Physically activated modes of attentional control

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Physiology

Background:

• Attentional control is crucial for daily functioning, yet it is influenced by dynamic sensory input, internal goals, and physiological changes.
• Global physiological states significantly impact the brain's attentional processes, requiring a deeper understanding of these interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel framework for understanding physically activated attentional control in humans.
• To integrate evidence from brain recordings in active individuals to explain how physiological states modulate attention.

Main Methods:

• Synthesizing converging evidence from brain recordings in physically active humans and nonhuman models.
• Developing a theoretical framework to explain the mechanisms of attentional control.

Main Results:

• Identification of at least two distinct physically activated modes of attentional control: altered gain control and differential neuromodulation of control networks.
• The proposed framework integrates physiological state influences with established models of attentional regulation.

Conclusions:

• The new framework provides a comprehensive understanding of how physical activity and global physiological states impact attentional control.
• This model has broad implications for studying cognitive functions and various states in both controlled laboratory settings and real-world environments.