: Visual selective attention is a crucial means of compensating for our limited ability to process multiple stimuli at one time. Observers can bias their perception of the visual world, selecting certain elements of a scene for full analysis while leaving others aside. While significant progress has been made in describing the spatial and temporal parameters of this ability (i.e. when and where spatial selection is possible), there has been less progress in understanding exactly how spatial selection is accomplished. The broad goal of this proposal is to provide insight into the specific mechanisms that mediate the changes in visual processing that are observed during visual selection. The proposed research investigates a previously undiscovered component of attentional control that causes increased levels of distractor exclusion when interference from distractors is likely. Previous research has shown that when stimulus displays contain high levels of visual noise, then spatial selection effects are enlarged. The key insight in this proposal is that some of these increases in selection efficiency are a result of changes in top-down attentional control, rather than being entirely display-driven. The present research is designed to understand the cognitive and neural basis of this mechanism of endogenous distractor exclusion. In addition, our work will address the overall architecture of attentional control, by comparing the behavioral and neural signatures of two forms of attentional control: the endogenous suppression of visual noise, and the top-down suppression of response conflict. By enhancing our understanding of top-down selection in visuospatial and response-mapping paradigms, the proposed research will contribute towards the ultimate goal of creating a unified model of executive processing.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH064119-02
Application #
6539306
Study Section
Integrative, Functional and Cognitive Neuroscience 8 (IFCN)
Program Officer
Kurtzman, Howard S
Project Start
2001-09-17
Project End
2005-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$182,703
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Oregon
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
948117312
City
Eugene
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97403
Serences, John; Scolari, Miranda; Awh, Edward (2009) Online response-selection and the attentional blink: Multiple-processing channels. Vis cogn 17:531-554
Scolari, Miranda; Kohnen, Andrew; Barton, Brian et al. (2007) Spatial attention, preview, and popout: which factors influence critical spacing in crowded displays? J Vis 7:7.1-23
Awh, Edward; Sgarlata, Antoinette Marie; Kliestik, John (2005) Resolving visual interference during covert spatial orienting: online attentional control through static records of prior visual experience. J Exp Psychol Gen 134:192-206
Serences, John T; Yantis, Steven; Culberson, Andrew et al. (2004) Preparatory activity in visual cortex indexes distractor suppression during covert spatial orienting. J Neurophysiol 92:3538-45
Awh, Edward; Serences, John; Laurey, Paul et al. (2004) Evidence against a central bottleneck during the attentional blink: multiple channels for configural and featural processing. Cogn Psychol 48:95-126
Mayr, Ulrich; Awh, Edward; Laurey, Paul (2003) Conflict adaptation effects in the absence of executive control. Nat Neurosci 6:450-2
Awh, Edward; Matsukura, Michi; Serences, John T (2003) Top-down control over biased competition during covert spatial orienting. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 29:52-63