Measures Of Visual Attention Research Articles

Eye Tracking Post Processing to Detect Visual Artifacts and Quantify Visual Attention under Cognitive Task Activity during fMRI.

Determining visual attention during cognitive tasks using activation MRI remains challenging. This study aimed to develop a new eye-tracking (ET) post-processing platform to enhance data accuracy, validate the feasibility of subsequent ET-fMRI applications, and provide tool support. Sixteen volunteers aged 18 to 20 were exposed to a visual temporal paradigm with changing images of objects and faces in various locations while their eye movements were recorded using an MRI-compatible ET system. The results indicate that the accuracy of the data significantly improved after post-processing. Participants generally maintained their visual attention on the screen, with mean gaze positions ranging from 89.1% to 99.9%. In cognitive tasks, the gaze positions showed adherence to instructions, with means ranging from 46.2% to 50%. Temporal consistency assessments indicated prolonged visual tasks can lead to decreased attention during certain tasks. The proposed methodology effectively identified and quantified visual artifacts and losses, providing a precise measure of visual attention. This study offers a robust framework for future work integrating filtered eye-tracking data with fMRI analyses, supporting cognitive neuroscience research.

Effect of L-theanine on selective attention in a traffic-related reaction task in sleep-deprived young adults: a double-blind placebo-controlled, crossover study

ABSTRACT Background L-theanine is a non-protein-forming amino acid found in tea. Limited evidence suggests that it improves selective attention. Sleep deprivation impairs attention and psychomotor reactions, affecting automobile driving. We aimed to determine whether L-theanine improves neurobehavioral measures of visual attention in acutely sleep-deprived healthy adults in a traffic-scene-based attention task. Methods In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, two-way crossover study, we compared the effects of a 200-mg dose of L-theanine with a placebo (150 ml of distilled water) on a computerised, traffic-scene-based visual recognition reaction task in 24 healthy volunteers (age 20–25 years; 13 males) sleep-deprived overnight. The participants made speeded button-presses to imminent accident scenes (i.e. hits), while ignoring safe scenes. They were tested pre-dose and 45 min post-dose, each treatment administered one week apart. Results Hit rates were more than 90% in all sessions, and were similar in two treatments, pre- vs post-dose. L-theanine significantly reduced false alarms (i.e. responses to safe scenes) (p = 0.014) and increased A′ (i.e. target-distractor discriminability) (p = 0.009), whereas placebo did not (p > 0.05). L-theanine reduced hit reaction time by 38.65 ms (p = 0.007), and placebo by 19.08 ms (p = 0.016), however reaction time changes from baseline were not significantly different between treatments (p > 0.05). Conclusions L-theanine in high doses appears to improve selective visual attention by concurrently improving information processing speed and target-distractor discriminability in acutely sleep-deprived individuals. This is consistent with previous functional neuroimaging findings, where L-theanine suppressed distractor-processing and default-mode-network activity in visual selective attention tasks.

A comparison of visual attention to pictures in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule in children and adolescents with ADHD and/or autism.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions which frequently co-occur. The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) is commonly used to aid with diagnostic assessment of ASD but was not originally designed for use in those with comorbid ADHD. Visual attention to social stimuli has been often studied in ASD using eye-tracking, to obtain quantitative indices of how attention is deployed to different parts of a social image/scene. As the ADOS includes tasks that rely on attending to and processing images of social scenes, these measures of visual attention could provide useful additional objective measurement alongside ADOS scores to enhance the characterisation of autistic symptoms in those with ADHD. Children with ASD, comorbid ASD and ADHD, ADHD and Neurotypical (NT) controls were recruited (n=84). Visual attention was measured using eye-tracking during free viewing of social scenes selected from the ADOS. The full ADOS was then administered. Stimulant medication was temporarily withdrawn during this assessment. Research diagnoses were based on the Development and Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA), ADOS, Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ, a measure of ASD severity) and Conners' Rating Scales (CRS-3, a measure of ADHD severity) following clinical consensus. Using factorial ANOVAs to model ADHD, Autism and their interaction, we found that fixation duration to faces was reduced in those with ASD (ASD and ASD+ADHD) compared to those without ASD (ADHD and NT). Reduced visual attention to faces in the whole sample was associated with Autism symptom severity (SCQ subscale scores) but not ADHD symptom severity (CRS-3 scores). Our findings provide preliminary evidence in support of implementing visual attention measurement during assessment of ASD in the context of comorbidity with ADHD. For example, if a child with ADHD was found to reduce attention to faces in ADOS pictures this may suggest additive difficulties on the autism spectrum. Replication across a larger sample would be informative. This work has future potential in the clinic to help with complex cases, including those with co-occurring ADHD and ASD.

