Modified Eriksen Flanker Task Research Articles

The impact of emotional valence on the spatial scope of visual selective attention

The brain’s ability to prioritize behaviorally relevant sensory inputs (i.e., targets) while ignoring irrelevant distractors is crucial for efficient information processing. However, the role of emotional valence in modulating selective attention remains underexplored. This study examined how positive and negative emotions alter the spatial scope of visual selective attention using a modified Eriksen Flanker task. Participants viewed an emotional face cue (happy, angry, or neutral) randomly positioned on the screen and then identified the shape of a subsequent neutral target (bowtie or diamond) at the cued location. Adjacent stimuli either matched the target shape (congruent) or differed (incongruent). Results showed that happy faces increased susceptibility to distractors (i.e., a larger incongruency effect), suggesting a broadening of attentional scope, while angry faces reduced susceptibility (i.e., a smaller incongruency effect), indicating a narrowing of focus. Importantly, the magnitude of this emotion-driven attention modulation was negatively correlated with participants’ self-reported levels of psychological distress. Participants with higher stress and depression exhibited weaker attention broadening in response to positive cues. Together, the findings provide behavioral evidence of how emotional valence influences attention scope, offering potential insights into the dynamic interplay between psychological distress, emotional processing, and attention modulation.

Cognitive control in adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder: a study with event-related potentials.

Little is known about cognitive control in adults with high-functioning forms of autism spectrum disorder because previous research focused on children and adolescents. Cognitive control is crucial to monitor and readjust behavior after errors to select contextually appropriate reactions. The congruency effect and conflict adaptation are measures of cognitive control. Post-error slowing, error-related negativity and error positivity provide insight into behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of error processing. In children and adolescent with autism spectrum disorder deficits in cognitive control and error processing have been shown by changes in post-error slowing, error-related negativity and error positivity in the flanker task. We performed a modified Eriksen flanker task in 17 adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and 17 healthy controls. As behavioral measures of cognitive control and error processing, we included reaction times and error rates to calculate congruency effects, conflict adaptation, and post-error slowing. Event-related potentials namely error-related negativity and error positivity were measured to assess error-related brain activity. Both groups of participants showed the expected congruency effects demonstrated by faster and more accurate responses in congruent compared to incongruent trials. Healthy controls exhibited conflict adaptation as they obtained performance benefits after incongruent trials whereas patients with autism spectrum disorder did not. The expected slowing in reaction times after errors was observed in both groups of participants. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder demonstrated enhanced electrophysiological error-processing compared to healthy controls indicated by increased error-related negativity and error positivity difference amplitudes. Our findings show that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder do not show the expected upregulation of cognitive control in response to conflicts. This finding implies that previous experiences may have a reduced influence on current behavior in these patients which possibly contributes to less flexible behavior. Nevertheless, we observed intact behavioral reactions after errors indicating that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder can flexibly adjust behavior in response to changed environmental demands when necessary. The enhancement of electrophysiological error-processing indicates that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder demonstrate an extraordinary reactivity toward errors reflecting increased performance monitoring in this subpopulation of autism spectrum disorder patients.

