Cognitive control of auditory attention: Examining flexible preparatory “tuning” to a speaker in a multitalker set-up

选择性听力是注意在听觉信息处理中的作用的一个很好的例子。对语音的听觉注意力经常在使用多说话者（“鸡尾酒会”）情况的实验范例中进行研究，其中要求听者理解“目标”说话者，同时忽略其他并发（和分散注意力）的说话者。然而，大多数这些研究都集中在如何以及注意力可以保持在同一个目标发言人，他们的主要措施一直是报告听到的内容的准确性。与此相反，目前的项目将调查有意转移注意力从一个扬声器到另一个使用计时（反应时间，RT）的措施，使用手动响应的性能。申请人的早期研究引入了一种范例，其中两个说话者同时说出个位数，并且在语音刺激之前的提示通过指示任务相关的性别或位置来指定目标说话者（即，扬声器侧）;任务是简单的数量级分类。目标被切换或重复的试验的比较显示了大量的性能“切换成本”（更长的RT和更多的错误），这表明一些注意力的“惯性”，限制了转移听觉注意力的功效。考虑到这一限制，重要的是要检查在何种程度上转换成本可以减少准备即将到来的注意力转移。该项目旨在通过操纵线索刺激间隔（即，准备时间）。以前的研究使用相关的实验范式要么没有集中在准备，或发现相互矛盾的证据，它是否降低转换成本。本实验旨在通过结合申请人Iring Koch博士（亚琛）和他的国际合作者Aureliu Lavric博士（埃克塞特，英国）的专业知识来解决文献中的这一空白。Aureliu Lavric博士是注意力和认知控制的认知神经科学方面的国际知名专家，申请人要求获得墨卡托奖学金。他们的目标是在九个认知行为实验中系统地探索准备最有效的条件。此外，他们将在两个EEG实验中研究潜在的神经认知机制，即准备听另一个扬声器（在没有听觉输入的情况下）是否涉及对目标的感知的实际注意力重新调整或仅更新抽象（非感知）任务目标。这项研究的结果将为基础注意力研究和旨在改善选择性注意力的应用提供信息。

Selective listening is an excellent example for the role of attention in auditory information processing. Auditory attention to speech has often been investigated in experimental paradigms using multi-talker (“cocktail party”) situations, where the listener is required to comprehend a “target” speaker whilst ignoring other concurrent (and distracting) speakers. However, most of these studies have focused on how well attention can be maintained on the same target speaker, and their primary measure has been the accuracy of reporting the content heard. In contrast, the current project will investigate intentional shifting of attention from one speaker to another using chronometric (reaction time, RT) measures of performance using manual responses. Earlier research by the applicant introduced a paradigm where two speakers utter concurrently single-digit numbers, and a cue preceding the speech stimuli specifies the target speaker by indicating the task-relevant gender or position (i.e., speaker side); the task is simple number magnitude classification. The comparison of the trials where the target was either switched or repeated revealed a substantial performance “switch cost” (longer RT and more errors), which suggests some attentional “inertia” that limits the efficacy of shifting auditory attention. Given this limitation, it is important to examine the degree to which the switch cost can be reduced by preparation for an upcoming attention shift. This project aims to examine preparation as a proactive cognitive control process by manipulating the cue-stimulus interval (i.e., the time available for preparation). Previous studies using related experimental paradigms either did not focus on preparation, or found conflicting evidence on whether or not it reduces the switch cost. The present set of experiments aims to address this gap in the literature by combining the expertise of applicant Dr. Iring Koch (Aachen) and that of his international collaborator Dr. Aureliu Lavric (Exeter, UK) – an internationally known expert in the cognitive neuroscience of attention and cognitive control, for whom the application requests a Mercator Fellowship. Together they aim to systematically explore in nine cognitive-behavioral experiments the conditions in which preparation is most effective. In addition, they will examine in two EEG experiments the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms, that is, whether preparing to listen to another speaker (in the absence of auditory input) involves actual attentional re-tuning of perception with regard to the target or only updating of abstract (non-perceptual) task goals. The results of this research will inform both basic attention research and applications aiming to improve selective attention.