Individual Differences in Attentional Breadth Changes Over Time: An Event-Related Potential Investigation
Brent Pitchford1, Karen M Arnell1
1Department of Psychology, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada.
Frontiers in Psychology
|April 9, 2021
Summary
Individual differences in attentional breadth over time correlate with changes in event-related potentials (ERPs). Shifts in P1, N1, and P3 ERPs predict changes in attentional breadth, indicating neural reflection of processing focus adjustments.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) to hierarchical stimuli are used to study global/local processing biases.
- Previous research shows mixed results regarding ERP differences and attentional breadth.
- Interindividual differences in attentional breadth are well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if interindividual differences in ERPs predict attentional breadth.
- To determine if intraindividual changes in ERPs predict changes in attentional breadth over time.
Main Methods:
- Participants viewed Navon letter stimuli at two time points.
- Attentional breadth was estimated, and ERPs were isolated.
- Interindividual and intraindividual differences were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Interindividual ERP differences at Time 1 did not predict attentional breadth differences.
- Changes in P1, N1, and P3 ERPs from Time 1 to Time 2 correlated with changes in attentional breadth.
- Smaller N1s and larger P3s accompanied shifts in prioritized processing levels.
Conclusions:
- Intraindividual changes in attentional breadth are reflected in ERP changes over time.
- ERPs to hierarchical stimuli can indicate shifts in attentional focus.
- Neural responses suggest preferred processing levels require less perceptual effort and more attention.
