Functional properties of distractor-induced blindness

我们之前的实验已经证明，与受试者相关的简单视觉特征（运动连贯、方向翻转）的有意识表征严重依赖于先前的干扰物的呈现。干扰物具有相关目标事件的特征，并逐渐激活一种抑制机制。使用事件相关脑电位（ERPs），确定了这种累积抑制效应的直接神经关联。我们假设，干扰物诱发失明的范式允许我们检查一个允许或阻止视觉刺激进入意识的中央门控过程。在我们目前的研究项目中，我们将重点关注以下问题：(1)我们能否分离出促进抑制效应产生及其释放的不同机制？因此，我们将更仔细地研究干扰物效应的时间动态。(2)对干扰物的敏感性能否解释个体间差异？因此，累积分心效应将在“反应者”和“非反应者”中进行检验。(3)分心物效应是否与靶前脑电活动相互作用？目标检测也依赖于皮层系统的状态，通过脑电图节律和/或脑电图一致性来测量。我们想研究，是否干扰物的呈现也会影响这些大脑节律。(4)干扰视觉刺激加工的其他范式是否也存在干扰物效应？我们将尝试在注意眨眼和负启动中识别累积分心效应。(5)能否验证干扰物致盲效应的计算模型？假设基底神经节参与了干扰效应，我们将重点关注观察者的运动反应系统。

Our previous experiments have demonstrated that the conscious representation of simple visual features (motion coherence, orientation flip) which are relevant to the subject critically depends on the previous presentation of distractors. Distractors share the characteristics of the relevant target event, and activate gradually an inhibition mechanism. Using event-related brain potentials (ERPs), a direct neural correlate of this cumulative inhibition effect was identified. We assume that the paradigm of distractor-induced blindness allows us to examine a central gating process which permits - or prevents – visual stimuli to enter conscious awareness. In our current research project we will focus on the following questions: (1) Can we separate different mechanisms contributing to the generation of the inhibition effect, and its release? For this reason, the temporal dynamics of the distractor effect will be examined more closely. (2) Does the sensitivity to distractors account for interindividual differences? For this reason, the cumulative distractor effect will be examined in ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’. (3) Does the distractor effect interact with the pre-target EEG activity? Target detection also depends on the state of the cortical system, as measured by EEG rhythm and / or EEG coherence. We would like to examine, whether distractor presentation also affects these brain rhythms. (4) Can we identify the distractor effect in other paradigms interfering with the processing of visual stimuli? We will try to identify the cumulative distracter effect in attentional blink and in negative priming. (5) Can we validate a computational model on the distractor-induced blindness effect? Assuming that the basal ganglia contribute to the distractor effect, we will focus on the observer’s motor response system.