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Neural effects of cognitive control load on auditory selective attention. Neuropsychologia 2014 Aug;61:269-79

Date

06/20/2014

Pubmed ID

24946314

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4423789

DOI

10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.009

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84904323386 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   15 Citations

Abstract

Whether and how working memory disrupts or alters auditory selective attention is unclear. We compared simultaneous event-related potentials (ERP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) responses associated with task-irrelevant sounds across high and low working memory load in a dichotic-listening paradigm. Participants performed n-back tasks (1-back, 2-back) in one ear (Attend ear) while ignoring task-irrelevant speech sounds in the other ear (Ignore ear). The effects of working memory load on selective attention were observed at 130-210ms, with higher load resulting in greater irrelevant syllable-related activation in localizer-defined regions in auditory cortex. The interaction between memory load and presence of irrelevant information revealed stronger activations primarily in frontal and parietal areas due to presence of irrelevant information in the higher memory load. Joint independent component analysis of ERP and fMRI data revealed that the ERP component in the N1 time-range is associated with activity in superior temporal gyrus and medial prefrontal cortex. These results demonstrate a dynamic relationship between working memory load and auditory selective attention, in agreement with the load model of attention and the idea of common neural resources for memory and attention.

Author List

Sabri M, Humphries C, Verber M, Liebenthal E, Binder JR, Mangalathu J, Desai A

Author

Jeffrey R. Binder MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Attention
Auditory Perception
Brain
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory, Short-Term
Multimodal Imaging
Neuropsychological Tests
Reaction Time
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted