Inhibition Of Irrelevant Information Research Articles

Reward-modulated attention deployment is driven by suppression, not attentional capture

One driving factor for attention deployment towards a stimulus is its associated value due to previous experience and learning history. Previous visual search studies found that when looking for a target, distractors associated with higher reward produce more interference (e.g., longer response times). The present study investigated the neural mechanism of such value-driven attention deployment. Specifically, we were interested in which of the three attention sub-processes are responsible for the interference that was repeatedly observed behaviorally: enhancement of relevant information, attentional capture by irrelevant information, or suppression of irrelevant information. We replicated earlier findings showing longer response times and lower accuracy when a target competed with a high-reward compared to a low-reward distractor. We also found a spatial gradient of interference: behavioral performance dropped with increasing proximity to the target. This gradient was steeper for high- than low-reward distractors. Event-related potentials of the EEG signal showed the reason for the reward-induced attentional bias: High-reward distractors required more suppression than low-reward distractors as evident in larger Pd components. This effect was only found for distractors near targets, showing the additional filtering needs required for competing stimuli in close proximity. As a result, fewer attentional resources can be distributed to the target when it competes with a high-reward distractor, as evident in a smaller target-N2pc amplitude. The distractor-N2pc, indicative of attentional capture, was neither affected by distance nor reward, showing that attentional capture alone cannot explain interference by stimuli of high value. In sum our results show that the higher need for suppression of high-value stimuli contributes to reward-modulated attention deployment and increased suppression can prevent attentional capture of high-value stimuli.

Internal Representations Are Prioritized by Frontoparietal Theta Connectivity and Suppressed by alpha Oscillation Dynamics: Evidence from Concurrent Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation EEG and Invasive EEG.

Control over internal representations requires the prioritization of relevant information and suppression of irrelevant information. The frontoparietal network exhibits prominent neural oscillations during these distinct cognitive processes. Yet, the causal role of this network-scale activity is unclear. Here, we targeted theta-frequency frontoparietal coherence and dynamic alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex using online rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in women and men while they prioritized or suppressed internally maintained working memory (WM) representations. Using concurrent high-density EEG, we provided evidence that we acutely drove the targeted neural oscillation and TMS improved WM capacity only when the evoked activity corresponded with the desired cognitive process. To suppress an internal representation, we increased the amplitude of lateralized alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex contralateral to the irrelevant visual field. For prioritization, we found that TMS to the prefrontal cortex increased theta-frequency connectivity in the prefrontoparietal network contralateral to the relevant visual field. To understand the spatial specificity of these effects, we administered the WM task to participants with implanted electrodes. We found that theta connectivity during prioritization was directed from the lateral prefrontal to the superior posterior parietal cortex. Together, these findings provide causal evidence in support of a model where a frontoparietal theta network prioritizes internally maintained representations and alpha oscillations in the posterior parietal cortex suppress irrelevant representations.

Differences in the duration of the attentional blink when viewing nature vs. urban scenes.

The current study examined how viewing nature vs. urban scenes impacts the duration of the attentional blink. Nature scenes produce a broader allocation of attention, allowing attention to spread and reduce the ability to disengage attention. Urban scenes produce a narrowed allocation of attention, allowing efficient encoding of relevant information, inhibition of irrelevant information and a speedier disengagement of attention. Participants viewed a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of either nature or urban scenes. For both scene categories, an attentional blink was evident by reduced accuracy for reporting a second target that occurred two or three scenes after an accurately reported first target. However, the duration of the attentional blink was reduced for urban scenes compared with nature scenes. A peripheral target detection task confirmed a difference in the allocation of attention between scene categories. The peripheral targets were better detected for nature scenes, suggesting that participants have a broader spread of attention for nature scenes, even in an RSVP task. The shorter duration of the attentional blink for urban scenes was consistent across four experiments with small and large sets of urban and nature scenes. Therefore, urban scenes reliably reduce the attentional blink duration compared with nature scenes, and this could be attributed to a narrowed attention allocation that allows speedier disengagement of attention in an RSVP.

Causal evidence for distinct mechanisms of prioritization and suppression in the control of working memory

Abstract Working memory requires maintenance of relevant information and suppression of irrelevant information. Our previous study administered rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to anterior middle frontal gyrus and inferior intraparietal sulcus and found causal evidence for posterior alpha oscillations and anterior theta oscillation in the control over working memory. However, this previous study did not measure neural oscillations using electrophysiology. To investigate the specific neural mechanism for prioritization and suppression, we conducted a pre-registered four-session experiment with 47 participants that administered rhythmic TMS concurrent with electroencephalography (EEG) as participants performed a retro-cue working memory task. Rhythmic TMS was personalized to the peak frequency of theta and alpha oscillatory activity to increase its efficacy. Our baseline analysis revealed the canonical alpha lateralization pattern in posterior cortex to a retro-cue that indicated which visual hemifield would be tested at probe. Alpha lateralization was positively correlated with the benefit to working memory capacity from the retro-cue. In addition, we found that theta-frequency functional connectivity between the left frontal and parietal cortex increased to the retro-cue. During the stimulation sessions, we found evidence of target engagement such that theta-frequency TMS to frontal cortex and alpha-frequency TMS to parietal cortex successfully increased the amplitude of the targeted oscillation. We replicated our previous behavioral interaction between site and frequency such that rhythmic TMS improved working memory capacity when matched to endogenous activity. Finally, alpha-frequency TMS increased posterior alpha lateralization and theta-frequency TMS increased frontal-parietal theta-connectivity. Altogether, these results provide causal evidence for a model in which alpha lateralization supports suppression and frontal-parietal theta-connectivity supports prioritization. Keywords: Working memory, Rhythmic TMS, Concurrent TMS-EEG, Functional Connectivity

The Attentional Blink when viewing Natural vs. Urban Scenes

The current study aimed to identify how the allocation of attention when viewing natural vs. urban scenes impacts the attentional blink. Previous research has found that natural scenes produce a broader allocation of attention, allowing attention to spread across an image and potentially use less cognitive resources. Urban scenes, on the other hand, produce a narrowed allocation of attention, potentially allowing more efficient encoding of relevant information and inhibition of irrelevant information. Participants in Experiment 1 viewed a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) of 16 images from either a natural or urban scene category, where two target scenes were in color and the rest of the scenes were in greyscale. An attentional blink was evident by reduced accuracy for reporting a second target that occurred two or three scenes after the first, given that the first target was accurately reported. The attentional blink was reduced for urban scenes compared to natural scenes, suggesting that the difference in scene type contributes to more efficient allocation of attention for urban scenes. To test whether this difference in the size of the attentional blink is accompanied by a difference in spread of attention between scene types, Experiment 2 used a similar RSVP task to Experiment 1 but added a peripheral target detection task. A black dot was placed around the corner of some of the images and participants reported at the end of each trial if a dot was present or not. Dots were better detected for natural scene trials, suggesting that participants have a broader spread of attention for natural scenes. The current results suggest that urban scenes lead to a narrowed attention allocation that allowed participants to more efficiently prioritize and identify targets compared to a broad spread of attention when viewing natural scenes.

Cognitive Control, Cognitive Biases and Emotion Regulation in Depression: A New Proposal for an Integrative Interplay Model.

Research traditions on cognition and depression focus on relatively unconnected aspects of cognitive functioning. On one hand, the neuropsychological perspective has concentrated on cognitive control difficulties as a prominent feature of this condition. On the other hand, the clinical psychology perspective has focused on cognitive biases and repetitive negative patterns of thinking (i.e., rumination) for emotional information. A review of the literature from both fields reveals that difficulties are more evident for mood-congruent materials, suggesting that cognitive control difficulties interact with cognitive biases to hinder cognitive switching, working memory updating, and inhibition of irrelevant information. Connecting research from these two traditions, we propose a novel integrative cognitive model of depression in which the interplay between mood-congruent cognitive control difficulties, cognitive biases, and rumination may ultimately lead to ineffective emotion-regulation strategies to downregulate negative mood and upregulate positive mood.

The brain functional bases of field-dependent/field-independent cognitive styles and creative thinking

Cognitive styles refer to the habitualized behavior patterns of individuals in perceiving, learning, thinking, problem-solving, and interacting with others. They affect how individuals perceive the environment from which they receive information, how they organize and interpret this information, and how they use these explanations to guide their behavior. A concrete manifestation of individual creativity is creative thinking, and the core is divergent thinking, which refers to the production of diversified and huge output from a given information. Several studies have shown that cognitive styles have an important impact on an individuals’ creative thinking. Field dependence/independence (FDI) is the most common dimension in current studies, and most studies believe that field-independent (FI) individuals have higher creativity than field-dependent (FD) individuals. There are relatively few studies of the brain functional connection between FDI cognitive styles and creativity. In this study, we assessed FDI cognitive styles using the Embedded Figures Test and creative thinking using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking in a sample of 414 healthy college students. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to test the degree centrality (DC). First, the resting state brain image of each subject was scanned. Second, the DC was calculated and regressed with creative thinking. Finally, the mediating effect analysis was conducted on the brain regions obtained, FDI cognitive styles, and creative thinking. Behavioral results showed that cognitive styles are significantly correlated with originality, flexibility, fluency and the total score of creativity, which were consistent with the existing research conclusions. The fMRI results showed that creative thinking was positively related to the right superior temporal gyrus (rSTG), right anterior cingulate cortex (rACC), left superior temporal gyrus (lSTG), right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG), and left putamen. Importantly, the rACC and rMFG partially mediated the relationship between FDI cognitive styles and creative thinking. FI cognitive style may be associated with better inhibition of irrelevant information and cognitive flexibility, which may recruit the rACC and rMFG. This study hypothesizes that FDI cognitive styles may have a partial path to affect creative thinking through cognitive control. This means that FI individuals may have higher cognitive flexibility, better cognitive control, and greater ability to exclude irrelevant information and focus attention, thus perform better in creative thinking tests. Therefore, these findings offer new empirical evidence for a better understanding of the relationship between FDI cognitive styles and cognitive thinking. This study may have some useful implications; FDI cognitive styles may affect creative thinking through the brain areas of cognitive control. In the future, researchers could train individuals on their cognitive control ability and improve the brain functional connection, thus enhancing creative thinking scores.

Impaired disengagement of attention from computer-related stimuli in Internet Gaming Disorder: Behavioral and electrophysiological evidence.

Background and aims: Attentional biases contribute to the maintenance of addictive behaviors. For the problematic use of online gaming – recognized as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) – first evidence points to a bias towards in-game stimuli. This study aimed to provide behavioral and electrophysiological evidence for a generalized bias towards computer-related stimuli, and to identify the specific attentional processes contributing to this bias: facilitated attention deployment, impaired disengagement or failed suppression. Method: Twenty participants with IGD and 23 casual gamers performed a visual search task with photographs of real-world objects. Either the target or a to-be-ignored distractor was addiction-relevant (computer-related), whereas all other items were addiction-irrelevant (related to cars or sport). Event-related potential components associated with facilitated attentional deployment to the target (NT), its post-selection processing (SPCN), and suppression of irrelevant information (PD) were analyzed. Results: Unlike casual gamers, gamers with IGD exhibited prolonged reaction times and increased SPCN amplitudes for computer-related stimuli, reflecting their continued attentional processing. At the individual level, larger SPCN amplitudes were associated with longer delays in reaction time. Discussion and Conclusions: This pattern of results indicates that the disengagement of attention from computer-related stimuli is impaired in IGD. More generally, our findings demonstrate that conditioning processes occur in IGD, and thus open up new avenues for treatment.