Early visual perceptual processing is altered in obsessive–compulsive disorder

ObjectiveExisting studies have shown changes in attention and emotion processing of disorder-relevant visual stimuli in those with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, early visual processing in OCD has not been assessed, as previous studies did not examine the entire time course of visual processing but instead assessed potential differences in pre-determined visual evoked potentials (VEPs). This study investigates the entire visual processing stream in OCD compared to healthy age-matched controls (HC) using emotionally-neutral visual stimuli and a data-driven rather than hypothesis-driven approach. Methods35 HC and 26 participants with OCD underwent EEG recording while completing a modified Eriksen flanker task. Permutation-controlled t-tests were used to identify group differences in the data’s full time course of visual evoked potentials. Baseline-corrected amplitudes at time points where the groups were significantly different were analyzed using ANCOVAs with BDI, BAI, and SNAP-inattentiveness scores included as covariates. ResultsThis analysis identified enhanced P1 amplitudes to two visual stimuli (the initial flanker and the stimulus), corresponding to time windows of 65–93 ms and 157–187 ms post-flanker presentation in the OCD group compared to controls. Group (OCD vs. HC) was the strongest predictor of VEP amplitude during both time windows, with no significant influences of any covariates. ConclusionsThis study showed an enhanced P1 component in people with OCD to neutral visual stimuli, potentially reflecting either inefficient or excessive early visual processing in this population. Additional inquiry is necessary to determine whether altered visual processing is associated with the sensory hypervigilance observed in those with OCD. SignificanceThis work identifies early visual processing alterations in OCD using neutral stimuli and a data-driven approach.

MIND Dietary Pattern Adherence Is Selectively Associated with Cognitive Processing Speed in Middle-Aged Adults

Most previous work has focused on a single-nutrient, bottom-up approach when examining the influence of diet on neurocognition. Thus, the impact of dietary patterns on cognitive health is underinvestigated. We aimed to investigate the relation between different diet indices [i.e., Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND)] and attentional inhibition and neuroelectric function. We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 34.1 ± 6.0 y (n = 207, 116 females) with a BMI of 18.5 to >40 kg/m2 who completed the Dietary History Questionnaire II (DHQII) FFQ (Past Month and Year with Serving Sizes) to assess adherence to different diet quality indices. Attentional inhibition was assessed using a modified Eriksen flanker task during which event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The amplitude and latency of the P3/P300 ERP were used to index attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively. P3 peak latency was inversely associated with greater adherence to the MIND dietary pattern during incongruent flanker trials (∆R2 = 0.02, β = -0.14, P = 0.043) but not during congruent trials. Adherence to the Mediterranean, DASH, and HEI-2015 patterns was not associated with P3 latency (P > 0.05). No associations were observed between the diet indices and attentional inhibition at the behavioral level (i.e., accuracy or reaction time) or P3 amplitude (all P values >0.05). Greater adherence to the MIND diet was selectively associated with faster information processing speed in middle-aged adults with healthy to obese BMI. Further, the influence of the MIND diet for faster information processing speed might be particularly beneficial when cognitive control demands are increased. Future intervention trials testing the effects of consuming a MIND diet on cognitive function are warranted to help inform dietary recommendations for healthy cognitive aging.

Neuroelectric indices of motor response preparation are selectively associated with physical activity among adults with obesity

Previous work has demonstrated that physical activity and weight status are associated with attentional inhibition (indexed with the P3 component of event-related potentials). However, there is limited knowledge on the neural underpinnings of motor response planning and activation. This study investigated the effect of weight status on relationships between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the lateralized readiness potential (LRP), a neuroelectric index of motor response planning and activation. Adults (N = 165 [98 females]) wore ActiGraph wGT3X+ accelerometers to measure physical activity. Behavioral outcomes were recorded during the modified Eriksen Flanker task to assess attentional inhibition. EEG recordings were taken to elucidate response- (LRP-R) and stimulus-locked (LRP-S) LRPs, and P3. Participants were separated into groups based on the BMI cutoff of 30 kg/m2 (i.e., non-obese [n = 88], obese [n = 77]). Independent t-tests and ANCOVA were conducted to determine differences between groups. Regression analyses within each group were conducted to determine relationships between MVPA and LRP and P3 amplitude and latencies. There was no difference in MVPA between weight groups after adjustment for age and sex, although the non-obese group had significantly higher incongruent accuracy (p = 0.007). Only in the obese group, MVPA was positively associated with LRP-R incongruent (β = 0.014, p = 0.029) and LRP-S congruent (β = 0.013, p = 0.008) amplitude, and inversely associated with LRP-S incongruent (β = −0.488, p = 0.017) and P3 congruent (β = 0.013, p = 0.008) fractional area latency. MVPA was associated with pre-motor planning and activation only among persons with obesity. Future work should study the impact of physical activity on neuroelectric indices of motor responses in people with obesity.

