Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model
What role does attention play in ensuring the temporal precision of visual perception? Behavioural studies have investigated feature selection and binding in time using fleeting sequences of stimuli in the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) paradigm, and found that temporal accuracy is reduced...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science
2011
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/64824 |
| _version_ | 1826200927797772288 |
|---|---|
| author | Chennu, Srivas Craston, Patrick Wyble, Brad Bowman, Howard |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Chennu, Srivas Craston, Patrick Wyble, Brad Bowman, Howard |
| author_sort | Chennu, Srivas |
| collection | MIT |
| description | What role does attention play in ensuring the temporal precision of visual perception? Behavioural studies have investigated feature selection and binding in time using fleeting sequences of stimuli in the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) paradigm, and found that temporal accuracy is reduced when attentional control is diminished. To reduce the efficacy of attentional deployment, these studies have employed the Attentional Blink (AB) phenomenon. In this article, we use electroencephalography (EEG) to directly investigate the temporal dynamics of conscious perception. Specifically, employing a combination of experimental analysis and neural network modelling, we test the hypothesis that the availability of attention reduces temporal jitter in the latency between a target's visual onset and its consolidation into working memory. We perform time-frequency analysis on data from an AB study to compare the EEG trials underlying the P3 ERPs (Event-related Potential) evoked by targets seen outside vs. inside the AB time window. We find visual differences in phase-sorted ERPimages and statistical differences in the variance of the P3 phase distributions. These results argue for increased variation in the latency of conscious perception during the AB. This experimental analysis is complemented by a theoretical exploration of temporal attention and target processing. Using activation traces from the Neural-ST2 [Neural - ST superscript 2] model, we generate virtual ERPs and virtual ERPimages. These are compared to their human counterparts to propose an explanation of how target consolidation in the context of the AB influences the temporal variability of selective attention. The AB provides us with a suitable phenomenon with which to investigate the interplay between attention and perception. The combination of experimental and theoretical elucidation in this article contributes to converging evidence for the notion that the AB reflects a reduction in the temporal acuity of selective attention and the timeliness of perception. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T11:43:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/64824 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T11:43:55Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/648242022-10-01T05:35:47Z Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the [Neural- ST superscript 2]Model Chennu, Srivas Craston, Patrick Wyble, Brad Bowman, Howard Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Wyble, Brad Wyble, Brad What role does attention play in ensuring the temporal precision of visual perception? Behavioural studies have investigated feature selection and binding in time using fleeting sequences of stimuli in the Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) paradigm, and found that temporal accuracy is reduced when attentional control is diminished. To reduce the efficacy of attentional deployment, these studies have employed the Attentional Blink (AB) phenomenon. In this article, we use electroencephalography (EEG) to directly investigate the temporal dynamics of conscious perception. Specifically, employing a combination of experimental analysis and neural network modelling, we test the hypothesis that the availability of attention reduces temporal jitter in the latency between a target's visual onset and its consolidation into working memory. We perform time-frequency analysis on data from an AB study to compare the EEG trials underlying the P3 ERPs (Event-related Potential) evoked by targets seen outside vs. inside the AB time window. We find visual differences in phase-sorted ERPimages and statistical differences in the variance of the P3 phase distributions. These results argue for increased variation in the latency of conscious perception during the AB. This experimental analysis is complemented by a theoretical exploration of temporal attention and target processing. Using activation traces from the Neural-ST2 [Neural - ST superscript 2] model, we generate virtual ERPs and virtual ERPimages. These are compared to their human counterparts to propose an explanation of how target consolidation in the context of the AB influences the temporal variability of selective attention. The AB provides us with a suitable phenomenon with which to investigate the interplay between attention and perception. The combination of experimental and theoretical elucidation in this article contributes to converging evidence for the notion that the AB reflects a reduction in the temporal acuity of selective attention and the timeliness of perception. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant GR/S15075/01) Research Councils UK (Academic Fellowship grant EP/C509218/1) National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (Grant NIMH MH47432) 2011-07-15T20:56:59Z 2011-07-15T20:56:59Z 2009-11 2009-07 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1553-7358 1553-734X http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/64824 Chennu, Srivas et al. “Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model.” Ed. Karl J. Friston. PLoS Computational Biology 5.11 (2009) : e1000576. © 2009 Chennu et al. en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000576 PLOS computational biology Creative Commons Attribution http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ application/pdf Public Library of Science PLoS |
| spellingShingle | Chennu, Srivas Craston, Patrick Wyble, Brad Bowman, Howard Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title | Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title_full | Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title_fullStr | Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title_short | Attention Increases the Temporal Precision of Conscious Perception: Verifying the Neural-ST2 Model |
| title_sort | attention increases the temporal precision of conscious perception verifying the neural st2 model |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/64824 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chennusrivas attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralst2model AT crastonpatrick attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralst2model AT wyblebrad attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralst2model AT bowmanhoward attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralst2model AT chennusrivas attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralstsuperscript2model AT crastonpatrick attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralstsuperscript2model AT wyblebrad attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralstsuperscript2model AT bowmanhoward attentionincreasesthetemporalprecisionofconsciousperceptionverifyingtheneuralstsuperscript2model |