EEG Measures of Value-Directed Strategic Processing in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Value-directed strategic processing is important for daily functioning. It allows selective processing of important information and inhibition of irrelevant information. This ability is relatively preserved in normal cognitive aging, but it is unclear if mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects strategic processing and its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. The current study examined behavioral and EEG spectral power differences between 16 cognitively normal older adults (CNOA; mean age: 74.5 ± 4.0 years) and 16 individuals with MCI (mean age: 77.1 ± 4.3 years) linked to a value-directed strategic processing task. The task used five unique word lists where words were assigned high- or low-value based on letter case and were presented sequentially while EEG was recorded. Participants were instructed to recall as many words as possible after each list to maximize their score. Results revealed no group differences in recall of low-value words, but individuals with MCI recalled significantly fewer high-value words and total number of words relative to CNOA. Group differences were observed in theta and alpha bands for low-value words, with greater synchronized theta power for CNOA than MCI and greater desynchronized alpha power for MCI than CNOA. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that more effortful neural processing of low-value words in the MCI group, relative to the CNOA group, allowed them to match their behavioral performance to the CNOA group. Individuals with MCI appear to utilize more cognitive resources to inhibit low-value information and might show memory-related benefits if taught strategies to focus on high-value information processing.

Causal Evidence for a Role of Theta and Alpha Oscillations in the Control of Working Memory.

Working memory (WM) relies on the prioritization of relevant information and suppression of irrelevant information [1, 2]. Prioritizing relevant information has been linked to theta frequency neural oscillations in lateral prefrontal cortex and suppressing irrelevant information has been linked to alpha oscillations in occipito-parietal cortex [3,11]. Here, we used a retrospective-cue WM paradigm to manipulate prioritization and suppression task demands designed to drive theta oscillations in prefrontal cortex and alpha oscillations in parietal cortex, respectively. To causally test the role of these neural oscillations, we applied rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in either theta or alpha frequency to prefrontal and parietal regions identified using functional MRI. The effect of rhythmic TMS on WM performance was dependent on whether the TMS frequency matched or mismatched the expected underlying task-driven oscillations of the targeted region. Functional MRI in the targeted regions predicted subsequent TMS effects across subjects supporting a model by which theta oscillations are excitatory to neural activity, and alpha oscillations are inhibitory. Together, these results causally establish dissociable roles for prefrontal theta oscillations and parietal alpha oscillations in the control of internally maintained WM representations.

TACS Stimulation at Alpha Frequency Selectively Induces Inattentional Blindness.

Contemporary neurocognitive models implicate alpha oscillations as a top-down mechanism of cortical inhibition, instrumental in the suppression of information that fails to reach conscious visual awareness. This suggests that alpha-band activity may play a key role in the phenomenon of inattentional blindness, however this has not yet been empirically examined. The current study employed transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over occipital cortex at alpha, theta, and sham frequencies within an inattentional blindness task to delineate whether an exogenous manipulation of alpha oscillations has a modulatory effect on visual awareness of the unexpected stimulus. Results revealed that compared to theta and sham, those exposed to alpha tACS were more likely to be inattentionally blind to the unexpected stimulus. Findings extend current theoretical views of alpha by suggesting inattentional blindness may be explained as a suppression of irrelevant information via alpha-band.

Self‐reported cognitive difficulties and cognitive functioning in relation to emotional exhaustion: Evidence from two studies

Individuals with burnout often report having difficulties with concentration and memory in everyday life. However, empirical evidence on cognitive decline using performance-based measures is limited and often obtained on small clinical samples. The aim of the present two studies was to investigate cognitive correlates of emotional exhaustion on otherwise healthy populations at different life stages with varying degrees of burnout. A total of 201 graduate and undergraduate students participated in Study 1, and a heterogeneous sample (N = 203) of working individuals took part in Study 2. Cognitive performance was assessed by self-reported cognitive difficulties and three performance-based cognitive tests of sustained attention, inhibition of irrelevant information, and inhibition of prepotent responses. Controlling for gender, age, and depression symptoms, multiple regression analyses in Study 1 indicated a positive relationship between emotional exhaustion and self-reported cognitive difficulties but no correlation with the performance-based cognitive measures. A similar pattern of results emerged in Study 2. However, we found tentative evidence for cognitive impairment on the sustained attention measure. The results of these two studies partially support previous findings and extend the literature on cognitive aspects of burnout.

