Investigating the Physiological Underpinnings of Attention Control
Abstract
Program Officer: Natalie Steinhauser, 341Abstract Individual differences in attention control#the ability to maintain focus on task-relevantinformation and ignore distractions by task-irrelevant thoughts and external events#predicts real-world outcomes from academic achievement and job performance to emotion regulation, complex problem solving, and multitasking. Attention control is a cornerstone of higher-order cognition that explains correlations among constructs such as working memory capacity, fluid intelligence, and sensory discrimination ability. Nevertheless, while research has established that attention control is critical to task performance,its physiological underpinnings#that is, how the control of attention is regulated by the central and autonomic nervous system#are less well specified. Our current ONR-funded research examines the relationship between attention control and the Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine system. The Locus Coeruleus is located in the brainstem and modulates activity across brain regions associated with attention control, memory, and perception. By leveraging the relationship between Locus Coeruleus activity and pupil dilation, we are using pupillometry to better understand the physiological basis of attention control and its relationship to other cognitive constructs. Research has recently identified that variability in heart rate is also an important marker of attention control. High-frequency heart rate variability#the variance in the duration between heart beats#reflects the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Our proposed research will investigate, for the first time, the link between the Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine system and heart rate variability. By measuring both simultaneously during task performance and also experimentally manipulating heart rate variability through a training study, we will establish whether a causal link exists between biomarkers of the central and autonomic nervous system. This research will improve our understanding of attention control and guide future efforts to enhance cognitive performance.Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312182
Entities
People
- Randall Engle
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy