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Covert tracking: a combined ERP and fixational eye movement study.
Alexis D J Makin1, Ellen Poliakoff, Rochelle Ackerley
1School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|June 22, 2012
Summary
Covertly tracking moving objects requires coordinated spatial and temporal attention. This study reveals that both brain hemispheres equally contribute to this process, challenging previous theories.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Visuospatial Attention
- Oculomotor System
Background:
- Spatial and temporal attention are typically studied in isolation.
- Covert tracking necessitates continuous integration of spatial and temporal information.
- Previous research proposed right-hemisphere dominance and oculomotor involvement in covert tracking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural and cognitive basis of covertly tracking smoothly moving objects.
- To test the hypotheses of right-hemisphere lateralization and pre-motor oculomotor system involvement.
- To examine the coordination of spatial and temporal attention during continuous tracking.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous recording of event-related potentials (ERPs) and eye position.
- Participants covertly tracked dots moving horizontally at different speeds (12 and 20°/s).
- Analysis of ERPs and eye movement data in relation to target motion direction.
Main Results:
- ERPs showed sensitivity to the direction of target motion.
- Hemispheric activity during tracking was symmetrical, mirroring motion direction (leftward vs. rightward).
- Lateralized eye position shifts indicated covert activation of the oculomotor system.
Conclusions:
- Covert tracking relies on a symmetrical frontoparietal attentional system, not right-hemisphere lateralization.
- The visuospatial tracking system engages both attentional control and the oculomotor system for pursuit eye movements.
- Continuous coordination of spatial and temporal attention is achieved through a bilateral neural network.