Toward Development of a Novel Proprioceptive Trail-Making Test: Comparing Healthy Dancers and Non-Dancers.

There is a pressing need for ecologically valid versions of traditional neuropsychological tests indexing executive function (EF), such as the Trail-Making Task (TMT), that incorporate movement and bodily awareness in healthy participants with varying abilities. We designed a proprioceptive version of the TMT (pTMT) that involved coordinated gross motor movement and proprioceptive awareness to investigate whether this measure of visual attention, task switching, and working memory positively correlated with a computerized version of the TMT (the dTMT). We aimed to establish the initial validity of our proprioceptive TMT (pTMT) by comparing performances on the dTMT and pTMT among a cohort of 36 healthy participants (18 dancers, 18 non-dancers; M age = 22, SD = 5.27; 64% female) anticipating that dancers would express higher intrinsic bodily awareness than non-dancers. Results revealed a mild to moderate but statistically significant positive correlation between dTMT and pTMT completion times [part A: r (36) = .33, p = .04; part B: r (36) = .37, p = .03] and numbers of errors [part B: r (36) = .41, p = .01] across both participant groups. These data suggest partial measurement convergence between these two TMT versions. Relative to non-dancers, dancers exhibited a higher level of performance (likely due to their better proprioceptive ability) through their faster completion times on dTMT-B [t (34) = 3.81, p = .006, d = 1.27] and pTMT-B [t (34) = 2.97, p = .005, d = .99], and their fewer errors on dTMT-B [t (34) = 2.93, p = .006, d = 1.0]. By identifying cognitive differences between these different groups of healthy individuals, our data contribute to both a theoretical understanding and the initial development of gross motor movement-based cognitive assessments, providing a path toward the further refinement of an ecologically valid full-body TMT.

Neurophysiological signatures of mild traumatic brain injury in the acute and subacute phase

BackgroundMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects 48 million people annually, with up to 30% experiencing long-term complaints such as fatigue, blurred vision, and poor concentration. Assessing neurophysiological features related to visual attention and outcome measures aids in understanding clinical symptoms and prognostication.MethodsWe recorded EEG and eye movements in mTBI patients during a computerized task performed in the acute (< 24 h, TBI-A) and subacute phase (4–6 weeks thereafter). We estimated the posterior dominant rhythm, reaction times (RTs), fixation duration, and event-related potentials (ERPs). Clinical outcome measures were assessed using the Head Injury Symptom Checklist (HISC) and the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE) at 6 months post-injury. Similar analyses were performed in an age-matched control group (measured once). Linear mixed effect modeling was used to examine group differences and temporal changes within the mTBI group.ResultsTwenty-nine patients were included in the acute phase, 30 in the subacute phase, and 19 controls. RTs and fixation duration were longer in mTBI patients compared to controls (p < 0.05), but not between TBI-A and TBI-S (p < 0.05). The frequency of the posterior dominant rhythm was significantly slower in TBI-A (0.6 Hz, p < 0.05) than TBI-S. ERP mean amplitude was significantly lower in mTBI patients than in controls. Neurophysiological features did not significantly relate to clinical outcome measures.ConclusionmTBI patients demonstrate impaired processing speed and stimulus evaluation compared to controls, persisting up to 6 weeks after injury. Neurophysiological features in mTBI can assist in determining the extent and temporal progression of recovery.Graphical abstract

