Micro- and macro-scale cortical dynamics underlying visual attention

视觉注意力背后的微观和宏观皮层动力学

基本信息

批准号：
8644337
负责人：
Adam Christopher Snyder
金额：
$ 5.33万
依托单位：
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2014
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8644337
关键词：
Animals Area Attention Attention Deficit Disorder Autistic Disorder Award Behavioral Brain Cognitive Complement Contralateral Cues Detection Disease Electrophysiology (science)Equilibrium Eye Foundations Frequencies Future Goals Health Human Image Individual Investigation Knowledge Laboratories Life Link Measures Methodology Methods Modeling Monitor Neurons Outcome Perception Performance Phase Population Postdoctoral Fellow Primates Process Professional Practice Research Research Project Grants Research Subjects Resources Scalp structure Schizophrenia Scientist Signal Transduction Source Stimulus Structure Surface Synaptic Potentials System Task Performances Techniques Therapeutic Intervention Time Training Unit of Measure Variant Visual Visual Perception Visual attention Visual system structure base brain computer interface career design electrical potential electrical property gaze imaging modality improved innovation interest nonhuman primate operation parallel processing public health relevance relating to nervous system research study selective attention stimulus processing

项目摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The visual world contains more information than the brain can process. Fortunately, we have some ability to influence which sources of information receive processing priority through the mechanism of selective attention, and this ability is critical for daily life. Attention involves coordination across the brain at a global level to contol the balance of processing resources in functionally-specialized brain areas operating at a local level. To date, however, laboratory techniques for investigating the neural bases of attention, such as human scalp EEG and single-unit recordings in primates, have been sensitive to only one of these two levels of operation at a time. The goal of this research project is to combine these two methods in a single comprehensive investigation to characterize how these two levels of brain function, the global and the local, interact during control of selective attention. We hav developed a carefully titrated research strategy that will achieve this overarching goal through three systematic and specific aims. We will begin by establishing baseline measures of the links between correlated variability in small populations of neurons and EEG signals measured at the scalp, both in the spontaneous brain state as well as during basic visual perception. We will then add a layer of complexity by introducing an endogenous selective attention task, enabling us to expand our scope beyond low-level perception to higher-level cognitive processes. Finally, with an eye for potential applications of the knowledge gained from the preceding two aims, we will monitor attention signals with a 'closed-loop' system. This will enable us to monitor the animals' natural attentional fluctuations in order to present stimuli in a contextually optimal fashion. Such a 'brain-state-contingent' system would have clear advantages across a wide range of applications. Since this is a training award, another major goal of this project is the training of Dr. Adam C. Snyder, a promising postdoctoral fellow, in the techniques required for single-unit electrophysiology in non-human primates, as well as the professional practices that will be needed throughout what will undoubtedly be his long and productive career as an independent scientist. At the end of this project, Dr. Snyder will have received first-rate trainin in the practices of primate electrophysiology, which will complement his established and proven expertise in human EEG methods, strengthening his foundation as an innovative and successful neuroscientist. From a scientific perspective, we will have developed a model of attention control that spans local and global levels of brain function. This advancement will not only benefit attention research itself, but will provide a framework for future investigations of other brain processes that similarly operate across a range of spatial scales. An understanding of the functioning of attention in health individuals is essential to guide potential therapeutic interventions in disorders involving deficits in attention, including autism, schizophrenia and attention deficit disorder.

描述（由申请人提供）：视觉世界包含的信息多于大脑可以处理的信息。幸运的是，我们有能力通过选择性注意机制影响哪些信息源获得处理优先级，这种能力对于日常生活至关重要。注意力涉及整个大脑在全局层面上的协调，以控制在局部层面上运行的功能专门化大脑区域的处理资源的平衡。然而，迄今为止，用于研究注意力神经基础的实验室技术，例如人类头皮脑电图和灵长类动物的单单元记录，一次仅对这两种操作水平中的一种敏感。该研究项目的目标是将这两种方法结合到一个综合研究中，以描述大脑功能的两个层面（全局和局部）在选择性注意力控制过程中如何相互作用。我们制定了一项仔细滴定的研究策略，将通过三个系统和具体的目标来实现这一总体目标。我们将首先建立小群神经元相关变异与头皮测量的脑电图信号之间联系的基线测量，无论是在自发大脑状态还是在基本视觉感知期间。然后，我们将通过引入内生选择性注意任务来增加一层复杂性，使我们能够将范围从低级感知扩展到更高级别的认知过程。最后，着眼于从前两个目标获得的知识的潜在应用，我们将使用“闭环”系统监控注意力信号。这将使我们能够监测动物的自然注意力波动，以便以上下文最佳的方式呈现刺激。这种“大脑状态偶然”系统在广泛的应用中具有明显的优势。由于这是一个培训奖项，该项目的另一个主要目标是对 Adam C. Snyder 博士（一位有前途的博士后研究员）进行非人类灵长类单单位电生理学所需的技术以及专业实践的培训作为一名独立科学家，在他漫长而富有成效的职业生涯中，无疑将需要这一点。在该项目结束时，斯奈德博士将接受灵长类动物电生理学实践方面的一流培训，这将补充他在人类脑电图方法方面已建立的和经过验证的专业知识，巩固他作为创新和成功的神经科学家的基础。从科学的角度来看，我们将开发出一种涵盖局部和全局大脑功能水平的注意力控制模型。这一进展不仅有利于注意力研究本身，还将为未来研究在一系列空间尺度上类似运作的其他大脑过程提供一个框架。了解健康个体的注意力功能对于指导涉及注意力缺陷的疾病（包括自闭症、精神分裂症和注意力缺陷障碍）的潜在治疗干预至关重要。