Auditory Efferent System
Stavros Hatzopoulos, Andrea Ciorba, Mark Krumm in Advances in Audiology and Hearing Science, 2020
Tasks involving attention are believed to influence the OC activity in two different ways, by increasing or decreasing MOC effects (Guinan, 2010; Couperus and Mangun, 2010). Attention is an important ability that allows subjects to concentrate cognitive resources on specific stimuli while ignoring others (Delano et al., 2007). Indeed, selective attention is crucial in complex multisensory environments (Wittekindt et al., 2014). Many researchers have been studying this subject and despite controversial outcomes reported in the literature (Michie et al., 1996) attention to specific sounds and cross-modal attention tasks seem to modulate cochlear sensitivity (Delano et al., 2007). Delano et al. (2007) recorded auditory-nerve compound action potential (CAP) and cochlear microphonic (CM) in chinchillas and observed a significant decrease of cochlear sensitivity during attention to visual stimuli, but not in those animals performing the auditory task, demonstrating that selective attention can modulate afferent auditory activity at the most peripheral stage of auditory processing.
Augmenting Attention with Brain–Computer Interfaces
Chang S. Nam, Anton Nijholt, Fabien Lotte in Brain–Computer Interfaces Handbook, 2018
We focus mostly on visual attention because of the abundance of neurophysiological and BCI studies in this field. The visual system translates very complex input information from the external world into a stable neural representation. The emergence of such a representation can be described as a process of information reduction, where only behaviorally relevant visual inputs are processed (Sprague et al. 2015). For instance, for a driver moving toward a crossing point, it is essential to have the capacity to recognize traffic lights while disregarding insignificant light sources. Attention is the ability of the brain to suppress the superfluous sources of information and select only the relevant ones. This key brain function can suffer because of neurological conditions. Patients with disorders of attention have difficulty focusing on the relevant pieces of information and get easily distracted. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental condition characterized by deteriorated attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (Biederman et al. 2000; Faraone et al. 2006). Treatment approaches to ADHD have been mostly pharmacological, such as the usage of psychostimulants. However, pharmacological treatment is often associated with unwanted side effects (Conners et al. 2001; Greenhill et al. 2001). There is also an associated substance abuse problem (Kollins 2008; Steiner et al. 2014a). Psychological therapy can be used as an alternative treatment for ADHD, but it is effective only in 30% of cases (Zarin et al. 1998).
Attention
Mohamed Ahmed Abd El-Hay in Understanding Psychology for Medicine and Nursing, 2019
It is difficult to define attention or to determine its precise nature, however, it could be considered an umbrella term for a number of processes and abilities. These include the ability to focus consciousness or awareness on a single aspect of the environment or activity (voluntary attentional vigilance) at any given time, on one hand, and automatic, uncontrollable responses to unusual or unexpected events (involuntary attentional capture), on the other. Attention helps to direct sensory and perceptual systems toward certain stimuli, to select specific information for further processing, to ignore unwanted stimuli, to allocate the mental energy required to process selected stimuli, and to regulate the flow of resources necessary for performing a task or coordinating several tasks at once (Wickens & Carswell, 2006). Attention is not just a cognitive factor but is also determined by emotions, interest, attitude, and memory.
Resting-state brain activity predicts selective attention deficits during hyperthermia exposure
Published in International Journal of Hyperthermia, 2020
Shaowen Qian, Sumei Yan, Chang Zhou, Zhiyue Shi, Zhaoqun Wang, Ying Xiong, Yi Zhou
Attention is an important cognitive function which enables our brain to react quickly to objective information and subjective consciousness [1]. In order to maximize the efficiency of attention resources, more salient information should be preferentially processed according to the priority of external and internal events [2,3]. Attention network responds to those events through two subsystems named dorsal attention network (DAN) and ventral attention network (VAN). The DAN reflects top-down attention modulation and is controlled by cognitive factors, such as subjective expectation and goals. The VAN reflects bottom-up stimulus-driven attention corresponding to the sensory stimulation [4–6]. The attention network is always detecting and processing external environmental events, which, in turn, could also reshape the attention activity of human brain. Previous findings showed that the activity of attention network varies across time, task and cognitive states [7–9], subsequently resulting in varied attention performance, with an emerging picture of the attention as a dynamic system that flexibly adapts to the changing internal and external environment. However, it remains unclear how the attention varies with our daily living environment, such as the temperature of the environment.
Relationship between auditory processing disorders and attentional difficulties
Published in Hearing, Balance and Communication, 2021
Laura Lotti, Laura Mazzoni, Egle Grigaliute, Daniele Monzani, Elisabetta Genovese
Specific attention components were analysed:Selective attention: nine of 17 have employed test for this subtype of attention but with a variety of instruments. Furthermore, different authors used the same test to examine several components or abilities [13,16,18–24]. Three studies indeed have used SCAN-C e IMAP batteries. Five papers have used the same test for studying both selective attention and auditory processing, thus assuming that the two functions are strictly dependent one from another [19–21,23,24].Sustained attention has been evaluated in seven papers, in two of which selective attention was also examined [14,18,22,25–28].Alternating attention: only Sharma et al. [22] have focussed on it using the same instruments employed for selective one.Divided attention has been considered in three studies [13,16,20].
Functional impact of bothersome tinnitus on cognitive test performance
Published in International Journal of Audiology, 2021
LaGuinn P. Sherlock, Douglas S. Brungart
There is growing evidence of impaired concentration as a consequence of bothersome tinnitus, validating the subjective perception of difficulty with concentration. Concentration can be assessed using a variety of cognitive tests and poorer performance on cognitive tasks that rely on attention, and to a lesser extent, memory, has been demonstrated in participants with bothersome tinnitus (Andersson et al. 2000; Hallam et al. 2004; Rossiter et al. 2006; Heeren et al. 2014; Araneda et al. 2015). Hallam et al. (2004) postulated that the ability to control attention and, more specifically, the ability to inhibit attention to irrelevant stimuli, is impaired in individuals with bothersome tinnitus. They proposed that this effect could be objectively measured using selective attention paradigms in individuals with bothersome tinnitus. Selective attention requires the ability to direct attention to a specific target while suppressing irrelevant information.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Awareness
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Consciousness
- Inattentional Blindness
- Visual Perception
- Brain
- Train of Thought
- Attention Economy
- Psychology
- Neuroscience