ERP and fMRI Studies of Visual Attention

描述（由申请人提供）：选择性注意是一种认知能力，其能够处理相关刺激，同时最小化来自不相关和/或分散注意力的事件的干扰。本文提出的研究的总体目标是阐明注意过程的神经机制，以测试自愿注意的特定模型，并提供与诊断和治疗包括注意缺陷在内的疾病相关的基本科学信息。结合心理物理测量，事件相关电位（ERP）和振荡活动的脑电图（EEG）将提供高时间分辨率的神经活动的措施，支持注意力控制和刺激选择。功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）将被用来识别参与注意力控制和选择的神经解剖系统和网络。本研究有三个具体目标：（1）确定预备注意过程中视皮层背景神经活动的变化如何影响选择性感觉加工和表现;（2）确定预备注意在上升感觉加工过程中建立注意选择轨迹的作用;（3）确定注意选择中的目标易化和干扰抑制过程的机制。在整个拟议的研究中，EEG/ERPs和fMRI的结合使用将提供注意机制的时间过程和功能解剖的补充措施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Selective attention is a cognitive ability that enables the processing of relevant stimuli while minimizing interference from irrelevant and/or distracting events. An overall goal of the research proposed here is to elucidate the neural mechanisms of attentional processes in order to test specific models of voluntary attention and provide basic science information relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of disorders that include deficits of attention. In conjunction with psychophysical measures, event-related potentials (ERPs) and oscillatory activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG) will provide high temporal resolution measures of neural activity supporting attentional control and stimulus selection. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be employed to identify the neuroanatomical systems and networks involved in attentional control and selection. This application has three specific aims: (1) Determine how changes in background neural activity in visual cortex during preparatory attention influence selective sensory processing and performance; (2) Determine the role of preparatory attention in establishing the locus of attentional selection during ascending sensory processing; and (3) Determine the mechanisms of target facilitation and distractor inhibition processes in attentional selection. Throughout the proposed research, the combined use of EEG/ERPs and fMRI will provide complementary measures of the time course and functional anatomy of attentional mechanisms.