Visual Alcohol Cue-Reactivity and Cognitive Control in Non-Dependent Heavy Alcohol Drinkers Assessed by Simultaneous fNIRS-EEG.

Addictive behavior is characterized by fast automatic responses to drug-related cues (termed cue reactivity) and deficient cognitive control. The ability to detect errors is a prerequisite for an adaptive increase of cognitive control to prevent further errors. In the current study, cue-reactivity effects on cognitive control were assessed via hemodynamic activity within the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG), assessing error monitoring (error-related negativity/error negativity, ERN/Ne) and error adaption in subsequent trials (N2). Nondependent social drinkers were the focus in this multimodal approach. Effects of alcohol consumption patterns and the personality trait of impulsivity were assessed in n = 55 social drinkers. Hemodynamic activity within the dlPFC (cognitive control), error monitoring (ERN/Ne), post-error conflict monitoring (N2), error rates, and post-error slowing (PES) were measured during a modified Eriksen flanker task cued by beverage pictures. ERN/Ne amplitudes were reduced during alcohol-cued trials. Post-error adaption was reflected in increased dlPFC activity after errors, whereas N2 amplitudes were reduced. There was a correlation of impulsivity and alcohol-cued ERN/Ne amplitude that was mediated by alcohol consumption pattern. Impulsivity-related decreases in error monitoring during cue reactivity were mediated by alcohol consumption pattern. However, cognitive control was not affected by cue reactivity, suggesting more complex interactions than previously assumed.

Association Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Executive Function Among Chinese Tibetan Adolescents at High Altitude.

ObjectiveTo estimate the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and executive function (EF) among Chinese Tibetan adolescents.MethodUsing three stages by stratified cluster sampling, 1,427 Chinese Tibetan adolescents were recruited from Tibet, China. SSB consumption status was obtained by questionnaires and the three core EFs (inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) were tested by a modified Eriksen flanker task, N-back shift, and a more-odd shifting task. One-way ANOVA or Chi-square test was used to compare SSB consumption in different categories. Taking the SSB consumption 0 time/week group as the reference, general linear regression (for continuous variable) or Logical regression (classified variable) in three Models was conducted to analyze the relationship between SSB consumption and EF for Chinese Tibetan children and adolescents.ResultAfter adjustment of all the covariant in Model 2, all the EF indexes were higher in Chinese Tibetan adolescents with SSB consumption ≥2 times/week than that with SSB consumption of 0 times/week by 21.33 ms (95%CI: 6.72, 35.93), 8.21 ms (95%CI: 7.06, 9.35), 90.46 ms (95%CI: 28.69, 152.23), 147.61 ms (95%CI: 81.42, 213.80), 116.18 ms (95%CI: 74.48, 157.87), 112.41 ms (95%CI: 71.30, 153.52) for incongruent RT, RT difference in incongruent and congruent, 1-back RT, 2-back RT, Heterogeneous RT, RT difference in Heterogeneous and Homogeneous respectively.ConclusionsThe results suggested that SSB consumption was associated with poorer EF in Chinese Tibetan adolescents. SSB consumption should be controlled for healthy brain development of Chinese Tibetan adolescents.

