41 research outputs found
The Timing of Feedback to Early Visual Cortex in the Perception of Long-Range Apparent Motion
No full textWhen 2 visual stimuli are presented one after another in different locations, they are often perceived as one, but moving object. Feedback from area human motion complex hMT/V5+ to V1 has been hypothesized to play an important role in this illusory perception of motion. We measured event-related responses to illusory motion stimuli of varying apparent motion (AM) content and retinal location using Electroencephalography. Detectable cortical stimulus processing started around 60-ms poststimulus in area V1. This component was insensitive to AM content and sequential stimulus presentation. Sensitivity to AM content was observed starting around 90 ms post the second stimulus of a sequence and most likely originated in area hMT/V5+. This AM sensitive response was insensitive to retinal stimulus position. The stimulus sequence related response started to be sensitive to retinal stimulus position at a longer latency of 110 ms. We interpret our findings as evidence for feedback from area hMT/V5+ or a related motion processing area to early visual cortices (V1, V2, V3)
Visual target modulation of functional connectivity networks revealed by self-organizing group ICA.
No full textWe applied a data-driven analysis based on self-organizing group independent component analysis (sogICA) to fMRI data from a three-stimulus visual oddball task. SogICA is particularly suited to the investigation of the underlying functional connectivity and does not rely on a predefined model of the experiment, which overcomes some of the limitations of hypothesis-driven analysis. Unlike most previous applications of ICA in functional imaging, our approach allows the analysis of the data at the group level, which is of particular interest in high order cognitive studies. SogICA is based on the hierarchical clustering of spatially similar independent components, derived from single subject decompositions. We identified four main clusters of components, centered on the posterior cingulate, bilateral insula, bilateral prefrontal cortex, and right posterior parietal and prefrontal cortex, consistently across all participants. Post hoc comparison of time courses revealed that insula, prefrontal cortex and right fronto-parietal components showed higher activity for targets than for distractors. Activation for distractors was higher in the posterior cingulate cortex, where deactivation was observed for targets. While our results conform to previous neuroimaging studies, they also complement conventional results by showing functional connectivity networks with unique contributions to the task that were consistent across subjects. SogICA can thus be used to probe functional networks of active cognitive tasks at the group-level and can provide additional insights to generate new hypotheses for further study
Frequency-division-multiplexing technique for imaging metrology
No full textAn algorithm to multiplex multiple image captures simultaneously onto a single image sensor at full frame resolution was developed for imaging metrology. Parseval’s theorem was used to obtain the image intensity from image time-series of around typically 256 frames captured by the imaging sensor at typically 60 fps, though kHz frame rates are possible, hardware permitting. The time-series contained contributions from each image channel in the system, which were created by periodically modulating the intensity of the light source which defined that channel. The modulating time-series was converted to a frequency representation by Fourier transform and from that the channels could be identified by their peaks in the spectrum. Peaks corresponding to each channel were then isolated with a window function and Parseval’s theorem applied on a pixel by pixel basis to convert the signal strength back to an image containing the information from that channel only.
The FDM algorithm was then applied to two imaging metrology methods. First, an in-plane, two-channel shearography system was multiplexed with FDM in such a way as to allow time-division multiplexed measurements to be taken on the same deformations with the same instrument so as to allow comparison of results from other methods. FDM was found to produce good quality results comparable with current methods. Interferometric planar Doppler velocimetry was performed, multiplexing the reference phase channel signal and a signal channel for both a wheel and a gas jet. FDM was found to suppress the effects of phase drifts in the system which would lead to velocity offsets in the results, and gave velocities which varied from the model by only up to ~5%.
Finally, an error analysis was performed on the FDM algorithm, comparing the technique with time-averaging and single image capture through simulation and practical methods. It was shown that FDM strongly suppresses the noise and background in a measurement, and can produce good images from low intensity signals.
It could be concluded that the FDM algorithm offers significant advantages over time-averaging a signal when applied to a multi-channel imaging metrology system
Differential trajectories of memory quality and guessing across sequential reports from working memory
No full textThis paper has been published in Journal of Vision:
Peters, B., Rahm, B., Kaiser, J., & Bledowski, C. (2019). Differential trajectories of memory quality and guessing across sequential reports from working memory. Journal of Vision 19(3). https://doi.org/10.1167/19.7.3
This repository holds the original whole report raw data (36.000 working memory report errors and corresponding confidence ratings).
Please cite the original publication in Journal of Vision (https://doi.org/10.1167/19.7.3) if you use this data.
Abstract: Working memory enables the storage of few items for a short period of time. Previous research has shown that items in working memory cannot be accessed equally well, indicating that they are held in at least two different states with different capacity limitations. However, it is unclear whether differences between states are due to limitations of the number of items that can be stored, or the quality with which items are stored. We employed a sequential whole-report procedure where participants reported the remembered orientation of each of two or four encoded Gabor patches. In addition, they rated their memory confidence prior to each report. Participants performed 600 trials per condition, allowing us to obtain reliable subjective ratings and estimates of precision, guessing, and misreport using a mixture model, separately for each sequential report. Different measures of memory quality consistently showed discontinuous trajectories across reports with a steep drop from the first to the second remembered item but only slight decreases thereafter. In contrast, both reported and modeled guessing changed continuously across reports. Our results support the notion of two states in working memory and show that they are distinguished by memory quality rather than quantity
Mental Chronometry of Working Memory Retrieval: A Combined Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Event-Related Potentials Approach
No full textObject-Based Attention Prioritizes Working Memory Contents at a Theta Rhythm [Data set]
No full textRaw data for paper:
Peters, B., Kaiser, J., Rahm, B., & Bledowski, C. (2020). Object-based attention prioritizes working memory contents at a theta rhythm. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000994
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-86712-00
Mental Chronometry of Working Memory Retrieval: A Combined Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Event-Related Potentials Approach
No full textDecoding spatial versus non-spatial processing in auditory working memory
No full textObjective: Research on visual working memory has shown that individual stimulus features are processed in both specialized sensory regions and higher cortical areas. Much less evidence exists for auditory working memory. Here, a main distinction has been proposed between the processing of spatial and non-spatial sound features. Our aim was to examine feature-specific activation patterns in auditory working memory.
