06_Attention_B55_02

Lecture Objectives

• Distinguish between early and late selection theories of attention.

• Conceptualize evidence gathering for these theories using neuroimaging techniques.

• Distinguish the roles of the attentional and default mode networks.

• Explain the face/house paradigm for studying attentional modulation via fMRI and EEG, especially in aging adults.

• Articulate how frontal lobe damage may increase distractibility.

• Identify the importance of attention in the Stroop task.

• Describe mental tasks that engage the default network and their dysfunction arising effects.

• Identify target features in an introduction and develop a schema for content analysis.

The Breadth of Attention

• William James (1842-1910): Attention takes possession of one thought while withdrawing from others, implying focalization and concentration.

• Key Questions: How and when does attention affect processing? Where does the information processing limit get implemented?

Filter Theories of Attention

• Filter Theory (Broadbent, 1958): Explains how early selection models cope with excessive information.

  • Early-Selection Model: Suggests that attentional filtering occurs at the sensory input stage, modulating what information is processed.

Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)

• Electroencephalography (EEG): Useful for studying attentional processing.

  • P1 Component: Occurs approximately 100 ms after stimulus presentation; linked to visual processing, originates from extrastriate cortex.

  • N1 Component: Occurs between 150-200 ms; associated with visual processing; found across multiple recording sites.

Visual and Auditory Support for Filter Theory

• Studies: Hillyard & Annlo-Vento (1998) and Hillyard et al. (1973) explored early-selection models.

• Late-Selection Model: Explains processing through the attenuation theory (Treisman, 1964) to address challenges like the cocktail party effect.

Attentional Networks

• Subtraction Method: [Active Attentional Task] - [Taking a Mental Break] reveals components of the attentional network.

  • Central Executive (CE): Controls attention; significant for understanding network functionality.

  • Default Mode Network (DMN): Active during rest, provides insight into attentional shifts.

Manipulating Attention Focus

• Posner’s Spatial Cueing Paradigm explores how cues direct attention, indicating goal-directed attentional processing methods.

Goal-Directed Attentional Processing Evidence

• Study Insights: Gazzaley et al. (2005) demonstrate brain activity variations during attentional tasks for faces and places.

• Activity Increase in the Frontal Lobe: Observed in individuals with frontal lobe damage, leading to increased distractibility and processing demands.

Functional Connectivity and DMN Research

• Increasing interest in the DMN's role across various mental functions has prompted detailed investigations into its degradation in conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.

Understanding Introductions in Academic Papers

• Goals of an Introduction: 1) Set context; 2) Identify knowledge gaps; 3) Describe current study's contributions; 4) Propose hypotheses.

• Navigating Introductions: Break down each paragraph for comprehension, synthesize key ideas in notes, focus on core arguments.

Tips for Effective Reading

• Take it one paragraph at a time, summarize each to ensure understanding.

• Pay attention to the active role of the prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in learning and retrieving information.

• Explore examples of research studies to strengthen understanding and effective application of conceptual knowledge.