scholarly journals Dissociating activation and integration of discourse referents: evidence from ERPs and oscillations

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cas W. Coopmans ◽  
Mante S. Nieuwland
Keyword(s):  
Proper Names ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Neural Oscillations ◽  
Late Positive Component ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Initial Activation ◽  
Component Amplitude ◽  
Gamma Band Activity ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

AbstractA key challenge in understanding stories and conversations is the comprehension of ‘anaphora’, words that refer back to previously mentioned words or concepts (‘antecedents’). In psycholinguistic theories, anaphor comprehension involves the initial activation of the antecedent and its subsequent integration into the unfolding representation of the narrated event. A recent proposal suggests that these processes draw upon the brain’s recognition memory and language networks, respectively, and may be dissociable in patterns of neural oscillatory synchronization (Nieuwland & Martin, 2017). We addressed this proposal in an electroencephalogram (EEG) study with pre-registered data acquisition and analyses, using event-related potentials (ERPs) and neural oscillations. Dutch participants read two-sentence mini stories containing proper names, which were repeated or new (ease of activation) and coherent or incoherent with the preceding discourse (ease of integration). Repeated names elicited lower N400 and Late Positive Component amplitude than new names, and also an increase in theta-band (4-7 Hz) synchronization, which was largest around 240-450 ms after name onset. Discourse-coherent proper names elicited an increase in gamma-band (60-80 Hz) synchronization compared to discourse-incoherent names. This effect was largest around 690-1000 ms after name onset and was localized to the left frontal cortex. We argue that the initial activation and subsequent discourse-level integration of referents can be dissociated with event-related EEG activity, and are associated with respectively theta- and gamma-band activity. These findings further establish the link between memory and language through neural oscillations.

scholarly journals Induced Gamma-band Activity Elicited by Visual Representation of Unattended Objects

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasna Martinovic ◽  
Thomas Gruber ◽  
Kathrin Ohla ◽  
Matthias M. Müller
Keyword(s):  
Object Recognition ◽  
Perceptual Load ◽  
Visual Representation ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Complex Scenes ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Gamma Band Activity ◽  
Band Activity

Object recognition is achieved through neural mechanisms reliant on the activity of distributed neural assemblies that are thought to be coordinated by synchronous firing in the gamma-band range (>20 Hz). An outstanding question focuses on the extent to which the role of gamma oscillations in object recognition is dependent on attention. Attentional mechanisms determine the allocation of perceptual resources to objects in complex scenes biasing the outcome of their mutual competitive interactions. Would object-related enhancements in gamma activity also occur for unattended objects when perceptual resources are traded off to the processing of concurrent visual material? The present electroencephalogram study investigated event-related potentials and evoked (time- and phase-locked) and induced (non-time- and phase-locked to stimulus onset) gamma-band activity (GBA) using a visual discrimination task of low or high perceptual load at fixation. The task was performed while task-irrelevant familiar or unfamiliar objects coappeared in the surrounding central area. Attentional focus was kept at fixation by varying perceptual load between trials; in such conditions, only holistic object processing or low-level perceptual processing, requiring little or no attention, are thought to occur. Although evoked GBA remained unmodulated, induced GBA enhancements, specific to familiar object presentations, were observed, thus providing evidence for cortical visual representation of unattended objects. In addition, the effect was mostly driven by object-specific activity under low load, implying that, in cluttered or complex scenes, attentional selection likely plays a more significant role in object representation.

scholarly journals Chemosensory Event-Related Potentials and Power Spectrum Could Be a Possible Biomarker in 3M Syndrome Infants?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
Sara Invitto ◽  
Alberto Grasso ◽  
Dario Domenico Lofrumento ◽  
Vincenzo Ciccarese ◽  
Angela Paladini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Spectra ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Positive Component ◽  
Eeg Signals ◽  
Late Positive Component ◽  
Chemosensory Perception ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Olfactory Processing ◽  
Cullin 7 ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

3M syndrome is a rare disorder that involves the gene cullin-7 (CUL7). CUL7 modulates odour detection, conditions the olfactory response (OR) and plays a role in the development of the olfactory system. Despite this involvement, there are no direct studies on olfactory functional effects in 3M syndrome. The purpose of the present work was to analyse the cortical OR through chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERPs) and power spectra calculated by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals recorded in 3M infants: two twins (3M-N) and an additional subject (3M-O). The results suggest that olfactory processing is diversified. Comparison of N1 and Late Positive Component (LPC) indicated substantial differences in 3M syndrome that may be a consequence of a modified olfactory processing pattern. Moreover, the presence of delta rhythms in 3M-O and 3M-N clearly indicates their involvement with OR, since the delta rhythm is closely connected to chemosensory perception, in particular to olfactory perception.

scholarly journals Increased Neural Efficiency in Visual Word Recognition: Evidence from Alterations in Event-Related Potentials and Multiscale Entropy

Entropy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 304
Author(s):  
Kelsey Cnudde ◽  
Sophia van Hees ◽  
Sage Brown ◽  
Gwen van der Wijk ◽  
Penny M. Pexman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Word Recognition ◽  
Visual Word Recognition ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Visual Word ◽  
Multiscale Entropy ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Late Positive Component ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Related Potentials

Visual word recognition is a relatively effortless process, but recent research suggests the system involved is malleable, with evidence of increases in behavioural efficiency after prolonged lexical decision task (LDT) performance. However, the extent of neural changes has yet to be characterized in this context. The neural changes that occur could be related to a shift from initially effortful performance that is supported by control-related processing, to efficient task performance that is supported by domain-specific processing. To investigate this, we replicated the British Lexicon Project, and had participants complete 16 h of LDT over several days. We recorded electroencephalography (EEG) at three intervals to track neural change during LDT performance and assessed event-related potentials and brain signal complexity. We found that response times decreased during LDT performance, and there was evidence of neural change through N170, P200, N400, and late positive component (LPC) amplitudes across the EEG sessions, which suggested a shift from control-related to domain-specific processing. We also found widespread complexity decreases alongside localized increases, suggesting that processing became more efficient with specific increases in processing flexibility. Together, these findings suggest that neural processing becomes more efficient and optimized to support prolonged LDT performance.

