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Attentional training in elderly subjects affects voluntarily oriented, but not automatic attention: a
Domenica Le Pera1, Francesca Ranghi, Liala De Armas
1Department of Motor Rehabilitation, Casa di Cura San Raffaele Pisana, IRCCS, via della Pisana 235, 00163 Rome, Italy. dlepera@tiscali.it
Neuroscience Research
|June 23, 2005
Summary
Repetitive recordings reduce voluntary spatial attention, evidenced by decreased N140 potential amplitude in elderly subjects. Automatic attention, however, remains unaffected by stimulus repetition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Spatial attention is crucial for cognitive function.
- Understanding how attention is affected by repeated stimuli is important for aging research.
- Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) offer insights into neural processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of repetitive recordings on SEPs related to spatial attention in healthy elderly individuals.
- To differentiate the effects of stimulus repetition on voluntary versus automatic attention.
- To analyze changes in N140 and P300 potentials during sustained testing.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen healthy elderly subjects participated in a six-day somatosensory oddball paradigm study.
- Target and non-target stimuli were delivered to the elbow and shoulder, respectively.
- Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded from six electrodes.
Main Results:
- The N140 potential amplitude to target stimuli significantly decreased across recording sessions, peaking on day four.
- A partial recovery of N140 amplitude was observed by the sixth day.
- N140 amplitude to non-target stimuli and P300 potential amplitude to target stimuli showed no significant changes.
Conclusions:
- Stimulus repetition diminishes voluntarily oriented spatial attention, as indicated by the reduced N140 amplitude for target stimuli.
- Automatic attention, reflected by the N140 response to non-target stimuli and P300 potential, is not affected by repetition.
- These findings highlight the differential impact of repetition on attentional processes in older adults.