Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude
Abstract It is often necessary to modulate the difficulty of an experimental task without changing physical stimulus characteristics that are known to modulate event-related potentials. Here, we developed a new, oddball-like visual discrimination task with varying levels of difficulty despite using...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50857-z |
| _version_ | 1797350005423472640 |
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| author | Cindy Boetzel Heiko I. Stecher Florian H. Kasten Christoph S. Herrmann |
| author_facet | Cindy Boetzel Heiko I. Stecher Florian H. Kasten Christoph S. Herrmann |
| author_sort | Cindy Boetzel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract It is often necessary to modulate the difficulty of an experimental task without changing physical stimulus characteristics that are known to modulate event-related potentials. Here, we developed a new, oddball-like visual discrimination task with varying levels of difficulty despite using almost identical visual stimuli. Gabor patches of one orientation served as frequent standard stimuli with 75% probability. Gabor patches with a slightly different orientation served as infrequent target stimuli (25% probability). Analyzing the behavioral outcomes revealed a successful modulation of task difficulty, i.e. the hard condition revealed decreased d' values and longer reaction times for standard stimuli. In addition, we recorded MEG and computed event-related fields in response to the stimuli. In line with our expectation, the amplitude of the P3m was reduced in the hard condition. We localized the sources of the P3m with a focus on those that are modulated by changes in task difficulty. The sources of P3m modulation by difficulty were found primarily in the centro-parietal regions of both hemispheres. Additionally, we found significant differences in source activity between the easy and hard conditions in parts of the pre and post-central gyrus and inferior parietal lobe. Our findings are in line with previous research suggesting that the brain areas responsible for the conventional P3m generators also contribute to a modulation by task difficulty. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:38:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7dd78740e5aa451f812d61dca48636c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:38:32Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-7dd78740e5aa451f812d61dca48636c32024-01-21T12:17:48ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111210.1038/s41598-023-50857-zModulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitudeCindy Boetzel0Heiko I. Stecher1Florian H. Kasten2Christoph S. Herrmann3Experimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky UniversityExperimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky UniversityCentre de Recherche Cerveau and Cognition, CNRSExperimental Psychology Lab, Department of Psychology, European Medical School, Cluster for Excellence “Hearing for All”, Carl von Ossietzky UniversityAbstract It is often necessary to modulate the difficulty of an experimental task without changing physical stimulus characteristics that are known to modulate event-related potentials. Here, we developed a new, oddball-like visual discrimination task with varying levels of difficulty despite using almost identical visual stimuli. Gabor patches of one orientation served as frequent standard stimuli with 75% probability. Gabor patches with a slightly different orientation served as infrequent target stimuli (25% probability). Analyzing the behavioral outcomes revealed a successful modulation of task difficulty, i.e. the hard condition revealed decreased d' values and longer reaction times for standard stimuli. In addition, we recorded MEG and computed event-related fields in response to the stimuli. In line with our expectation, the amplitude of the P3m was reduced in the hard condition. We localized the sources of the P3m with a focus on those that are modulated by changes in task difficulty. The sources of P3m modulation by difficulty were found primarily in the centro-parietal regions of both hemispheres. Additionally, we found significant differences in source activity between the easy and hard conditions in parts of the pre and post-central gyrus and inferior parietal lobe. Our findings are in line with previous research suggesting that the brain areas responsible for the conventional P3m generators also contribute to a modulation by task difficulty.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50857-z |
| spellingShingle | Cindy Boetzel Heiko I. Stecher Florian H. Kasten Christoph S. Herrmann Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude Scientific Reports |
| title | Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude |
| title_full | Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude |
| title_fullStr | Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude |
| title_short | Modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball-like task and P3m amplitude |
| title_sort | modulating the difficulty of a visual oddball like task and p3m amplitude |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50857-z |
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