Oculomotor capture by search-irrelevant features in visual working memory: on the crucial role of target–distractor similarity

Foerster RM, Schneider WX. Oculomotor capture by search-irrelevant features in visual working memory: on the crucial role of target–distractor similarity. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics. 2020;82:2379–2392.When searching for varying targets in the environment, a target template has to be maintained in visual working memory (VWM). Recently, we showed that search-irrelevant features of a VWM template bias attention in an object-based manner, so that objects sharing such features with a VWM template capture the eyes involuntarily. Here, we investigated whether target–distractor similarity modulates capture strength. Participants saccaded to a target accompanied by a distractor. A single feature (e.g., shape) defined the target in each trial indicated by a cue, and the cue also varied in one irrelevant feature (e.g., color). The distractor matched the cue’s irrelevant feature in half of the trials. Nine experiments showed that target–distractor similarity consistently influenced the degree of oculomotor capture. High target–distractor dissimilarity in the search-relevant feature reduced capture by the irrelevant feature (Experiments 1, 3, 6, 7). However, capture was reduced by high target–distractor similarity in the search-irrelevant feature (Experiments 1, 4, 5, 8). Strong oculomotor capture was observed if target–distractor similarity was reasonably low in the relevant and high in the irrelevant feature, irrespective of whether color or shape were relevant (Experiments 2 and 5). These findings argue for involuntary and object-based, top-down control by VWM templates, whereas its manifestation in oculomotor capture depends crucially on target–distractor similarity in relevant and irrelevant feature dimensions of the search object

Task-irrelevant features in visual working memory influence covert attention: Evidence from a partial report task

Foerster RM, Schneider WX. Task-irrelevant features in visual working memory influence covert attention: Evidence from a partial report task. Vision. 2019;3(3): 42. Selecting a target based on a representation in visual working memory (VWM) affords biasing covert attention towards objects with memory-matching features. Recently, we showed that even task-irrelevant features of a VWM template bias attention. Specifically, when participants had to saccade to a cued shape, distractors sharing the cue’s search-irrelevant color captured the eyes. While a saccade always aims at one target location, multiple locations can be attended covertly. Here, we investigated whether covert attention is captured similarly as the eyes. In our partial report task, each trial started with a shape-defined search cue, followed by a fixation cross. Next, two colored shapes, each including a letter, appeared left and right from fixation, followed by masks. The letter inside that shape matching the preceding cue had to be reported. In Experiment 1, either target, distractor, both, or no object matched the cue’s irrelevant color. Target-letter reports were most frequent in target-match trials and least frequent in distractor-match trials. Irrelevant cue and target color never matched in Experiment 2. Still, participants reported the distractor more often to the target’s disadvantage, when cue and distractor color matched. Thus, irrelevant features of a VWM template can influence covert attention in an involuntarily object-based manner when searching for trial-wise varying targets.</jats:p

Involuntary top-down control by search-irrelevant features: Visual working memory biases attention in an object-based manner

Foerster RM, Schneider WX. Involuntary top-down control by search-irrelevant features: Visual working memory biases attention in an object-based manner. Cognition. 2018;172:37-45.Many everyday tasks involve successive visual-search episodes with changing targets. Converging evidence suggests that these targets are retained in visual working memory (VWM) and bias attention from there. It is unknown whether all or only search-relevant features of a VWM template bias attention during search. Bias signals might be configured exclusively to task-relevant features so that only search-relevant features bias at- tention. Alternatively, VWM might maintain objects in the form of bound features. Then, all template features will bias attention in an object-based manner, so that biasing effects are ranked by feature relevance. Here, we investigated whether search-irrelevant VWM template features bias attention. Participants had to saccade to a target opposite a distractor. A colored cue depicted the target prior to each search trial. The target was pre- defined only by its identity, while its color was irrelevant. When target and cue matched not only in identity (search-relevant) but also in color (search-irrelevant), saccades went more often and faster directly to the target than without any color match (Experiment 1). When introducing a cue-distractor color match (Experiment 2), direct target saccades were most likely when target and cue matched in the search-irrelevant color and least likely in case of a cue-distractor color match. When cue and target were never colored the same (Experiment 3), cue-colored distractors still captured the eyes more often than different-colored distractors despite color being search-irrelevant. As participants were informed about the misleading color, the result argues against a strate- gical and voluntary usage of color. Instead, search-irrelevant features biased attention obligatorily arguing for involuntary top-down control by object-based VWM templates