Methods: We collected fMRI data while 28 healthy adults performed an auditory delayed match-to-sample task. Stimuli were abstract sounds characterized by both spatial and non-spatial information, i.e., interaural time delay and central frequency, respectively. In separate recording blocks, subjects had to memorize either the spatial or non-spatial feature, which had to be compared with a probe sound presented after a short delay. We performed both univariate and multivariate comparisons between spatial and non-spatial task blocks.
Results: Processing of spatial sound features elicited a higher activity in a small cluster in the superior parietal lobe than did sound pattern processing, whereas there was no significant activation difference for the opposite contrast. The multivariate analysis was applied using a whole-brain searchlight approach to identify feature-selective processing. The task-relevant auditory feature could be decoded from multiple brain regions including the auditory cortex, posterior temporal cortex, middle occipital gyrus, and extended parietal and frontal regions.
Conclusion: In summary, the lack of large univariate activation differences between spatial and non-spatial processing could be attributable to the identical stimulation in both tasks. In contrast, the whole-brain multivariate analysis identified feature-specific activation patterns in widespread cortical regions. This suggests that areas beyond the auditory dorsal and ventral streams contribute to working memory processing of auditory stimulus features
Basic operations in working memory: contributions from functional imaging studies. Behav Brain Res
No full texta b s t r a c t Working memory (WM) constitutes a fundamental aspect of human cognition. It refers to the ability to keep information active for further use, while allowing it to be prioritized, modified and protected from interference. Much research has addressed the storage function of WM, however, its 'working' aspect still remains underspecified. Many operations that work on the contents of WM do not appear specific to WM. The present review focuses on those operations that we consider "basic" because they operate in the service of memory itself, by providing its basic functionality of retaining information active, in a stable yet flexible way. Based on current process models of WM we review five strands of research: (1) mnemonic selection of one item amongst others, (2) updating the focus of attention with the selected item, (3) updating the content of visual WM with new item(s), (4) rehearsal of visuospatial information and (5) coping with interference. We discuss the neuronal substrates underlying those operations obtained with functional magnetic resonance imaging and relate them to findings on "executive functions". The presented data support the view that WM emerges from interactions between higher sensory, attentional and mnemonic functions, with separable neural bases. However, interference processing and the representation of rule switching in WM may demand an extension of the current WM models by executive control functions
A psychophysiology practical as part of the medical psychology course
No full textTeaching in medical psychology aims at establishing an understanding of the relationships between psychological functions and bodily reactions and of the relevance of these interactions for the development and maintenance of diseases. To illustrate these relationships, a psychophysiology practical was introduced in the first semester. Students performed practical 30-minute exercises in groups of four on the basis of comprehensive written instructions. The following topics were covered: (1) stress (dependent variable: heart rate), (2) "lie detection" (dependent variable: skin conductance response), (3) biofeedback (dependent variable: skin temperature), and (4) electroencephalogram (dependent variable: amplitude in the four classical frequency bands). The practical exercises were complemented by theoretical group work and a summary of the results of the exercises. Students evaluated the practical positively. It was considered a benefit to the course, and the self-rated knowledge in the area of psychophysiology increased significantly. These results, as well as our experiences during the practical, have reinforced our decision to establish a psychophysiology practical as part of the medical psychology/medical sociology course.Die Vermittlung der Zusammenhänge zwischen psychologischen Funktionen und körperlichen Veränderungen sowie deren Relevanz für die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung von Krankheiten stellt ein zentrales Ziel der Ausbildung in Medizinischer Psychologie dar. Zur Veranschaulichung dieser Zusammenhänge führten wir ein Psychophysiologie-Praktikum im ersten vorklinischen Semester ein. Die Studierenden führten in Vierergruppen mit Hilfe ausführlicher schriftlicher Instruktionen jeweils ca. 30 Minuten andauernde praktische Übungen durch, die die folgenden Themen behandelten: (1) Stress (abhängige Variable: Herzrate), (2) "Lügendetektor" (abhängige Variable: Hautleitwertsreaktionen), (3) Biofeedback (abhängige Variable: Hauttemperatur) und (4) Elektroenzephalogramm (abhängige Variable: Amplituden der vier klassischen Frequenzbänder). Die praktischen Übungen wurden durch theoretische Gruppenarbeiten und einen Termin zur Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse der Übungen ergänzt. Die studentische Evaluation des Praktikums war durchweg positiv. So wurde das Praktikum als Bereicherung des Kurses angesehen, und der selbstbeurteilte Kenntnisstand auf dem Gebiet der Psychophysiologie zeigte eine signifikante Verbesserung. Diese Ergebnisse sowie unsere Eindrücke während des Praktikums bekräftigten unseren Entschluss, ein Psychophysiologie-Praktikum als Teil des Kurses der Medizinischen Psychologie und Medizinischen Soziologie fest zu etablieren
