Re-evaluating rhythmic attentional switching: Spurious oscillations from shuffling-in-time

How does attention help to focus perceptual processing on the important parts of a visual scene? Although the neural and perceptual effects of attention were traditionally assumed to be sustained over time, the field is converging on a dramatically different view: that covert attention rhythmically switches between objects at 3-8 Hz. Here I demonstrate that ubiquitous analyses in this literature conflate rhythmic oscillations with aperiodic temporal structure. Using computational simulations, I show that the behavioral oscillations reported in this literature could reflect aperiodic dynamics in attention, rather than periodic rhythms. I then propose two analyses (one novel and one widely used in climate science) that discriminate between periodic and aperiodic structure in behavioral time-series. Finally, I apply these alternative analyses to published data-sets, and find no evidence for rhythms in attentional switching after accounting for aperiodic temporal structure. Attention shows rich temporal structure. The techniques presented here will help to clarify the periodic and aperiodic dynamics of perception and cognition.

Multiple Resource Loading and Auditory Preemption during a Continuous Signal Detection Task

Performance is typically reduced for dual-versus single-tasks, and potential interference between tasks can often be predicted by resource theories such as Multiple Resource Theory (MRT). MRT suggests that performance of two tasks drawing from the same set of cognitive resources is reduced in comparison to performance of two drawing on separate resource pools (e.g., visual-visual compared to visual-auditory). One drawback of MRT is the effect of auditory preemption on an ongoing visual task: whereas MRT expects no interference between auditory and visual tasks, auditory preemption theory posits a cost of attentional switching which may reduce performance. We investigated the effect of auditory preemption by administering an ongoing visual detection task and an interrupting auditory processing task. Results support the theory of auditory preemption as shown by a decline of response criterion ( C), but not perceptual sensitivity ( d’). MRT is also partially supported by an increase in perceived workload.

EMD386088 (5 mg/kg) has no effect on latent inhibition shown to both light and noise stimuli

Activation of 5-hydroxytyptamine6 (5-HT6) receptors stimulates attentional switching and 5-HT6 receptor antagonists are putative drugs for psychosis. Latent inhibition (LI) provides a pre-clinical model of attentional switching and ‘antipsychotic-like’ action and is known to be modulated by 5-hydroxytyptamine. In the present study, LI was shown in a fear conditioning procedure that measured suppression of drinking after conditioning with footshock. In two experiments (each n = 48) it was shown that pre-exposure to both light- and noise-conditioned stimuli reduced conditioned suppression relative to the corresponding non-pre-exposed control. However, counter to prediction, LI was intact after treatment with the 5-HT6 agonist EMD386088 (5 mg/kg).

Complementary inhibitory weight profiles emerge from plasticity and allow attentional switching of receptive fields

Cortical areas comprise multiple types of inhibitory interneurons with stereotypical connectivity motifs, but their combined effect on postsynaptic dynamics has been largely unexplored. Here, we analyse the response of a single postsynaptic model neuron receiving tuned excitatory connections alongside inhibition from two plastic populations. Depending on the inhibitory plasticity rule, synapses remain unspecific (flat), become anti-correlated to, or mirror excitatory synapses. Crucially, the neuron’s receptive field, i.e., its response to presynaptic stimuli, depends on the modulatory state of inhibition. When both inhibitory populations are active, inhibition balances excitation, resulting in uncorrelated postsynaptic responses regardless of the inhibitory tuning profiles. Modulating the activity of a given inhibitory population produces strong correlations to either preferred or non-preferred inputs, in line with recent experimental findings showing dramatic context-dependent changes of neurons’ receptive fields. We thus confirm that a neuron’s receptive field doesn’t follow directly from the weight profiles of its presynaptic afferents.

Measuring and Mitigating the Costs of Attentional Switches in Active Network Monitoring for Cybersecurity

Objective: The authors seek to characterize the behavioral costs of attentional switches between points in a network map and assess the efficacy of interventions intended to reduce those costs. Background: Cybersecurity network operators are tasked with determining an appropriate attentional allocation scheme given the state of the network, which requires repeated attentional switches. These attentional switches may result in temporal performance decrements, during which operators disengage from one attentional fixation point and engage with another. Method: We ran two experiments where participants identified a chain of malicious emails within a network. All interactions with the system were logged and analyzed to determine if users experienced disengagement and engagement delays. Results: Both experiments revealed significant costs from attentional switches before (i.e., disengagement) and after (i.e., engagement) participants navigated to a new area in the network. In our second experiment, we found that interventions aimed at contextualizing navigation actions lessened both disengagement and engagement delays. Conclusion: Attentional switches are detrimental to operator performance. Their costs can be reduced by design features that contextualize navigations through an interface. Application: This research can be applied to the identification and mitigation of attentional switching costs in a variety of visual search tasks. Furthermore, it demonstrates the efficacy of noninvasive behavioral monitoring for inferring cognitive events.

The Acceptability, Feasibility and Potential Outcomes of an Individual Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Hearing Voices

Background:A prominent area of advancement in the psychological treatment for people with persisting psychosis has been the application of mindfulness-based therapies. Recent literature has recommended the investigation of focused mindfulness interventions for voices (auditory hallucinations) as a specific experience. To date, only mindfulness programs in group format have been examined.Aims:This non-randomized pilot study aimed to assess the acceptability, feasibility and potential outcomes of an individual mindfulness program for persistent voices on the negative impact of voices on the subjective experience of mental health and wellbeing, depression and voice-related distress and disruption. Also, it aimed to identify potential psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms of change.Method:A new 4-week individual Mindfulness Program for Voices (iMPV) was developed, and piloted with a group of 14 participants with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder and persisting voices. Participants completed clinical and neurocognitive measures pre- and post-intervention and at 2-month follow-up.Results:Results revealed low attrition rates, high formal practice engagement levels and positive participant feedback. Pre–post outcomes suggested small to moderate effects for a reduction in the negative impact of voices on experience, depression and disruption. Large effects for changes in mindful responding and attentional switching were also identified.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that this novel treatment protocol is appropriate, engaging and safe for persistent voice hearers. Findings for mindful responding and attentional switching suggest these to be potential mechanisms of change for further investigation. Further RCTs are warranted to ascertain the feasibility and efficacy for focused mindfulness interventions for voices of individual format.