scholarly journals Reduced Visual Magnocellular Event-Related Potentials in Developmental Dyslexia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
John Stein
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Developmental Dyslexia ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Reverse Pattern ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
The Right ◽  
Visual Hemifields ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

(1) Background—the magnocellular hypothesis proposes that impaired development of the visual timing systems in the brain that are mediated by magnocellular (M-) neurons is a major cause of dyslexia. Their function can now be assessed quite easily by analysing averaged visually evoked event-related potentials (VERPs) in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Such analysis might provide a useful, objective biomarker for diagnosing developmental dyslexia. (2) Methods—in adult dyslexics and normally reading controls, we recorded steady state VERPs, and their frequency content was computed using the fast Fourier transform. The visual stimulus was a black and white checker board whose checks reversed contrast every 100 ms. M- cells respond to this stimulus mainly at 10 Hz, whereas parvocells (P-) do so at 5 Hz. Left and right visual hemifields were stimulated separately in some subjects to see if there were latency differences between the M- inputs to the right vs. left hemispheres, and these were compared with the subjects’ handedness. (3) Results—Controls demonstrated a larger 10 Hz than 5 Hz fundamental peak in the spectra, whereas the dyslexics showed the reverse pattern. The ratio of subjects’ 10/5 Hz amplitudes predicted their reading ability. The latency of the 10 Hz peak was shorter during left than during right hemifield stimulation, and shorter in controls than in dyslexics. The latter correlated weakly with their handedness. (4) Conclusion—Steady state visual ERPs may conveniently be used to identify developmental dyslexia. However, due to the limited numbers of subjects in each sub-study, these results need confirmation.

Tactile perception of skin: research on late positive component of event-related potentials evoked by friction

2019 ◽  
Vol 111 (5) ◽  
pp. 623-629
Author(s):  
Wei Tang ◽  
Xiangyong Lu ◽  
Si Chen ◽  
Shirong Ge ◽  
Xianghong Jing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Tactile Perception ◽  
Positive Component ◽  
Late Positive Component ◽  
Related Potentials

Induced Gamma Band Deficits in Early Psychosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Constante ◽  
M. Shaikh ◽  
I. Williams ◽  
R. Murray ◽  
E. Bramon
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Gamma Band ◽  
Early Psychosis ◽  
Gamma Activity ◽  
Total Power ◽  
Oddball Paradigm ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Related Potentials

Objective:Abnormalities in event related potentials (ERPs) have long been looked at as markers of disease in Schizophrenia. Over recent years there is a trend in the field to move from averaged trials ERPs analysis in the time-voltage domain, to time-frequency single trials analysis. Oscillations in the Gamma band (30-50Hz) have received particular attention in the context of the theories of core deficits in neuronal synchronization in Schizophrenia. in this study we aimed at replicating previously found Gamma band deficits in a sample of Early Psychosis patients.Methods:EEG was collected from 15 patients and 15 age matched controls using an auditory oddball paradigm. Time-frequency analysis in the Gamma band was performed using a Morlet wavelet transform. We tested differences between the groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, given the nonparametric nature of the data, to compare each group's average single trial Gamma power, maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio.Results:Patients with Early Psychosis showed, following target tones, a reduction in the total power of Gamma band activation (p< 0.01) as well as in induced Gamma band activation (p< 0.01). This was observed in a late latency interval at 400-500ms. the late burst of Gamma activity was not found in the frequent condition, for neither subjects group.Conclusion:The findings are compatible with previous studies suggesting deficits in the late intrinsically generated cognitive processing of auditory stimuli in Schizophrenia, already present in its early stage. They add further evidence of deficits in neuronal synchronisation in the early stages of psychotic disorders.

Event-related potentials and neural oscillations dissociate levels of cognitive control

2017 ◽  
Vol 320 ◽  
pp. 154-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingou Lu ◽  
Nuria Doñamayor ◽  
Thomas F. Münte ◽  
Jörg Bahlmann
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Neural Oscillations ◽  
Related Potentials

scholarly journals How Social Power Affects the Processing of Angry Expressions: Evidence From Behavioral and Electrophysiological Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Entao Zhang ◽  
Xueling Ma ◽  
Ruiwen Tao ◽  
Tao Suo ◽  
Huang Gu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
High Power ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Social Power ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Oddball Paradigm ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Target Power ◽  
Related Potentials ◽  
Electroencephalogram Eeg

With the help of event-related potentials (ERPs), the present study used an oddball paradigm to investigate how both individual and target power modulate neural responses to angry expressions. Specifically, participants were assigned into a high-power or low-power condition. Then, they were asked to detect a deviant angry expression from a high-power or low-power target among a series of neutral expressions, while behavioral responses and electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded. The behavioral results showed that high-power individuals responded faster to detect angry expressions than low-power individuals. The ERP analysis showed that high-power individuals showed larger P3 amplitudes in response to angry expressions than low-power individuals did. Target power increased the amplitudes of the P1, VPP, N3, and P3 in response to angry expressions did, but decreased the amplitudes of the N1 and N170 in response to angry expressions. The present study extended previous studies by showing that having more power could enhance individuals’ neural responses to angry expressions in the late-stage processes, and individuals could show stronger neural responses to angry expressions from high-power persons in both the early‐ and late-stage processes.

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