Neural Evidence for the Contribution of Active Suppression During Working Memory Filtering.

In order to efficiently process incoming visual information, selective attention acts as a filter that enhances relevant and suppresses irrelevant information. In this study, we used an event-related potential (ERP) approach with systematic lateralization to investigate enhancement and suppression during encoding of information into visual working memory (WM) separately. We used a change detection task in which observers had to memorize some items while ignoring other items. We found that the to-be-ignored items elicited a PD component in the ERP, suggesting that irrelevant information is actively suppressed from WM. The PD amplitude increased with distractor load and decreased with the ability to group distractors according to Gestalt principles. This suggests that the PD can be used as an indicator of how efficiently items can be suppressed from entering WM. Furthermore, while lateral memory-targets elicited a "traditional" CDA (starting ~300 ms), lateral memory-distractors elicited a sustained positivity contralateral to memory-distractors (CDAp, starting ~400 ms). In sum the results suggest that inhibition of irrelevant information is an important factor for efficient WM and is reflected in spontaneous (PD) and sustained suppression (CDAp).

The Aging Factor in Presupposition Processing

The Aging Factor in Presupposition Processing

The role of inhibition for working memory processes: ERP evidence from a short-term storage task.

Human working memory is the central unit for short-term storage of information. In addition to the selection and adequate storage of relevant information, the suppression of irrelevant stimuli from the environment seems to be of importance for working memory processes. To learn more about the interplay of information uptake and inhibition of irrelevant information, the present study used ERP measures and a short-term storage and retrieval task, in which pairs of either numbers or letters had to be compared. Random sequences of four stimuli (two numbers and two letters) were presented, with either the numbers or the letters being relevant for comparison. The analysis of ERPs to each of the four stimuli indicated more pronounced P2 and P3b amplitudes for relevant than irrelevant stimuli. In contrast, the N2 (reflecting inhibitory control) was only elicited by irrelevant stimuli. Moreover, the N2 amplitude of the second irrelevant stimulus was associated with behavioral performance, indicating the importance of inhibition of task-irrelevant stimuli for working memory processes. In sum, the findings demonstrate the role of cognitive control mechanisms for protecting relevant contents in working memory against irrelevant information.

Suppression of irrelevant information from working memory is reflected in the PD and CDAp components of the EEG

Suppression of irrelevant information from working memory is reflected in the PD and CDAp components of the EEG

Selective Attention and Intelligence: The Efficient Management of Working Memory

Previous research has supported the fact that inhibition of irrelevant information plays a role not only in discourse but also in reasoning, suggesting that inhibition processes may be important to efficient cognitive functioning on a wide variety of intellectual tasks. The current review focused on several key issues surrounding attention, working memory and intelligence. First, previous research on attention and intelligence was examined. Next working memory (Baddeley, 1986; 1990) and its relationship with reasoning ability was discussed. Finally, negative priming was proposed as a mechanism that regulates working memory capacity.

P127 A combined EEG and alpha tACS study on visual working memory in healthy ageing

