The object of the study is to assess whether attentional processes can be tracked by measuring the responses of the visual cortex.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Cognitive and attention disorders and disturbances
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
- amplitude of response to stimulus (SSVEP), with time-frequency
representation of brain activity.
- coherence and generalized synchrony of brain responses.
Secondary outcome
not relevant
Background summary
At any given time a wealth of perceptual information is present in our
environment. Our capacity to process and respond to all this information is
limited. Therefore mechanisms are necessary to organize the information and to
permit selective processing of currently relevant stimuli.
What is relevant is determined by the task at hand. For exemple, a driver
should pay more attention to the road when there is a lot traffic and as a
result of this, can be less attentive to a conversation with a passenger.
An important question is: how is the selection of information achieved in the
brain? Previous research has shown that people respond better and faster to the
appearance of a stimulus at a certain location when their attention is directed
to that location. However, it seems that we are not only able to attend a part
of space but also attend a certain object.
In our study we will compare the brain activity that is related to a relevant
object to the activity related to an irrelevant object.
Study objective
The object of the study is to assess whether attentional processes can be
tracked by measuring the responses of the visual cortex.
Study design
Subjects will be presented with two curves starting left and right to the
fixation point with either 0 intersections (crossings between the two curves),
1 intersection or 2 intersections. A part of one of these curves will consist
of a contrast-reversing checkerboard, eliciting a steady-state visual evoked
field. The subjects are then cued to covertly trace (without making eye
movements) the curve starting either left or right (target curve) and ignore
the other (distracter curve). Finally, they have to indicate whether the target
curve ends left or right from the fixation point. Brain responses are measured
in a Magnetoencephalography scanner while the experimental task is performed.
Study burden and risks
The risks of participating in this study and the extent of the burden are
minimal: estimated length of 2 hours of non-invasive measurements.
De Boelelaan 1118
1081 HV
Nederland
De Boelelaan 1118
1081 HV
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
18-40 jaar oud
Exclusion criteria
diseases of the central nervous system, under treatment by neurologist or psychiatrist, usage of medicines that act on the central nervous system
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL12800.029.06 |