Tablet-Based Puzzle Game Intervention for Cognitive Function and Well-Being in Healthy Adults: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Background Promoting cognitive health is key to maintaining cognitive and everyday functions and preventing the risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. Existing scientific evidence shows the benefits of various training modalities on cognition. One way to promote cognitive health is through engagement in cognitive activities (eg, board and video games). Objective This study aims to investigate the benefits of dynamic adaptive casual puzzle games on cognitive function and well-being in healthy adults and older people. Methods A total of 12 adults and older people (female participants: n=6; mean age 58.92, SD 10.28 years; range 46-75 years) were included in this pilot randomized controlled trial. This study used a crossover design with two phases (8 weeks each) and three measurement waves (pretest, midtest, and posttest). The participants were randomly allocated either to the control or experimental group. In the control group, participants read newspapers between the pre- and midtest, then switched to cognitive training with puzzle games. In the experimental group, the interventions were reversed. Baseline measurements (pretest) were collected before the intervention. The interventions were delivered on tablet computers and took place unsupervised at participants’ homes. Results The outcome measures included global cognitive function, higher cognitive function, and emotional well-being at 3 time points (pretest, midtest, and posttest) using standardized neuropsychological tests. The participants showed improvements in their visual attention and visuospatial measures after the puzzle game intervention. Conclusions The study showed that digital games are a feasible way to train cognition in healthy adults and older people. The algorithm-based dynamic adaption allows accommodations for persons with different cognitive levels of skill. The results of the study will guide future prevention efforts and trials in high-risk populations.

1 Neurocognitive Correlates of Oculomotor Performance among U.S. Military Personnel with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective:To examine neurocognitive correlates of oculomotor performance among U.S. military personnel with history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).Participants and Methods:A series of studies (total n=356) were conducted to examine saccadic eye movements and manual button presses collected in response to attention stimuli, and to compare these findings to the results of standardized neuropsychological tests. Study 1 included n=27 with remote mTBI and n=54 controls who completed the Bethesda Eye and Attention Measure (BEAM), an eye tracking task that was designed to measure visual attention and executive function. In Study 2, n=51 with chronic mTBI and n=33 controls completed the Fusion n-Back task, an eye tracking task that was designed to assess the impact of working memory load on visual attention performance. Study 3 examined psychometric characteristics of BEAM among n=191 military personnel with remote mTBI. In all studies, participants completed eye tracking tasks, a structured TBI diagnostic interview, and a brief battery of standardized neuropsychological tests.Results:In Study 1, BEAM saccadic and manual metrics demonstrated strong reliability and high sensitivity to multiple cognitive cues designed to elicit spatial orienting, temporal alerting, executive interference, perceptual release (gap) and inhibition (n2p=.76, p&lt;.001). However, corresponding saccadic and manual measurements were weakly related to each other, and only manual (not saccadic) measurements were related to estimated verbal intelligence or years of education. Standardized neuropsychological measures did not differ between groups, but mTBI participants were more likely to be impaired on saccadic metrics than controls.In Study 2, Standardized cognitive measures and estimated premorbid intelligence were positively associated with all manual metrics from the Fusion n-Back test, but were not associated with mTBI history or with saccadic metrics. Fusion n-Back saccadic and manual metrics had strong reliability and complementary sensitivity to chronic mTBI, with combined predictive power of PPV=.78, NPV=.72, r2=.44 for classification of remote mild TBI vs. controls on the more cognitively-challenging 1-back task condition.In Study 3, BEAM metrics including manual RT latency and consistency, saccadic RT consistency, and saccadic inhibition errors showed consistent correlations with standardized measures of visual attention, processing speed, task switching, working memory, and executive functions. Hierarchical regressions showed that BEAM saccadic and manual metrics were independently predictive of cognitive test performance, above and beyond effects of demographic factors and clinical characteristics.Conclusions:Results demonstrated some surprising findings related to neurocognitive influences on oculomotor performance. While both saccadic and manual performance were strongly and similarly influenced by attention cues, these two modalities were only weakly correlated to one another. Additionally, manual metrics were more strongly and consistently related to standardized cognitive test performance and premorbid intelligence than saccadic metrics. However, saccadic metrics demonstrated superior sensitivity to remote/chronic mTBI relative to manual metrics and standardized neuropsychological measures. Overall, these results suggest that saccadic eye tracking measures may provide unique value in assessment of mTBI and neurocognitive functions that is complementary with more common forms of assessment relying upon somatomotor response modalities.

A - 171 Neuropsychological Performance Relates to Observed Risky Driving in Healthy Adults.