Visual working Memory abilities (VWM) are known to diminish in healthy ageing (Brockmole et al., 2013), but the nature of this deterioration is still not well understood. A recent line of research has suggested that an impaired top-down suppression of irrelevant information (i.e. inhibitory abilities) might explain this decline (Gazzaley et al., 2005, 2007). Electrophysiologically, impoverished inhibitory abilities have been linked to alpha band oscillations (8–12 Hz, Klimesch et al., 2007), which is also known to be diminished in elderly (Ho et al., 2012). This therefore suggests a possible causal link between alpha oscillations and age-related VWM abilities difficulties. In this study, we sought to provide behavioural evidence of the causal role of alpha power oscillations in supporting inhibitory control in VWM. Specifically, using Alpha-power brain stimulation (tACS) we tested: (1) behaviourally, whether inhibitory abilities can be ameliorated in ageing, and (2) electrophysiologically (with EEG) the duration of any alpha-tACS after effects. Methods Nineteen healthy ageing participants were tested on two different days with a VWM retro-cueing paradigm (Yoni et al., 2009) which assesses VWM precision and the ability to ignore task-irrelevant stimuli. The retro-cueing task was coupled with EEG before and after participants received either 10 Hz parietal (P3 and P4) alpha-tACS or sham (in different sessions counterbalanced across all participants) while performing the same task. Results Relative to sham, Alpha-tACS modulated participants’ ability to ignore task-irrelevant stimuli, an improvement maintained for 6–10 min during the following EEG recording. This change corresponded to a significant positive correlation with the absolute amplitude of the N200 peak recorded at a left parietal site (P3). Conclusions Inhibitory control abilities in VWM are causally linked to alpha frequency in healthy ageing participants who become better at suppressing task-irrelevant stimuli following Alpha-tACS0. The improved performance positively correlated with the absolute amplitude of N2 component at the P3. This effect may correspond to increased attentional resources directed to a stimulus, due to Alpha inhibiting the allocation of attentional resources to distracting stimuli.

Structural and functional changes related to memory deficit in non-demential elderly individuals

Objective: Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), verify the structural and functional changes related to memory deficits in non-demented elderly individuals in comparison with young adults. Methodology: Proceeded a systematic review based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) fluxogram. The search was done on PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO databases using JabRef 2.10, and Web of Science. It was included in the analysis quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies published between 2005 and 2014 in national and international indexed periodicals that had as sample: non-demented individuals older than 60 years old, who were submitted to MRI investigation of their for any brain structural and functional changes associated with memory deficits, identified in neuropsychologicals tests. Results: About the imaging technique, we reviewed studies that used structural MRIs (two articles), functional MRIs (six articles), both techniques (four articles). In the 12 studies, 38 distinct neuropsychological tests were used, an average of five different tests for each study (variation of 1-12). The most used tests were WAIS Digit Span Backwards (seven articles), Trail Making Test A and B (four articles) and Wechsler Memory Scale (four articles). Conclusion: The review showed that in normal aging the parahippocampal white substance, the hippocampus volume and entorhinal cortex slightly shrink, causing verbal memory reduction, possibly due to fiber demyelination; reduced connections between temporal and frontal lobes contributing to an impairement of episodic, working memory and verbal fluency; reduction suppression of irrelevant information, affecting the register of information; changes on frontal and parietal areas, compromising recognition memory; modifications in activity and connectivity of the default mode network; reorganization of cognitive functions and also a slower response, probably due to reduction of pre-frontal cortex activation

Executive Functions and the Improvement of Thinking Abilities: The Intervention in Reading Comprehension.

In this paper, we propose a preliminary theory of executive functions that address in a specific way their relationship with working memory (WM) and higher-level cognition. It includes: (a) four core on-line WM executive functions that are involved in every novel and complex cognitive task; (b) two higher order off-line executive functions, planning and revision, that are required to resolving the most complex intellectual abilities; and (c) emotional control that is involved in any complex, novel and difficult task. The main assumption is that efficiency on thinking abilities may be improved by specific instruction or training on the executive functions necessary to solving novel and complex tasks involved in these abilities. Evidence for the impact of our training proposal on WM's executive functions involved in higher-level cognitive abilities comes from three studies applying an adaptive program designed to improve reading comprehension in primary school students by boosting the core WM's executive functions involved in it: focusing on relevant information, switching (or shifting) between representations or tasks, connecting incoming information from text with long-term representations, updating of the semantic representation of the text in WM, and inhibition of irrelevant information. The results are consistent with the assumption that cognitive enhancements from the training intervention may have affected not only a specific but also a more domain-general mechanism involved in various executive functions. We discuss some methodological issues in the studies of effects of WM training on reading comprehension. The perspectives and limitations of our approach are finally discussed.