The MIND Dietary Pattern Is Selectively Related to Cognitive Processing Speed

ObjectivesGiven that previous research has disproportionately focused on individual nutrients, knowledge of diet patterns and cognitive health is limited. Thus, we investigated the relationship between different diet indices (Mediterranean, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH], Healthy-Eating-Index-2015 [HEI-2015], and Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay [MIND]) and attentional inhibition and neuroelectric function.MethodsAdults aged 34.1 ± 6.0 years old (N = 207) completed the Dietary History Questionnaire II (DHQII, Past Year and Past Month with Portion Size) to assess adherence to different diet indices. Attentional inhibition was assessed using a modified Eriksen Flanker task while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. The amplitude and latency of the P3 ERP component were used to index attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively. Stepwise linear regression modeling was used to assess the influence of each dietary index on behavioral performance and neuroelectric function following adjustment for significant covariates (e.g., age, sex, intelligence quotient, and body mass index).ResultsGreater adherence to the MIND diet was associated with an earlier incongruent P3 peak latency (∆R2 = 0.02, β = −0.14, p = 0.04) but not congruent peak latency (∆R2 = 0.02, β = −0.12, p = 0.07). Adherence to the Mediterranean, DASH, and HEI-2015 patterns was not correlated with P3 latency (p > 0.05). No associations were observed between the diet indices and attentional inhibition at the behavioral level (i.e., accuracy or reaction time) or P3 amplitude (all p's > 0.05).Conclusions Greater adherence to the MIND diet was selectively related to faster information processing speed. This relationship was only evident during incongruent trials, suggesting that the influence of greater MIND diet adherence is particularly beneficial when upregulation of cognitive control is required. Future MIND diet intervention trials are warranted to help inform dietary recommendations for healthy cognitive aging.Funding SourcesThis work was funded by the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health at the University of Illinois, Division of Nutritional Sciences, and Hass Avocado Board.

Does standing alter reaction times and event related potentials compared to sitting in young adults? A counterbalanced, crossover trial

The present study investigated the effects of attending lectures in sitting and standing postures on executive function of young adults. In this randomized, counterbalanced, crossover trial on 15 adults (19.2 ± 2.4 years), selective attention and executive control (response inhibition) were measured through reaction times and event related potentials (ERPs using electroencephalography [EEG]) associated with congruent and incongruent stimuli presented during a modified Eriksen flanker task. The reaction times and latencies of ERPs for the modified Eriksen flanker task among the interventions (sitting/standing), conditions (congruent/incongruent) and EEG electrodes were analyzed using analyses of variance. Attending a lecture in a standing posture was found to improve executive function (response inhibition) measured with reaction times (for incongruent stimuli) and ERPs (P3 [cognitive potential] amplitude at Pz and Cz electrodes; irrespective of congruent/incongruent stimuli) compared to that of the sitting posture. Standing might improve executive function compared to sitting among young adults in a simulated lecture environment.

Sex Moderates The Associations Of Accelerometer-measured Physical Activity Intensity To Executive Functions Among Older Adolescents

Physical activity (PA) of sufficient intensity to improve aerobic fitness is associated with enhanced executive functions (EFs) in preadolescents. However, the relationship between PA intensity and EFs among older adolescents and the effect of sex on these associations remain poorly understood. PURPOSE: To examine the moderating effects of sex on the relationship between accelerometer-measured PA (volume, intensity) and EFs (inhibitory control, working memory) in 15-18 years old adolescents. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from 417 participants (210 [50%] females, Mage = 16.5 ± 0.40 yrs, BMI = 23.2 ± 4.30 kg/m2) from the Burn 2 Learn cluster randomized controlled trial. Adolescents wore Actigraph GT9X Link accelerometers on their non-dominant wrist for 7 days, 24-h·d-1. Accelerometer metrics included average raw accelerations over 5 s epochs (AvgAcc), intensity gradient (IG; the slope of the log-log regression line of intensity over time; higher IG indicates higher intensity), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) using Hildebrand youth cut-points. Inhibitory control was expressed as accuracy, reaction time (RT), and variability of the RT (standard deviation; SDRT) on incongruent trials of a modified Eriksen flanker task. Working memory (WM) was expressed as a d prime (d’) index on the 2-back task (z-scoretarget accuracy - z-scorefalse alarms). Multi-level random intercept models, accounting for clustering within schools, were used to test the moderating effects of sex on the PA-EF relationship, adjusting for age, BMI, and aerobic fitness. RESULTS: Sex moderated the relationship between IG and incongruent SDRT (b = 0.16, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.28, P = 0.01), and IG and the d’ index (b = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.47, -0.11, P = 0.002) even after controlling for AvgAcc. Girls with higher IG showed less variability in incongruent RT (b = -0.16, 95% CI: -0.25, -0.06; boys: Ps ≥ 0.68) and higher d’ index (b = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.11, 0.40; boys: Ps ≥ 0.21). In contrast, AvgAcc was not related to inhibitory control (Ps ≥ 0.06) or WM (Ps ≥ 0.21) after adjusting for IG. MVPA was not related to inhibitory control or WM (Ps ≥ 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal a novel selective association between PA intensity and EFs among older adolescent girls. Girls with higher intensity profiles showed superior performance across two EF tasks.