This study uses video telematics to examine relationships between neuropsychological performance and directly observed naturalistic driving-as-usual in healthy adult drivers. We hypothesized that visual attention and executive function measures would have the strongest associations with unsafe driving behaviors. Twenty-five healthy drivers (ages 23-61, 62% women) were recruited from the general community into this cross-sectional study. They completed neuropsychological testing and 28days of naturalistic driving with an in-vehicle video telematics platform that detected unsafe driving behaviors. The neuropsychological battery measured driving-relevant domains, namely visual attention, processing speed, executive function, and visuospatial memory. We examined correlations between neuropsychological measures and unsafe behaviors. Unsafe following distance correlated with better performance on Useful Field of View Selective Attention (r = 0.55, p = 0.004, 95% CI = 0.19-0.77), Symbol Digit Modalities Test Written (r = 0.51, p = 0.009, CI = 0.13-0.76) and Oral (r = 0.51, p = 0.010, CI = 0.13-0.75), Trails B (r = 0.42, p = 0.035, CI = 0.02-0.70), and Stroop Color (r = 0.46, p = 0.022, CI = 0.06-0.72). Speeding correlated with better Spatial Recall Test Immediate (r = 0.48, p = 0.015, CI = 0.10-0.73) and Delay performance (r = 0.42, p = 0.038, CI = 0.02-0.69). In healthy adult drivers, better performance in the domains of visuospatial memory, processing speed, and attention is associated with greater engagement in unsafe driving behaviors. In the absence of concern about cognitive compromise, individuals may feel more comfortable making risky behaviors. We plan to expand this work to broader samples and clinical populations to increase generalizability and applicability to clinical driving evaluations.

Eye-Tracking in Physical Human-Robot Interaction: Mental Workload and Performance Prediction.

In Physical Human-Robot Interaction (pHRI), the need to learn the robot's motor-control dynamics is associated with increased cognitive load. Eye-tracking metrics can help understand the dynamics of fluctuating mental workload over the course of learning. The aim of this study was to test eye-tracking measures' sensitivity and reliability to variations in task difficulty, as well as their performance-prediction capability, in physical human-robot collaboration tasks involving an industrial robot for object comanipulation. Participants (9M, 9F) learned to coperform a virtual pick-and-place task with a bimanual robot over multiple trials. Joint stiffness of the robot was manipulated to increase motor-coordination demands. The psychometric properties of eye-tracking measures and their ability to predict performance was investigated. Stationary Gaze Entropy and pupil diameter were the most reliable and sensitive measures of workload associated with changes in task difficulty and learning. Increased task difficulty was more likely to result in a robot-monitoring strategy. Eye-tracking measures were able to predict the occurrence of success or failure in each trial with 70% sensitivity and 71% accuracy. The sensitivity and reliability of eye-tracking measures was acceptable, although values were lower than those observed in cognitive domains. Measures of gaze behaviors indicative of visual monitoring strategies were most sensitive to task difficulty manipulations, and should be explored further for the pHRI domain where motor-control and internal-model formation will likely be strong contributors to workload. Future collaborative robots can adapt to human cognitive state and skill-level measured using eye-tracking measures of workload and visual attention.

Longer looks for language: Novel labels lengthen fixation duration for 2-year-old children

The language infants hear guides their visual attention; infants look more to objects when they are labeled. However, it is unclear whether labels also change the way infants attend to and encode those objects—that is, whether hearing an object label changes infants’ online visual processing of that object. Here, we examined this question in the context of novel word learning, asking whether nuanced measures of visual attention, specifically fixation durations, change when 2-year-olds hear a label for a novel object (e.g., “Look at the dax”) compared with when they hear a non-labeling phrase (e.g., “Look at that”). Results confirmed that children visually process objects differently when they are labeled, using longer fixations to examine labeled objects versus unlabeled objects. Children also showed robust retention of these labels on a subsequent test trial, suggesting that these longer fixations accompanied successful word learning. Moreover, when children were presented with the same objects again in a silent re-exposure phase, children’s fixations were again longer when looking at the previously labeled objects. Finally, fixation duration at first exposure and silent re-exposure were correlated, indicating a persistent effect of language on visual processing. These effects of hearing labels on visual attention point to the critical interactions involved in cross-modal learning and emphasize the benefits of looking beyond aggregate measures of attention to identify cognitive learning mechanisms during infancy.

Does banner advertising still capture attention? An eye-tracking study

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate how much visual attention is given to banner ads embedded in Web page content dependent on whether the user’s task is goal- or not goal-oriented, as well as the interplay between attention, banner location, banner click and banner recognition. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a within-subjects design where 100 participants performed two tasks – reading a news and finding where to click next – on a Web page containing three banner ads embedded into the website content. The authors gathered behavioral and eye-tracking data. Findings Consumers disregard banner ads when they are performing a focused task (reading news). Visual attention paid to the banners while reading – but not while free browsing – and banner location do not impact ad clicking. In addition, it is not necessary to pay full attention to a banner ad to be able to recognize it afterward. Practical implications The strategy of embedding banners in the main content of a Web page leads to higher visual attention when consumers are browsing a Web page compared to a focused task (e.g. reading). It also increases ad recognition over time compared to benchmark levels for ads placed in traditional positions. Originality/value Previous studies mainly assessed effectiveness of banners located at the top or lateral of a Web page. The authors used eye tracking as an objective measure of visual attention to banner ads embedded in Web page content and behavioral metrics to assess ad interest and measured ad recognition over time.

