Flanker task with equiprobable congruent and incongruent conditions does not elicit the conflict N2

In many published studies, various modifications of the flanker task have been used. Regardless of the flanker task version, the conflict N2 component has been consistently reported and interpreted as evidence for the resolution of conflict introduced by incongruent flankers. However, ERP studies that used the most basic flanker task (i.e., a version with equiprobable congruent and incongruent conditions in which only congruency between the target and flankers is manipulated) have not provided compelling evidence for the conflict N2 component. We report the results of a large‐sample ERP study employing a basic flanker task that allowed us to revisit the mechanism underlying the resolution of conflict introduced by incongruent flankers. In the behavioral data, we observed the classic effect of congruency. In the ERP data, we found three conflict‐sensitive components: (a) an early frontal component, presumably corresponding to P2, (b) P300 for congruent trials, followed by (c) P300 for incongruent trials. We did not find evidence for the conflict N2 component. Based on a review of literature, we propose that the conflict N2 component observed in a basic flanker task might be a frontal aspect of the P300 component. Given previous attempts to attribute the functional role of the ERP components, the absence of the conflict N2 in the basic flanker task suggests that response inhibition may not be crucial for the resolution of conflict induced by incongruent flankers. Instead, the P2 component appears to indicate that selective attention might play an important role in resolving the flanker conflict.     

The ERP correlates of target checking are dependent upon the defining features of the prospective memory cues

In some contexts, prospective memory (PM) is thought to be dependent upon strategic monitoring of the environment for relevant cues. Behavioral data reveal that strategic monitoring is associated with slowing of response time for ongoing activity trials when a prospective component is added to the task, and functional imaging data reveal that monitoring is associated with recruitment of the anterior prefrontal cortex and other cortical structures. In the current study, event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were used to examine the neural correlates of target checking, one process underlying strategic monitoring. Consistent with previous research the behavioral data revealed a Stimulus Specific Interference Effect, wherein slowing of response time varied depending upon whether PM cues were words or nonwords. The ERP data also revealed that the neural correlates of target checking were sensitive to the defining features of the PM cues (i.e., were a word or nonword). When PM cues were words, the effect of target checking was associated with variation in ERP amplitude beginning around 100 ms after stimulus onset. In contrast, when PM cues were nonwords, the effect of target checking on the ERPs did not emerge until around 200 ms after stimulus onset. These data provide support for the multi-process view of PM by demonstrating that the pattern of neural recruitment related to target checking is sensitive to the defining characteristics of the PM cues.     

Heart rate and reinforcement sensitivity in ADHD

BACKGROUND: Both theoretical and clinical accounts of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) implicate a dysfunctional reinforcement system. This study investigated heart rate parameters in response to feedback associated with reward and response cost in ADHD children and controls aged 8 to 12. METHODS: Heart rate responses (HRRs) following feedback and heart rate variability (HRV) in the low frequency band (.04-.08 Hz), a measure of mental effort, were calculated during a time production paradigm. Performance was coupled to monetary gain, loss or feedback-only in a cross-over design. RESULTS: Children with ADHD exhibited smaller HRRs to feedback compared to controls. HRV of children with ADHD decreased when performance was coupled to reward or response cost compared to feedback-only. HRV of controls was similar across conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ADHD were characterised by (a) possible abnormalities in feedback monitoring and (b) motivational deficits, when no external reinforcement is present.     

Fast gamma oscillations in areas MT and MST occur during visual stimulation,but not during visually guided manual tracking

We studied the incidence of oscillatory activity in the gamma range (35–110 Hz) in single cell and multi-unit activity recorded from extrastriate areas MT (middle temporal) and MST (superior middle temporal) while rhesus monkeys performed different behavioural tasks. During full field stimulation by coherent motion of random dots, we observed gamma oscillations in approximately 20% of the cells. The average oscillation frequencies differed considerably between both animals (60 Hz vs 100 Hz). In both animals, oscillatory modulation was particularly strong at sites that showed a strong directional bias to visual stimulation. The amount of oscillatory activity was roughly the same whether stimulus movement was presented during fixation or whether the animal had to perform pursuit movements across a stationary visual pattern. If cells were engaged in gamma oscillations during visual stimulation, the amount of oscillatory modulation was dependent on stimulus direction, stimulus velocity and stimulus contrast. During a visually guided manual tracking task no gamma activity was detectable. Cells with clear oscillatory modulation during the full field stimulation failed to show oscillatory activity when the animal was involved in a motor task in which the visual motion information had to be evaluated for the correct movement of the hand. Our results reaffirm the ubiquitous presence of stimulus-induced gamma oscillation in extrastriate areas MT and MST of the awake monkey during various stimulus conditions, but they fail to support the notion that high-frequency gamma oscillations in this area play a specific role during cortical control of a motor response to visual stimulation. Electronic Publication     