Examining the Effects of Acute Cognitively Engaging Physical Activity on Cognition in Children.

Cognitively engaging physical activity (PA) has been suggested to have superior effects on cognition compared to PA with low cognitive demands; however, there have been few studies directly comparing these different types of activities. The aim of this study is to compare the cognitive effects of a combined physically and cognitively engaging bout of PA to a physical or cognitive activity alone in children. Children were randomized in pairs to one of three 20-min conditions: (1) a cognitive sedentary activity; (2) a non-cognitively engaging PA; and a (3) cognitively engaging PA. Executive function (EF) was assessed using a modified Eriksen flanker task immediately before and 10–15 min following the experimental condition. Children ages 6–8 years (n = 48, Mage = 7.04, SD = 1.37; 40% girls) were included in the study. A repeated measures ANOVA found no significant difference between groups with respect to scores on the flanker task. The results do not support the hypotheses that a cognitively engaging bout of PA enhances cognitive performance over non-cognitively engaging PA or sedentary activities. Possible explanations for our findings include overexertion during the acute bout of PA and depletion of positive affect prior to performing the post-intervention EF tasks.

Systemic inflammation mediates the negative relationship between visceral adiposity and cognitive control

Elevated visceral adipose tissue (VAT) has been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors including chronic systemic low-grade inflammation. Whereas the cognitive implications of inflammation have been extensively studied in preclinical models, the influence of inflammatory cytokines on cognitive function in humans is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relations among VAT, inflammatory cytokines, and cognitive control. We hypothesized that inflammatory markers would mediate the negative influence of VAT on selective attention. Participants between 25 and 46 years (N = 115, 43 females) underwent a DXA scan to estimate VAT. A modified Eriksen Flanker task was used to assess attentional inhibitory control while event-related potentials were recorded. ELISA was used to quantify plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations. Mediation modeling while controlling for diet quality and education level revealed that CRP concentrations significantly mediated the relationship between VAT and incongruent trial accuracy (indirect effect 95% CI {−0.24, −0.01}). Further, IL-6 concentrations had a significant mediation effect on the relationship between VAT and incongruent P3 peak latency (indirect effect 95% CI {0.05, 1.39}). These results suggest that mechanisms by which visceral adiposity exerts a negative influence on cognitive function includes systemic inflammation.

Neural oscillatory responses to performance monitoring differ between high- and low-impulsive individuals, but are unaffected by TMS.