Impact of depression and post-traumatic stress on manual and oculomotor performance in service members with a history of mild TBI

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the impact of depression and post-traumatic stress on an automated oculomotor and manual measure of visual attention, compared to conventional neuropsychological assessment. Setting: Military traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation program. Participants 188 Active Duty Service Members (ADSM) with a history of mild TBI. Design A cross-sectional and correlational study with data obtained through an IRB-approved data registry study. Main measures: Bethesda Eye & Attention Measure (BEAM); brief neuropsychological battery; self-reported symptom surveys including Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8), and PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5). Results Small effect sizes were found for partial correlations between both depression and post-traumatic stress and key BEAM metrics. In contrast, small-to-medium effects sizes were found across all traditional neuropsychological test measures. Conclusion This study illustrates the profile of impairments associated with depression and post-traumatic stress on saccadic eye movements and manual responses to BEAM relative to conventional neuropsychological tests. Results demonstrated that among ADSM seen for mTBI, depression and PTS exert a significant negative impact on measures of processing speed, attention, executive function, and memory across saccadic, manual, and conventional neuropsychological tests. However, the unique psychometric features of each of these assessment approaches may assist in distinguishing the effects of psychiatric comorbidities within this population.

Self-reported interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention differentially correspond to measures of visual attention and self-regard.

Interoception, the perception of bodily functions and sensations, is a crucial contributor to cognition, emotion, and well-being. However, the relationship between these three processes is not well understood. Further, it is increasingly clear that dimensions of interoception differentially corresponds to these processes, yet this is only recently being explored. The present study addresses two important questions: Are subjective interoceptive accuracy and interoceptive attention related to self-regard and well-being? And are they related to exteroceptive (visual) attention? Participants (N=98; 29% women; aged 23-64 years) completed: a battery of questionnaires to assess subjective accuracy (how well one predicts bodily sensations), interoceptive attention (a tendency to notice bodily signals), self-regard (self-esteem, self-image, life satisfaction), state negative affect (depression, anxiety, and stress), a self-esteem Implicit Association Task (a measure of implicit self-esteem), and a flanker task to assess visual selective attention. Subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention served as dependent variables. Correlations and principal component analysis was used to establish correlations among variables and determine how, or whether, these measures are associated with subjective interoceptive accuracy or attention. Greater scores on measures of self-regard, implicit self-esteem, cognition and lower negative affect were broadly associated with greater subjective interoceptive accuracy. Conversely, only explicit self-esteem, satisfaction with life, and self-image corresponded to subjective interoceptive attention. An exploratory analysis with a more inclusive scale of interoceptive attention was conducted. Results of this exploratory analysis showed that the broader measure was a stronger correlate to self-regard than subjective interoceptive accuracy, though it, too, did not correlate with visual attention. In short, both subjective interoceptive accuracy and attention corresponded to well-being and mental health, but only accuracy was associated with exteroceptive attention. These results add to a growing literature suggesting different dimensions of (subjective) interoception differentially correspond to indices of well-being. The links between exteroceptive and interoceptive attention, and their association with merit further study.

Using Mobile Dual Eye-Tracking to Capture Cycles of Collaboration and Cooperation in Co-located Dyads

