Posters: Attention I

Individual differences in attentional abilities provide an interesting approach in studying visual attention as well as the relation of attention to other psychometric measures. However, recent research has demonstrated that many tasks from experimental research are not suitable for individual differences research as they fail to capture these differences reliably. Here, we provide a test for individual differences in visual attention which relies on the multiple object tracking task (MOT). This test captures individual differences reliably in 6-15 minutes. Within the task, the participants have to maintain a set of targets (among identical distractors) across an interval of object motion. It captures the efficiency of attentional deployment. Importantly, this test was explicitly designed and tested for reliability under conditions that match those of most laboratory research (restricted sample of students, approximately n = 50). The test is free to use and runs fully under open source software. In order to facilitate the application of the test, we have translated it into 16 common languages (Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish). We hope that this MOT test supports researchers whose field of study requires capturing individual difference in visual attention reliably.

Previous studies have shown that temporal preparation facilitates the target selection in visual search. In two experiments, we investigated whether this selection benefit might be due to a change in the salience of stimuli. We required participants to search for a colour pop-out (the target) amongst homogenously coloured distractors. To manipulate temporal preparation, we employed a blocked foreperiod paradigm in which a warning signal precedes the search display by either a short or a long interval (high versus low temporal preparation, respectively). To manipulate the salience of the target, we varied the set-size within the search display (low versus high salience). In the first, behavioural experiment (N = 24), we observed a RT advantage in case of high temporal preparation and high target salience, but no interaction between the two factors. In the second, ERP experiment (N = 24), the target-evoked N2pc as an index of spatial selection revealed an interaction between temporal preparation and target salience. Specifically, we observed that the N2pc was enhanced by high temporal preparation, and this effect was stronger in the low salience condition than in the high salience condition. Based on the ERP results, we conclude that temporal preparation increases bottom-up salience of stimuli so that spatial selection of targets benefits especially from temporal preparation if the local feature contrast between the target and the surrounding stimuli is low.

Comprehending speech in a “cocktail-party” situation can be challenging especially for elderly adults. They experience stronger distraction by task-irrelevant stimuli compared to younger adults, for example when target speaker positions change. This is particularly important in attention reorientation and refocusing after distractions. We investigated the benefit of additional visual speech information in a dynamic “cocktail-party” paradigm. Older and younger participants were presented a forced-choice two-alternative discrimination task, in which they responded to target words spoken by one of three talkers in a horizontal array. Stimuli were displayed in three audio-visual conditions (still face, unspecific and congruent mouth movement). In the constant condition, targets were always displayed centrally. In the dynamic condition, targets were displayed centrally in standard (80%), but laterally shifted in deviant trials (20%). We analyzed behavioral performance and event-related brain potentials such as mismatch and reorienting negativity. We expected congruent audio-visual speech to offer the biggest benefits compared to the other conditions. Also, post-deviant reorientation should be easiest within this condition. Older participants should profit in particular. First results show the expected age-specific differences in audio-visual speech. They indicate a facilitated speech processing when congruent multimodal speech is presented. This benefit seems especially evident with a fixed talker position, although performance declines are most pronounced when the position switches. Hence, post-deviance distraction is stronger, however participants are able to restore their benefit. Summarizing, audio-visual speech indeed has a positive impact when attending a talker’s speech.

While some studies on mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) present beneficial effects on cognitive functions (e.g. Chiesa et al., 2011) others found no consistent effects (e.g. Anderson et al. 2007; Lao et al., 2016). One reason for the inconsistency of findings may be the great variation in procedures, research designs and absence of active or passive control conditions. Furthermore, processes which underly effects of even very short interventions (10 to 20 minutes; Brown et al., 2016; Ostafin & Kassman, 2009) are not clear, may not be specific to mindfulness training and may be attainable otherwise, such as through relaxation (Fell et al., 2010). Therefore, the current study compared the effects of a short-term mindfulness breathing meditation with progressive muscle relaxation (active control condition) and listening to podcasts (passive control condition). 78 participants were randomly assigned to one experimental condition and received interventions for 20 minutes, twice within 5 days. Measurements took place pre and post interventions. The research followed a 3 (experimental condition) x 2 (time of measurement) experimental design. We assessed components of executive functions and attentional networks with the Attention Network Task, Continuous Performance Task, n-Back and Number-Letter Task. Results were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling, which allowed for the inclusion of single-trial reaction-time data and for the investigation of differences in response patterns within and between individuals. Our results do not show systematic benefits of the mindfulness intervention beyond those of the relaxation training. Theoretical implications for models of mindfulness are discussed.