Higher impulsivity may arise from neurophysiological deficits of cognitive control in the prefrontal cortex. Cognitive control can be assessed by time‐frequency decompositions of electrophysiological data. We aimed to clarify neuroelectric mechanisms of performance monitoring in connection with impulsiveness during a modified Eriksen flanker task in high‐ (n = 24) and low‐impulsive subjects (n = 21) and whether these are modulated by double‐blind, sham‐controlled intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). We found a larger error‐specific peri‐response beta power decrease over fronto‐central sites in high‐impulsive compared to low‐impulsive participants, presumably indexing less effective motor execution processes. Lower parieto‐occipital theta intertrial phase coherence (ITPC) preceding correct responses predicted higher reaction time (RT) and higher RT variability, potentially reflecting efficacy of cognitive control or general attention. Single‐trial preresponse theta phase clustering was coupled to RT in correct trials (weighted ITPC), reflecting oscillatory dynamics that predict trial‐specific behavior. iTBS did not modulate behavior or EEG time‐frequency power. Performance monitoring was associated with time‐frequency patterns reflecting cognitive control (parieto‐occipital theta ITPC, theta weighted ITPC) as well as differential action planning/execution processes linked to trait impulsivity (frontal low beta power). Beyond that, results suggest no stimulation effect related to response‐locked time‐frequency dynamics with the current stimulation protocol. Neural oscillatory responses to performance monitoring differ between high‐ and low‐impulsive individuals, but are unaffected by iTBS.

The relationships between prolonged sedentary time, physical activity, cognitive control, and P3 in adults with overweight and obesity.

To assess the relationships between daily sedentary time (ST), prolonged ST, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and behavioral and neuroelectric indices of cognitive control in adults with overweight and obesity (OW/OB). A cross-sectional design was used. Overall, 89 adults (BMI = 31.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2) provided measures of ST, prolonged ST (i.e., ST accumulated in ≥20 min), and MVPA from a hip-worn accelerometer worn over 7 days. Inhibitory control was measured with a modified Eriksen flanker task and cognitive flexibility with task switching. The amplitude and the latency of the P3 component of event-related potentials during each task were used as measures of attentional resource allocation and information processing speed, respectively. After adjusting for ST and MVPA, prolonged ST was related to greater interference (i.e., a larger decrement in accuracy between congruent and incongruent trials of the flanker task) indicative of a specific relationship between prolonged ST and poorer inhibitory control. Before adjusting for ST, MVPA was related to a smaller Global Switch Cost expressed as larger (more positive) amplitude of the P3 difference wave (mixed-task minus single-task condition of the switch task). Adjustment for ST attenuated this association to non-significance. Our findings suggest that future interventions focused on improving inhibitory control in adults with OW/OB should target restructuring ST in addition to current efforts to increase MVPA.

Accelerometer-measured Sedentary Patterns Are Related To Poorer Inhibitory Control In Obese-middle-aged Adults

Self-reported sedentary behaviors have been negatively related to executive functions (EFs) in older adults. However, the relationship of objectively measured sedentary time (ST) to EFs in adults with overweight and obesity is poorly understood. PURPOSE: To assess the relationship between accelerometer-measured ST and inhibitory control in middle-aged adults with overweight and obesity. METHODS: Pre-intervention data from 87 subjects (60 (67%) females, Mage = 35.0 ± 5.9 yrs, BMI= 32.2 ± 5.4 kg/m2) participating in the Persea Americana for Total Health randomized controlled trial were analyzed. ST and physical activity were measured over 7 days with a hip-worn wGT3X-BT accelerometer. Valid wear time was defined as ≥ 4 days, ≥ 10 hrs/d. Daily ST (min/d), frequency, and time spent in sedentary bouts lasting ≥ 5, 10, 20 and 30 consecutive min were estimated using a < 100 counts per minute (CPM) cut point. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was defined using an NHANES cut point. Inhibitory control was expressed as accuracy (AC), reaction time (RT), and inverse efficiency (IE = AC/RT) on incongruent trials of a modified Eriksen flanker task; performance on congruent trials indexed controlled processes. Multiple hierarchical regression models controlling for age, sex, intelligence, % fat mass, MVPA and ST (for sedentary bouts) were used to assess relationships between ST, sedentary bouts, inhibitory control, and controlled processes. RESULTS: Frequency (bs ≤ -0.22, ts ≥ 2.11, Ps ≤ 0.04, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.25, Ps ≤ 0.007) and time (bs ≤ -0.22, ts ≥ 2.01, Ps ≤ 0.047, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.17, Ps ≤ 0.008) spent in sedentary bouts lasting ≥ 20 and 30 min were associated with lower AC during incongruent trials. While ST and time spent in sedentary bouts ≥ 20 min were related to faster RTs during congruent trials (bs ≤ -0.23, ts ≥ 2.08, Ps ≤ 0.04, Fs(6,86) ≥ 3.04, Ps ≤ 0.01), greater ST was related to lower IE on congruent and incongruent trials (bs ≤ -0.43, ts ≥ 2.33, Ps ≤ 0.023, Fs(7,86) ≥ 2.76, Ps ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: In adults with overweight and obesity, more prolonged ST was related to poorer inhibitory control and less efficient controlled processes as indicated by more impulsive responding. Our results reveal a novel relationship between sedentary patterns and an aspect of EFs that has been implicated in the maintenance of obesogenic behaviors.

