hipp JF and Engel A (2008). Feature-based attention at work: Neuronal oscillations signify top-down control during continous visual tracking and memory retention. Conference Abstract: 10th International Conference on Cognitive Neuroscience. doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.09.2009.01.148 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: 05 Dec 2008; Published Online: 05 Dec 2008. * Correspondence: Gernot G Supp, Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Geneva, Germany, g.supp@uke.de 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 Gernot G Supp J. F Hipp A.K Engel Google Gernot G Supp J. F Hipp A.K Engel Google Scholar Gernot G Supp J. F Hipp A.K Engel PubMed Gernot G Supp J. F Hipp A.K Engel 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.

Feature-Based Attentional Modulations in the Absence of Direct Visual Stimulation

When faced with a crowded visual scene, observers must selectively attend to behaviorally relevant objects to avoid sensory overload. Often this selection process is guided by prior knowledge of a target-defining feature (e.g., the color red when looking for an apple), which enhances the firing rate of visual neurons that are selective for the attended feature. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a pattern classification algorithm to predict the attentional state of human observers as they monitored a visual feature (one of two directions of motion). We find that feature-specific attention effects spread across the visual field-even to regions of the scene that do not contain a stimulus. This spread of feature-based attention to empty regions of space may facilitate the perception of behaviorally relevant stimuli by increasing sensitivity to attended features at all locations in the visual field.