The goal of this paper is to bring new insights to the study of social learning processes by designing measures of collaboration using high-frequency sensor data. More specifically, we are interested in understanding the interplay between moments of collaboration and cooperation, which is an understudied area of research. We collected a multimodal dataset during a collaborative learning activity typical of makerspaces: learning how to program a robot. Pairs of participants were introduced to computational thinking concepts using a block-based environment. Mobile eye-trackers, physiological wristbands, and motion sensors captured their behavior and social interactions. In this paper, we analyze the eye-tracking data to capture participants’ tendency to synchronize their visual attention. This paper provides three contributions: (1) we use an emerging methodology (mobile dual eye-tracking) to capture joint visual attention in a co-located setting and replicate findings that show how levels of joint visual attention are positively correlated with collaboration quality; (2) we qualitatively analyzed the co-occurrence of verbal activity and joint visual attention in low and high performing groups to better understand moments of collaboration and cooperation; (3) inspired by the qualitative observations and theories of collaborative learning, we designed a new quantitative measure that captures cycles of collaborative and cooperative work. Compared to simple measures of joint visual attention, we found it to increase correlation coefficients with learning and collaboration scores. We discuss those results and describe how advances in analyzing sensor data can contribute to theories of collaboration. We conclude with implications for capturing students’ interactions in co-located spaces using Multimodal Learning Analytics (MMLA).

Methylphenidate improves cognitive function and health-related quality of life in survivors of childhood brain tumours

ABSTRACT Objectives: The growing population of survivors of childhood brain tumors present the challenge of long-term quality of survival. The domains most affected by tumor and treatment are those implicated in development of typical intellectual functions: attention, working memory, and processing speed, with consequent effects upon function and quality of life. In this paper we present service evaluation data on the 12-month effect upon processing speed, visual and auditory attentional domains in 29 patients receiving methylphenidate aged 5-16 years (Mean=10.6). Methods: Patients received immediate-release methylphenidate and were converted to modified-release as appropriate. Mean optimal dose of immediate-release methylphenidate was 0.34 mg/kg per dose (range 0.2-0.67). Results: Patients showed a significant positive impact of methylphenidate on attention in all tests of selective visual attention from the Test of Everyday Attention for Children 2. A significant improvement was also shown on response time. Significant change was not found on psychometric measures of sustained auditory or visual attention, or selective auditory attention. Ratings of Health-Related Quality of Life showed a positive benefit of methylphenidate at 12 months. Side effects were minimal and not statistically significant. Conclusions: Survivors of childhood brain tumor with attentional and processing speed deficit show clinical benefit from methylphenidate.

Interventions for improving executive functions in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): A systematic review.

Interventions for improving executive functions in children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD): A systematic review.

Effects of SMR Neurofeedback on Cognitive Functions in an Adult Population with Sleep Problems: A Tele-neurofeedback Study.

A good night's sleep is vital for normal human cognitive performance. We earlier reported that a home-based tele-neurofeedback program effectively reduced sleep problems (Krepel et al. in Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-021-09525-z , 2021). The present article presents a follow-up on this earlier study and investigates improvements in cognitive functions after sensory-motor rhythm (SMR) neurofeedback. Thirty-seven participants reporting sleep problems received SMR neurofeedback. Cognitive measures were assessed pre- and post-treatment. Measurements included a continuous performance/working memory (CPT/WM) task, Stroop task, and Trailmaking A and B test (from the IntegNeuro cognitive test battery). For neurofeedback-Learners relative to non-Learners significantly improved CPT/WM response time (d = 0.50), omission errors (d = 0.67), and Stroop incongruent performance (d = 0.72) were found. A significant time effect for both groups were found for the Stroop, the Trailmaking test part B (d = 0.52), and the Stroop interference score (d = 0.55). No significant correlations between changes in sleep and changes in cognition (p > 0.05) were found for the sample. SMR neurofeedback specifically improved measures of attention (response time and omission errors in a CPT/WM test) and working memory (Stroop incongruent) for SMR Learners compared to non-Learners with medium effect sizes. Furthermore, overall improvements for the whole sample were found on measures of executive function and visual attention, possibly reflecting non-specific or practice effects. Future better powered randomized control trials are needed to investigate if cognitive improvements are a direct effect of SMR neurofeedback or mediated by sleep improvements.