Macular Carotenoids Are Associated with Neural Efficiency in Children

Abstract Objectives Macular pigmentation has been previously related to benefits for behavioral and neuroelectric aspects of selective attention across the lifespan. The relationship between accumulation of carotenoids beyond the central nervous system and selective attention is less understood, particularly amongst children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the differential impacts of retinal and skin carotenoid accumulation and behavioral and neuroelectric indices of selective attention. Methods Children between 7–12 years (N = 60) participated in the study. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was assessed using heterochromatic flicker photometry and skin carotenoids were assessed using reflection spectroscopy at the fingertip using the Veggie meter. Body Mass Index adjusted for age and sex (BMI%) and general intelligence as assessed using the Woodcock Johnson IV test were used as covariates. Behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction time) and neuroelectric indices (event-related brain potentials [ERPs]) of attentional inhibition were assessed during a modified Eriksen Flanker task. Specifically, amplitude of the P3 waveform was used to index attentional resource allocation. Results After controlling for covariates, MPOD was selectively associated with lower peak amplitude of the P3 waveform during congruent (β = −0.36, P = 0.01) and incongruent task trials (β = −0.39, P &amp;lt; 0.01). No significant relationships were observed between the P3 and skin carotenoids. Skin carotenoids were associated with higher accuracy on the incongruent trials of the Flanker task (β = 0.36, P = 0.02), while no relationships were observed between MPOD and behavioral performance. Conclusions In this study, we were able to replicate previous findings demonstrating that higher accumulation of retinal carotenoids is associated with neural efficiency during a selective attention task. Skin carotenoids were associated with behavioral performance but were not related to neuroelectric indices of selective attention, suggesting site-specific benefits of carotenoid accumulation on cognitive health in childhood. Funding Sources This work is funded by the Egg Nutrition Center.

Carbohydrate mouth rinse has no effects on behavioral or neuroelectric indices of cognition

Rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate solution has been suggested as a means to enhance aspects of both physical and cognitive performance. However, evidence in support of these assertions is relatively weak. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a carbohydrate mouth rinse solution on motor speed, inhibition, and sustained attention as indexed by both behavioral and neuroelectric measures. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subjects crossover design, 50 college-aged young adults performed a battery of cognitive tasks both before and after rinsing their mouth for 10 s with 20 mL of either a carbohydrate mouth rinse solution or a sensory-matched placebo control solution. A simple tapping task was used as a measure of motor speed, a modified Eriksen flanker task was used to index inhibition, and a rapid visual information processing task was used as a measure of sustained attention. Participants demonstrated longer reaction times in the Flanker task after rinsing their mouths with the carbohydrate mouth rinse, relative to pretest. No differences in reaction time were observed for the placebo control condition. P3 latency in the Flanker task as an index of attentional processing speed was shorter at posttest than at pretest in the placebo control – but not the carbohydrate mouth rinse – condition. These results suggest that despite claims of cognitive enhancement, carbohydrate mouth rinses do not appear to alter motor speed, inhibition, or sustained attention as compared to a placebo control in non-physically-fatigued college-aged adults.

