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The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Demeter, E; De Alburquerque, D; Woldorff, MG
Published in: Neuropsychologia
August 2016

Distraction can impede our ability to detect and effectively process task-relevant stimuli in our environment. Here we leveraged the high temporal resolution of event-related potentials (ERPs) to study the neural consequences of a global, continuous distractor on signal-detection processes. Healthy, young adults performed the dSAT task, a translational sustained-attention task that has been used across different species and in clinical groups, in the presence and absence of ongoing distracting stimulation. We found the presence of distracting stimuli impaired participants' ability to behaviorally detect task-relevant signal stimuli and greatly affected the neural cascade of processes underlying signal detection. Specifically, we found distraction reduced an anterior and a posterior early-latency N2 ERP component (~140-220ms) and modulated long-latency, detection-related P3 components (P3a: ~200-330ms, P3b: 300-700ms), even to correctly detected targets. These data provide evidence that distraction can induce powerful alterations in the neural processes related to signal detection, even when stimuli are behaviorally detected.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neuropsychologia

DOI

EISSN

1873-3514

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

89

Start / End Page

335 / 343

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Time Factors
  • Signal Detection, Psychological
  • Reaction Time
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology
 

Citation

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Demeter, E., De Alburquerque, D., & Woldorff, M. G. (2016). The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection. Neuropsychologia, 89, 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.06.038
Demeter, Elise, Daniela De Alburquerque, and Marty G. Woldorff. “The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection.Neuropsychologia 89 (August 2016): 335–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.06.038.
Demeter E, De Alburquerque D, Woldorff MG. The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection. Neuropsychologia. 2016 Aug;89:335–43.
Demeter, Elise, et al. “The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection.Neuropsychologia, vol. 89, Aug. 2016, pp. 335–43. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.06.038.
Demeter E, De Alburquerque D, Woldorff MG. The effects of ongoing distraction on the neural processes underlying signal detection. Neuropsychologia. 2016 Aug;89:335–343.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuropsychologia

DOI

EISSN

1873-3514

Publication Date

August 2016

Volume

89

Start / End Page

335 / 343

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Time Factors
  • Signal Detection, Psychological
  • Reaction Time
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Female
  • Experimental Psychology