Empathy and Theory of Mind (ToM) are two core components of social understanding. The EmpaToM (Kanske et al., 2015) is a validated social video task that allows for independent manipulation and assessment of the two capacities in adults. First applications revealed that empathy and ToM are clearly dissociable constructs on a neuronal as well as on a behavioral level. As the EmpaToM has been designed for the assessment of social understanding in adults, it has a high degree of complexity and comprises issues that are inadequate for minors. Here, we present a new version of the EmpaToM that is especially suited to measure empathy and ToM in youths. In a first step, the EmpaToM-Y has been successfully validated on the original EmpaToM in an adult sample (N = 62). In a second step, it is assessed whether the EmpaToM-Y is an appropriate instrument to investigate social understanding in adolescent samples. In a group of 40 teenagers (14-18 years), the feasibility and validity of the new instrument is tested by adding standardized measures of ToM and empathy. Additionally, gaze behavior (Eye-Tracking) and electro-dermal activity (EDA) are recorded to collect physiological indicators of attention and arousal.

Recent publications argue that the assessment of attentional biases for threat is now in crisis as concerns had been raised about the reliability of the measures used. Here, we present our paradigm that provides an opportunity to measure both short term (e.g. orientation, attentional draw) and longer-term (e.g. executive attention, vigilance-avoidance) processes. Participants (N=40) saw a number matrix (numbers from 1 to 10) in the centre of the screen and an image either directly beside the matrix or on the periphery. Images could be neutral, moderately or highly threatening. The task was to find nr1 and then find the rest of the numbers in ascending order. We analysed reaction time (RT) and eye-movement measures relating to finding nr1 and the elapsed time between finding nr1 and nr10. Finding nr1 was faster as the threat level increased when the image was close to the matrix. When the image was on the periphery, RT was faster for moderately threatening stimuli compared to the other conditions. Regarding the overall search performance, participants were faster when images were presented on the periphery and there was an increase in search times as the threat level increased. Eye-movements showed that first fixation was relatively late for the images, which also increased with threat level. And the total amount of fixation decreased for the more threatening images. Overall, the paradigm could serve as an alternative for the classical ones. Further research should take covert and overt attention into account when discussing attentional biases.

Temporal expectations are predictions regarding events' timing, based on previously-experienced temporal regularities. In the absence of regularities, we can form predictions based on recent encounters with similar circumstances. Such predictions create the "sequential effect" – the effect of previous trial's timing on prediction regarding current target’s timing. Studies shown that reaction-time (RT), a marker that is modulated by response preparation, is enhanced when timing matched previous trial's, compared to a mismatch. However, it is not clear whether this effect stems from response preparation, or from perceptual enhancement due to temporal expectations. In this experiment we examined this question using pre-target oculomotor inhibition (OI) – a novel temporal expectation marker that is task independent and therefore is unaffected by response preparation. Twenty participants underwent a spatial-cueing task. In each trial, a cue (left/right) indicated in which hemifield target was more likely to appear. Following a varying interval (500-2100ms), target appeared briefly (33ms) at the cued (75% of trials) or opposite location. Upon stimulus detection, participants were instructed to quickly report the stimulus hemifield. RT and OI were analyzed using mixed-effect modeling to account for the n-1 trial's interval. Results indicated that both RT and OI showed a sequential effect: shorter n-1 trial interval lead to slower RT and more saccades compared to matched n-1 trial interval. This pattern indicates that sequential effect is not solely the result of response preparation but is also a consequence of perceptual preparation for the future target.

