Modulation of event-related potentials in normal human subjects by visual divided attention to spatial and color factors

Neurosci Lett. 2001 Oct 5;311(3):198-202. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)02172-3.

Abstract

We investigated how visual event-related potentials (ERPs) are modulated by visual divided attention using an S1-S2 paradigm. Stimulus S2 consisted of non-target stimuli (Stimulus 1, 2, 3) and a target stimulus (Stimulus 4). The spatial/color factor was compared between S1 and S2: same/same (Stimulus 1); same/different (Stimulus 2); different/same (Stimulus 3); and different/different (Stimulus 4). The P1/N1 (90 approximately 150 ms) showed significantly greater amplitude in Stimulus 3 than in Stimuli 1 and 2. The N2 (230 approximately 290ms) showed significantly greater amplitude in Stimulus 2 than in Stimuli 1 and 3. We assumed that the P1/N1 was related to spatial attention, enhanced by alterations to the spatial factor, and that the N2 was related to color attention, enhanced by alterations to the color factor.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention / physiology*
  • Color Perception / physiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Electrooculography
  • Evoked Potentials, Visual / physiology*
  • Eye Movements / physiology
  • Humans
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Temporal Lobe / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*