Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
P50 Sensory Gating in Infants
Published on: December 26, 2013
Externally and internally controlled attention in infants: an EEG study
T A Stroganova1, E V Orekhova, I N Posikera
1Brain Research Institute RAMS, Moscow, Russia. stroganova@ho.siobc.ras.ru
Insights
Infants
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Investigating infant attention is crucial for understanding cognitive development.
- Electroencephalography (EEG) offers a non-invasive method to study brain activity in infants.
- Differentiating internally versus externally controlled attention provides insights into cognitive control mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore electroencephalography (EEG) markers of internally and externally controlled attention in 7-8-month-old infants.
- To examine brain activity patterns during different attentional states, including novel visual stimuli and interactive games.
- To correlate EEG findings with behavioral measures of sustained attention.
Main Methods:
- Recorded EEG from 15 infants (7-8 months old) under three conditions: externally controlled attention (novel stimulation), internally controlled attention (peek-a-boo anticipation), and reappearance phase (social interaction).
- Analyzed relative power (RP) in specific theta (4-5 Hz, 5-6 Hz) and other frequency bands (6-9 Hz).
- Correlated prefrontal and frontal theta RP with the duration of internally controlled attention maintenance.
Main Results:
- Relative power in the 4-5 Hz theta sub-band increased during both phases of the peek-a-boo game.
- Increased 4-5 Hz theta RP during internally controlled attention positively correlated with sustained attention duration.
- Theta (5-6 Hz) and decreased power in higher theta bands (6-9 Hz) were observed, with the latter possibly reflecting sensorimotor rhythm blockage.
Conclusions:
- EEG effectively measures brain mechanisms underlying attention and voluntary control in infants.
- Findings support the 'Diffuse Theta-Response System' model for expectancy and effortful attention.
- Distinct EEG patterns differentiate internally from externally controlled attention in early development.
Abstract:
This work was designed to investigate EEG indices of Internally and Externally Controlled Attention in infancy. EEG was recorded in 15 infants aged 7-8 months under three experimental conditions: (1) visual attention to a new stimulation (Externally Controlled Attention or baseline condition); (2) attention guided by internal cognitive schemata during 'anticipatory' phase of the peek-a-boo game (Internally Controlled Attention); and (3) 'reappearance' phase of the peek-a-boo game when the experimenter talked and smiled to an infant (reappearance). The relative power (RP) in 4-5 single-Hz theta sub-band increased under both phases of the peek-a-boo game. The reactive changes of 4-5 single-Hz RP at prefrontal and frontal leads under the Internally Controlled Attention condition positively correlated with the total time during which an infant was able to maintain ICA. The RP in 5-6 single-Hz theta sub-band significantly increased only under the Internally Controlled Attention condition and did not correlate with the total time of this type of attention. The results support the concept of 'Diffuse Theta-Response System' that is active during expectancy and effortfully focused attention. In contrast to theta, the RP in 6-7, 7-8, and 8-9 single-Hz bands decreased during both phases of the game. The decrease was maximal at precentral leads and most probably reflected blockage of the sensorimotor (mu) rhythm due to higher motility and muscular tension in the game situation. It is concluded that EEG is an adequate vehicle for investigation of brain mechanisms of attention and voluntary control in infants.