Parsing the Flanker task to reveal behavioral and oscillatory correlates of unattended conflict interference

Stimulus-Response conflict is generated by an overlap between stimulus and response dimensions, but the intrinsic nature of this interaction is not yet deeply clarified. In this study, using a modified Eriksen flanker task, we have investigated how flankers have to be incongruent to target in order to produce an interference and whether and how this interference interacts with the one produced by Stimulus features overlap. To these aims, an Eriksen-like task employing oriented hands\\arrows has been designed to distinguish between two types of Stimulus-Response (S-R) interferences: one derived by a short-term association and one based on automatic processes. Stimulus-Stimulus (S-S) conflict has been also included in the same factorial design. Behavioral, Event Related Potential (ERP) and oscillatory activity data have been measured. Results revealed distinct S-S and automatic S-R effects on behavioral performance. ERP and Theta band power modulation results suggested an early frontal S-S conflict processing followed by a posterior simultaneous S-S and automatic S-R conflict processing. These findings provide evidence that, in presence of different conflicts, the sequence of stimulus identification and response selection could not move forward in a linear serial direction, but it may involve further effort, mirrored in posterior late components and response time prolongation.

Temporal Dynamics of Varying Physical Loads on Speed and Accuracy of Cognitive Control.

The present study examined the effect of 4 physical-load conditions on interference control throughout a period of 45min. A sample of 52 sport students was assigned to either a no, a low, an alternating low to moderate, or a moderate physical-load condition. A modified Eriksen-flanker task was administered in the preexercise period, 7 times during the exercise, and twice after completing the exercise. Significant interaction effects of time and condition, and significant time effects within condition on the reaction time of congruent stimuli and errors on incongruent stimuli, suggest a specific in-task effect of the alternating low to moderate and moderate physical-load conditions. Thus, it was concluded that moderate physiological arousal influences interference control by an increase of information-processing speed in tasks that require less cognitive control (congruent condition), which is at the expense of accuracy in cognitively more demanding tasks (incongruent condition).

Skin and Macular Carotenoids and Their Implications for Cognitive Control and Achievement in Children (OR05-08-19)

ObjectivesCarotenoids are plant pigments that accumulate across several tissues including the macula and skin. However, the relationship between carotenoid deposition in retina and skin is unknown in children. Understanding these interrelationships is important, given that evidence indicates that carotenoid status is a marker of cognitive health in childhood. Importantly, the selectivity of cognitive function to carotenoids in different tissues remains understudied. The present work investigated associations between retinal and skin carotenoids and their implications for children’s cognitive function and achievement. MethodsChildren 7–12 years old (N = 50) participated in the study. Retinal carotenoid status, i.e., macular pigment optical density (MPOD), was assessed using heterochromatic flicker photometry. Skin carotenoids were assessed using reflection spectroscopy at the fingertip using the Veggiemeter. Academic achievement was assessed using the Woodcock Johnson IV test and a modified Eriksen flanker task to assess children’s ability for selective attention or interference control. ResultsThere was a significant positive correlation between skin and retinal carotenoid levels (rs = 0.29, P = 0.02). Skin carotenoids were positively related to reading (rs = 0.42, P = 0.001) and math scores (rs = 0.34, P = 0.009). However, skin carotenoids were not significantly related to flanker interference scores (p’s > 0.05). On the other hand, MPOD was positively related to reading (rs = 0.25, P = 0.04) but not math (rs = 0.12, P = 0.20). Further, MPOD was inversely related to flanker interference scores for reaction time (rs = –0.29, P = 0.02) and accuracy (rs = –0.28, P = 0.03), indicating that children with higher retinal carotenoids exhibited superior ability to maintain cognitive control performance when faced with greater task demands. ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that carotenoid levels in skin and retina are correlated in children. These findings further suggest that carotenoid status in children is associated with cognition, perhaps selectively across site of accumulation and cognitive domains. Funding SourcesThis work was supported by funds provided by the Egg Nutrition Center.