Human gaze behavior gives us insights into our personality. While previous studies showed a positive association of social attention and extraversion and a negative association with neuroticism our study aims to investigate differences in social gaze regarding varying amounts of displayed social information and personality. Using eye tracking technology (Tobii TX300), a total of 102 participants, Mage = 21,39 (Sd = 2,47), were observed while looking at a three-minute video of a walk through a well-attended shopping center in first person view. We defined dynamic socially relevant areas of interest, namely front view face, front view body and rear-view body of the people seen in the video and measured social attention as gaze duration on these areas. Moreover, we assessed BIG-5-personality using the NEO-FFI questionnaire. Results revealed a positive correlation between extraversion and the duration of looking at faces and front bodies, while neuroticism was adversely associated with both measures. Notably, this tendency was not the case for rear-view bodies. Consistent with previous studies we replicated findings concerning personality and social gaze and showed that the amount of social information, that a social stimulus poses seems to be a relevant factor. Further, the results are discussed regarding the theory of the dual function of social.

The Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) is a formalised mathematical theory which enables the estimation of performance parameters reflecting individual attentional abilities. Clinical TVA-based studies, hitherto, have mainly focused on selective groups of patients suffering from specific diseases. Here, we aimed to evaluate the usability of TVA-based whole (WR) and partial report (PR) paradigms as a diagnostic tool within a clinical-neurological routine context. Within a 3-month period, we tested 20 unselected patients and 20 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and education. They were recruited from the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital, Jena, Germany. Whole and partial report of brief letter arrays were used to assess TVA-based parameter estimates of attentional capacity and attentional weighting. Patients also received comprehensive neuropsychological testing in the domains of executive function, attention, working and episodic memory, language, and visuospatial functions. Patients and healthy control subjects differed significantly with respect to visual short term memory storage capacity and the visual threshold. Relationships between TVA-based parameter estimates and results obtained in the different neuropsychological domains were analysed. Also, specific patterns of TVA-based parameter estimates were identified in different diagnostic entities (e.g. Parkinson’s disease) which provide starting points for future research.

Sustaining attention for prolonged periods of time can lead to a decay in performance and an increase in subjective fatigue, labeled in the literature as Time-on-Task effect (ToT). However, previous studies showed that the ToT effect is reversible by increasing task rewards. In this study, we explored the link between reward-induced changes in task performance after prolonged performance of the psychomotor vigilance task and resting state functional connectivity (FC) obtained by fMRI. At the behavioral level, participants (n = 39) showed robust ToT effects indicated by slower reaction times and higher subjective fatigue but after reward manipulation, their performance significantly increased. At the neural level, we found that the magnitude of the ToT effect was negatively related to FC of the bilateral putamen and the cerebellum. In addition, graph theoretical analyses showed that the ToT effect was negatively correlated with global efficiency but positively correlated with clustering coefficient, both indicating that higher functional integrity predicts lower sensitivity to the detrimental effects of ToT. Critically, reward-induced improvements in performance were positively associated with the FC of the right lateral sensorimotor region with the right anterior insula, left anterior supramarginal gyrus, left intraparietal sulcus and left insular cortex. Our results suggest that the positive effects of reward manipulation on restoring one’s performance are associated with increased FC between brain areas involved in visual attention, perceptual-motor coordination and the processing of costs and punishments.

The contingent-capture hypothesis claims that stimuli sharing a feature with a searched-for target involuntarily capture visual attention, while non-matching stimuli do not. Per each target display, we presented four lines of different colors and orientations, each surrounded by a circle with a gap either at the top, bottom, left, or right. Participants reported the gap position via pressing the corresponding arrow key on a keyboard. The target was always the same color and orientation, and could be searched for by its color, its orientation, or both. We let participants learn to search for the target via trial and error. Therefore they received feedback (wrong or correct) after each response. We tested the used search criterion by pre-target cues. Pre-target cues appeared either at the same position as the target (valid) or at a different position (invalid), and either 1) matched the target color and orientation, 2) matched the target color only, 3) matched the target orientation only, or 4) did neither match target color nor orientation. All participants learned and used only the color to search for the target. In line with the contingent-capture hypothesis, both cues matching the target color elicited significant cueing effects (i.e., faster search times in valid than invalid trials) of similar magnitude (no significant difference). However, the cue matching the target orientation only did not elicit a cueing effect, just like the non-matching cue. Results indicate that not all target features were learned during search for targets.