0215 Impact of sleep inertia on visual search performance during combined sleep restriction and circadian misalignment

Abstract Introduction Circadian phase and homeostatic sleep drive affect selective visual attention during sleep inertia (SI), a period of cognitive performance decrement upon awakening that dissipates with time. This study examined the combined effects of circadian misalignment and sleep restriction on visual search performance during SI. Methods Twenty adults (mean±standard deviation [SD] age 25.7±4.2 years; 12M, 8F) completed a 39-day protocol. Prior to a 4-day in-laboratory visit, participants maintained habitual 8h sleep schedules for 2 weeks at home. In-laboratory sleep opportunities (1 per day) were timed to induce varying levels of both circadian misalignment and sleep restriction: 8h on night 1, 3h on night 2, and 3h on mornings 3 and 4. After 3 days of recovery sleep at home (unscheduled), participants repeated the entire protocol. SI was assessed with the Serial Visual Search Task, a measure of selective visual attention, ~ 1, 16, and 31 min after electroencephalogram (EEG) verified awakening following each 3h sleep opportunity. The task required participants to determine whether a target was present or absent among nontarget distractors. Outcomes included median reaction times (RT) and number of missed targets. Sleep opportunities with ≥4.5 min of EEG-verified wakefulness in the 30 min prior to scheduled awakening were excluded from analysis. Data were analyzed with mixed-model ANOVA. Results Mean±SD average amount of wakefulness in the 30 min and 10 min prior to SI testing was 1.2±0.11 and 0.43±0.06 minutes, respectively. Following all sleep opportunities, median RT for overall correct responses and for correct response to target absent trials improved with time since awakening (all p&amp;lt;0.05). In contrast, median RT for correct responses to target present trials improved and number of missed targets worsened with time since awakening following the morning 3 sleep opportunity only (all p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusion Reaction speed was impaired during SI regardless of circadian timing or level of homeostatic sleep drive, whereas missing targets appears to be dependent upon circadian phase and the level of homeostatic sleep debt. These findings have important implications for military and first responders. Support (If Any) Office of Naval Research MURI N00014-15-1-2809; NIH TR001082; Undergraduate Research Opportunities Grant, University of Colorado Boulder.

Processing Argument Structure and Syntactic Complexity in People with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

IntroductionDeficits in language comprehension and production have been repeatedly observed in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders (SSD). However, the characterization of the language profile of this population is far from complete, and the relationship between language deficits, impaired thinking and cognitive functions is widely debated. ObjectiveThe aims of the present study were to assess production and comprehension of verbs with different argument structures, as well as production and comprehension of sentences with canonical and non-canonical word order in people with SSD. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between language deficits and cognitive functions. MethodsThirty-four participants with a diagnosis of SSD and a group of healthy control participants (HC) were recruited and evaluated using the Italian version of the Northwestern Assessment of Verbs and Sentences (NAVS, Cho-Reyes & Thompson, 2012; Barbieri et al., 2019). ResultsResults showed that participants with SSD were impaired – compared to HC – on both verb and sentence production, as well as on comprehension of syntactically complex (but not simple) sentences. While verb production was equally affected by verb-argument structure complexity in both SSD and HC, sentence comprehension was disproportionately more affected by syntactic complexity in SSD than in HC. In addition, in the SSD group, verb production deficits were predicted by performance on a measure of visual attention, while sentence production and comprehension deficits were explained by performance on measures of executive functions and working memory, respectively. DiscussionOur findings support the hypothesis that language deficits in SSD may be one aspect of a more generalized, multi-domain, cognitive impairment, and are consistent with previous findings pointing to reduced inter- and intra-hemispheric connectivity as a possible substrate for such deficits. The study provides a systematic characterization of lexical and syntactic deficits in SSD and demonstrates that psycholinguistically-based assessment tools may be able to capture language deficits in this population.

The Multiple Object Avoidance (MOA) task measures attention for action: Evidence from driving and sport

Performance in everyday tasks, such as driving and sport, requires allocation of attention to task-relevant information and the ability to inhibit task-irrelevant information. Yet there are individual differences in this attentional function ability. This research investigates a novel task for measuring attention for action, called the Multiple Object Avoidance task (MOA), in its relation to the everyday tasks of driving and sport. The aim in Study 1 was to explore the efficacy of the MOA task to predict simulated driving behaviour and hazard perception. Whilst also investigating its test–retest reliability and how it correlates to self-report driving measures. We found that superior performance in the MOA task predicted simulated driving performance in complex environments and was superior at predicting performance compared to the Useful Field of View task. We found a moderate test–retest reliability and a correlation between the attentional lapses subscale of the Driving Behaviour Questionnaire. Study 2 investigated the discriminative power of the MOA in sport by exploring performance differences in those that do and do not play sports. We also investigated if the MOA shared attentional elements with other measures of visual attention commonly attributed to sporting expertise: Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) and cognitive processing speed. We found that those that played sports exhibited superior MOA performance and found a positive relationship between MOA performance and Multiple Object Tracking performance and cognitive processing speed. Collectively, this research highlights the utility of the MOA when investigating visual attention in everyday contexts.