Neural measures of individual differences in selecting and tracking multiple moving objects.

Full Abstract

Attention can be divided so that multiple objects can be tracked simultaneously as they move among distractors. Although attentional tracking is known to be highly limited, such that most individuals can track only approximately four objects simultaneously, the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie this capacity limitation have not been established. Here, we provide electrophysiological measures in humans of the initial selection and sustained attention processes that facilitate attentional tracking. Each measure was modulated by the number of objects the subject was tracking and was highly sensitive to each individual's specific tracking capacity. Consequently, these measures provide strong neurophysiological predictors of an individual's attentional tracking capacity. Moreover, by manipulating the difficulty of these two phases of the task, we observe that the limiting factor underlying tracking capacity can flexibly shift between these two attentional mechanisms depending on the requirements of the task.

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Author information

Author/s: Drew, Trafton (T); Vogel, Edward K (EK);

Affiliation: Psychology Department, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403-1227, USA.

Grants: R01 MH065576-01A2 (Agency:United States NIMH)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience (J Neurosci), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 28 (issue 16) : pp 4183-91

Dates: Created 2008/04/17; Completed 2008/05/05; Revised 2008/10/23;

PMID: 18417697, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/9/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Attention - physiology
Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology
Humans

Humans
Individuality
Motion Perception - physiology
Photic Stimulation - methods
Psychomotor Performance - physiology

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