Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study
Abstract Introduction Many goal‐directed and spontaneous everyday activities (e.g., planning, mind wandering) rely on an internal focus of attention. Internally directed cognition (IDC) was shown to differ from externally directed cognition in a range of neurophysiological indicators such as electro...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1790 |
| _version_ | 1819238024166244352 |
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| author | Simon Majed Ceh Sonja Annerer‐Walcher Christof Körner Christian Rominger Silvia Erika Kober Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek |
| author_facet | Simon Majed Ceh Sonja Annerer‐Walcher Christof Körner Christian Rominger Silvia Erika Kober Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek |
| author_sort | Simon Majed Ceh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Many goal‐directed and spontaneous everyday activities (e.g., planning, mind wandering) rely on an internal focus of attention. Internally directed cognition (IDC) was shown to differ from externally directed cognition in a range of neurophysiological indicators such as electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha activity and eye behavior. Methods In this EEG–eye‐tracking coregistration study, we investigated effects of attention direction on EEG alpha activity and various relevant eye parameters. We used an established paradigm to manipulate internal attention demands in the visual domain within tasks by means of conditional stimulus masking. Results Consistent with previous research, IDC involved relatively higher EEG alpha activity (lower alpha desynchronization) at posterior cortical sites. Moreover, IDC was characterized by greater pupil diameter (PD), fewer microsaccades, fixations, and saccades. These findings show that internal versus external cognition is associated with robust differences in several indicators at the neural and perceptual level. In a second line of analysis, we explored the intrinsic temporal covariation between EEG alpha activity and eye parameters during rest. This analysis revealed a positive correlation of EEG alpha power with PD especially in bilateral parieto‐occipital regions. Conclusion Together, these findings suggest that EEG alpha activity and PD represent time‐sensitive indicators of internal attention demands, which may be involved in a neurophysiological gating mechanism serving to shield internal cognition from irrelevant sensory information. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:29:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-08fda992daa24fa1ac8d9805b7837174 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T13:29:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-08fda992daa24fa1ac8d9805b78371742022-12-21T17:45:12ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792020-10-011010n/an/a10.1002/brb3.1790Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration studySimon Majed Ceh0Sonja Annerer‐Walcher1Christof Körner2Christian Rominger3Silvia Erika Kober4Andreas Fink5Mathias Benedek6Institute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaInstitute of Psychology University of Graz Graz AustriaAbstract Introduction Many goal‐directed and spontaneous everyday activities (e.g., planning, mind wandering) rely on an internal focus of attention. Internally directed cognition (IDC) was shown to differ from externally directed cognition in a range of neurophysiological indicators such as electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha activity and eye behavior. Methods In this EEG–eye‐tracking coregistration study, we investigated effects of attention direction on EEG alpha activity and various relevant eye parameters. We used an established paradigm to manipulate internal attention demands in the visual domain within tasks by means of conditional stimulus masking. Results Consistent with previous research, IDC involved relatively higher EEG alpha activity (lower alpha desynchronization) at posterior cortical sites. Moreover, IDC was characterized by greater pupil diameter (PD), fewer microsaccades, fixations, and saccades. These findings show that internal versus external cognition is associated with robust differences in several indicators at the neural and perceptual level. In a second line of analysis, we explored the intrinsic temporal covariation between EEG alpha activity and eye parameters during rest. This analysis revealed a positive correlation of EEG alpha power with PD especially in bilateral parieto‐occipital regions. Conclusion Together, these findings suggest that EEG alpha activity and PD represent time‐sensitive indicators of internal attention demands, which may be involved in a neurophysiological gating mechanism serving to shield internal cognition from irrelevant sensory information.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1790divergent thinkingelectroencephalographyeye trackinginternal attention |
| spellingShingle | Simon Majed Ceh Sonja Annerer‐Walcher Christof Körner Christian Rominger Silvia Erika Kober Andreas Fink Mathias Benedek Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study Brain and Behavior divergent thinking electroencephalography eye tracking internal attention |
| title | Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study |
| title_full | Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study |
| title_fullStr | Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study |
| title_short | Neurophysiological indicators of internal attention: An electroencephalography–eye‐tracking coregistration study |
| title_sort | neurophysiological indicators of internal attention an electroencephalography eye tracking coregistration study |
| topic | divergent thinking electroencephalography eye tracking internal attention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1790 |
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