The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study
Visual attention can be guided by statistical regularities in the environment, that people implicitly learn from past experiences (statistical learning, SL). Moreover, a perceptually salient element can automatically capture attention, gaining processing priority through a bottom-up attentional cont...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | NeuroImage |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924000090 |
| _version_ | 1797349455267102720 |
|---|---|
| author | Carola Dolci Einat Rashal Elisa Santandrea Suliann Ben Hamed Leonardo Chelazzi Emiliano Macaluso C. Nico Boehler |
| author_facet | Carola Dolci Einat Rashal Elisa Santandrea Suliann Ben Hamed Leonardo Chelazzi Emiliano Macaluso C. Nico Boehler |
| author_sort | Carola Dolci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Visual attention can be guided by statistical regularities in the environment, that people implicitly learn from past experiences (statistical learning, SL). Moreover, a perceptually salient element can automatically capture attention, gaining processing priority through a bottom-up attentional control mechanism. The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics of SL and if it shapes attentional target selection additively with salience processing, or whether these mechanisms interact, e.g. one gates the other. In a visual search task, we therefore manipulated target frequency (high vs. low) across locations while, in some trials, the target was salient in terms of colour. Additionally, halfway through the experiment, the high-frequency location changed to the opposite hemifield. EEG activity was simultaneously recorded, with a specific interest in two markers related to target selection and post-selection processing, respectively: N2pc and SPCN. Our results revealed that both SL and saliency significantly enhanced behavioural performance, but also interacted with each other, with an attenuated saliency effect at the high-frequency target location, and a smaller SL effect for salient targets. Concerning processing dynamics, the benefit of salience processing was more evident during the early stage of target selection and processing, as indexed by a larger N2pc and early-SPCN, whereas SL modulated the underlying neural activity particularly later on, as revealed by larger late-SPCN. Furthermore, we showed that SL was rapidly acquired and adjusted when the spatial imbalance changed. Overall, our findings suggest that SL is flexible to changes and, combined with salience processing, jointly contributes to establishing attentional priority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:30:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5a99ba12a7a4992a1129d814b330e08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1095-9572 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T12:30:29Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | NeuroImage |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5a99ba12a7a4992a1129d814b330e082024-01-22T04:15:42ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722024-02-01286120514The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG studyCarola Dolci0Einat Rashal1Elisa Santandrea2Suliann Ben Hamed3Leonardo Chelazzi4Emiliano Macaluso5C. Nico Boehler6Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; School of Psychology, Keele University, United KingdomDepartment of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, ItalyInstitut des Sciences Cognitives Marc-Jeannerod, UMR5229, CNRS, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, 1, Lyon, FranceDepartment of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie, 8, Verona 37134, ItalyCNRS, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, (CRNL), Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, U1028 UMR5292, IMPACT, Bron F-69500, FranceDepartment of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, BelgiumVisual attention can be guided by statistical regularities in the environment, that people implicitly learn from past experiences (statistical learning, SL). Moreover, a perceptually salient element can automatically capture attention, gaining processing priority through a bottom-up attentional control mechanism. The aim of our study was to investigate the dynamics of SL and if it shapes attentional target selection additively with salience processing, or whether these mechanisms interact, e.g. one gates the other. In a visual search task, we therefore manipulated target frequency (high vs. low) across locations while, in some trials, the target was salient in terms of colour. Additionally, halfway through the experiment, the high-frequency location changed to the opposite hemifield. EEG activity was simultaneously recorded, with a specific interest in two markers related to target selection and post-selection processing, respectively: N2pc and SPCN. Our results revealed that both SL and saliency significantly enhanced behavioural performance, but also interacted with each other, with an attenuated saliency effect at the high-frequency target location, and a smaller SL effect for salient targets. Concerning processing dynamics, the benefit of salience processing was more evident during the early stage of target selection and processing, as indexed by a larger N2pc and early-SPCN, whereas SL modulated the underlying neural activity particularly later on, as revealed by larger late-SPCN. Furthermore, we showed that SL was rapidly acquired and adjusted when the spatial imbalance changed. Overall, our findings suggest that SL is flexible to changes and, combined with salience processing, jointly contributes to establishing attentional priority.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924000090Visual attentionN2pcSPCNStatistical learningSalience processingSpatial priority map |
| spellingShingle | Carola Dolci Einat Rashal Elisa Santandrea Suliann Ben Hamed Leonardo Chelazzi Emiliano Macaluso C. Nico Boehler The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study NeuroImage Visual attention N2pc SPCN Statistical learning Salience processing Spatial priority map |
| title | The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study |
| title_full | The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study |
| title_fullStr | The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study |
| title_short | The dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing: An EEG study |
| title_sort | dynamics of statistical learning in visual search and its interaction with salience processing an eeg study |
| topic | Visual attention N2pc SPCN Statistical learning Salience processing Spatial priority map |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924000090 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT caroladolci thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT einatrashal thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT elisasantandrea thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT suliannbenhamed thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT leonardochelazzi thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT emilianomacaluso thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT cnicoboehler thedynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT caroladolci dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT einatrashal dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT elisasantandrea dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT suliannbenhamed dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT leonardochelazzi dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT emilianomacaluso dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy AT cnicoboehler dynamicsofstatisticallearninginvisualsearchanditsinteractionwithsalienceprocessinganeegstudy |