Two QTLs Located on Chromosomes 1 and 5 Modulate Different Aspects of the Performance of Mice of the B × D Ty RI Strain Series in the Morris Navigation Task

The Morris navigation task is widely used to study spatial abilities in rodents; namely, to analyze the effects of mutations in genetically engineered mice. Although quantitative and Mendelian genetic studies have shown that the variation of these abilities is partly under genetic control, little is known about these genetic factors. In order to analyze the genetic architecture of spatial navigation in mice, a wide genome scan was performed to map the QTLs that control various aspects of the performance, using the RI strain methodology. Latencies to locate the submerged platform across learning sessions and performance to the spatial probe test were analyzed in the 26 strains of the B × D RI series. Both cluster analysis of behavioral measurements and QTL mapping confirmed previous data showing that the escape latencies and the spatial bias rely on two distinct components of the task, controlled by different loci. A QTL on chromosome 1 influenced escape latencies during the four training sessions, whereas another QTL, located on chromosome 5, was shown to control spatial performance at the probe trial and also exhibited epistatic interactions with two other QTLs on chromosomes 2 and 13. The function of these QTLs is examined in the broader context of hippocampal-dependent learning processes and in relation to QTLs already found in similar positions in other behavioral traits.     

汽车驾驶员模拟精神负荷与心率变异性的相关性分析

汽车驾驶员精神负荷状态下的心率变异性分析对于揭示驾驶员职业应激特点,预防驾驶员职业疾病,保护驾驶员身体健康及提高行驶安全性有重要意义.本文在实验室条件下采用警惕任务代替驾驶员实际精神负荷,应用功率谱分析研究了模拟应激状态下心率变异性(TP,LF,HF,LF/HF)的变化趋势.本实验中,心率变异性频域主要指标如LF、HF、LF/HF表现出显著的线性趋势.结果表明,健康人在持续应激状态下,交感神经张力显著增加,迷走神经张力显著降低.实验结果表明HRV与精神疲劳具有较好的相关性.     

The effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation on the latencies of vertical saccades

In this study, we investigated the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) on the latency of two different types of visually-guided vertical saccades: reflexive saccades triggered by the sudden onset of a target, and saccades towards target locations known in advance. For this reason, we used two oculomotor tasks: a gap and a delay task, respectively. Nine normal subjects performed vertical saccades at ±7.5 and ±15°. TMS was applied at 80 and 100 ms after target onset in the gap task, and after fixation offset in the delay task. Without TMS, we confirmed a latency asymmetry in the gap task favouring upward saccades at the lower eccentricity (7.5°), and a latency symmetry in the delay task. TMS increased the latencies of all saccades in the delay task, when delivered at 100 ms. This effect was mostly pronounced for downward saccades at 7.5°. As a result, saccade latencies showed an asymmetry in this condition, similar to the one observed in the gap task without TMS. The gap task with TMS resulted in a variable latency distribution and no significant overall effect on saccade latency. Our results indicate that the right PPC is involved in the initiation of vertical saccades in the delay task, and that this involvement appears to be enhanced for downward saccades. A conclusion for the involvement of this area in the gap task could not be drawn from this study.     

视空间认知与脑血流速度的相关性研究

目的:探讨视觉空间认知活动对脑血流速度(CBFV)的影响及性别和任务完成质量对相对的CBFV变化的影响。方法:在完成视觉空间认知活动时及其先前的休息期,对45个正常的志愿者(右利手)用经颅超声多普勒(TCD)监测其双侧大脑中动脉血流速度的变化。结果:完成认知任务时与休息时期相比,所有认知任务的完成均诱导出双侧大脑中动脉血流速度的显著变化(P<0.001),这种变化显示出显著的右侧大脑半球偏侧化(P<0.01)。性别对认知活动所诱导的脑血流速度未产生显著的影响(P >0.05),任务表现质量(得分)对CBFV的变化不产生显著的影响。结论:视觉空间认知活动可诱导CBFV的右侧偏侧化。