Expectation-violations in sensorimotor sequences: shifting from LTM-based attentional selection to visual search

Foerster RM, Schneider WX. Expectation-violations in sensorimotor sequences: shifting from LTM-based attentional selection to visual search. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2015;1339(1):45-59

Anticipatory eye movements in sensorimotor actions: On the role of guiding fixations during learning

Foerster RM, Schneider WX. Anticipatory eye movements in sensorimotor actions: On the role of guiding fixations during learning. Cognitive Processing. 2015;16(Suppl. 1):227-231.During object-based sensorimotor tasks, humans look at target locations for subsequent hand actions. These anticipatory eye movements or guiding fixations seem to be necessary for a successful perfor- mance. By practicing such a sensorimotor task, humans become faster and perform fewer guiding fixations (Foer- ster and Schneider, In Prep; Foerster et al. in J Vis 11(7):9:1–16, 2011). We aimed at clarifying whether this decrease in guiding fixations is the cause or effect of faster task completion time. Participants may learn to use less visual input (fewer fixations) allowing shorter completion times. Alternatively, participants may speed up their hand movements (e.g., more efficient motor control) leaving less time for visual intake. The latter would imply that the number of fixations is directly connected to task speed. We investigated the relationship between the number of fixa- tions and task speed in a computerized version of the number connection task (Foerster and Schneider in Ann N Y Acad Sci 2015. doi:10.1111/nyas.12729). Eye move- ments were recorded while participants clicked in ascend- ing order on nine numbered circles. In 90 learning trials, they clicked the sequence with a constant spatial configu- ration as fast as possible. In the subsequent experimental phase, they should perform 30 trials again under high- speed instruction and 30 trials under slow-speed instruc- tion. During slow-speed instruction, fixation rates were & Rebecca M. Foerster [email protected] 1 Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany 2 Cognitive Interaction Technology - Center of Excellence (CITEC), Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany lower with longer fixation durations and more fixations were performed than during high-speed instruction. The results suggest that the number of fixations depends on both the need for visual intake and task completion time. It seems that the decrease in anticipatory eye movements through sensorimotor learning is at the same time a result and a cause of faster task performance

Using the virtual reality device Oculus Rift for neuropsychological assessment of visual processing capabilities

Foerster RM, Poth CH, Behler C, Botsch M, Schneider WX. Using the virtual reality device Oculus Rift for neuropsychological assessment of visual processing capabilities. Scientific Reports. 2016;6(1): 37016.Neuropsychological assessment of human visual processing capabilities strongly depends on visual testing conditions including room lighting, stimuli, and viewing-distance. This limits standardization, threatens reliability, and prevents the assessment of core visual functions such as visual processing speed. Increasingly available virtual reality devices allow to address these problems. One such device is the portable, light-weight, and easy-to-use Oculus Rift. It is head-mounted and covers the entire visual field, thereby shielding and standardizing the visual stimulation. A fundamental prerequisite to use Oculus Rift for neuropsychological assessment is sufficient test-retest reliability. Here, we compare the test-retest reliabilities of Bundesen’s visual processing components (visual processing speed, threshold of conscious perception, capacity of visual working memory) as measured with Oculus Rift and a standard CRT computer screen. Our results show that Oculus Rift allows to measure the processing components as reliably as the standard CRT. This means that Oculus Rift is applicable for standardized and reliable assessment and diagnosis of elementary cognitive functions in laboratory and clinical settings. Oculus Rift thus provides the opportunity to compare visual processing components between individuals and institutions and to establish statistical norm distributions

Ultrahigh temporal resolution of visual presentation using gaming monitors and G-Sync

Poth CH, Foerster RM, Behler C, Schwanecke U, Schneider WX, Botsch M. Ultrahigh temporal resolution of visual presentation using gaming monitors and G-Sync. Behavior Research Methods. 2018;50(1):26-38.all implementations, we confirmed the ultra-high temporal resolution of visual presentation with external measurements using a photodiode. Moreover, a psychophysical experiment revealed that the ultra-high temporal resolution impacts on human visual performance. Specifically, observers’ object recognition performance improved over fine-grained increases of object presentation duration in a theoretically predicted way. Taken together, the present study shows that the G- Sync-based presentation method enables to investigate visual processes whose data patterns were concealed by the low temporal resolution of previous technologies. Therefore, this new presentation method may be a valuable tool for experimental psychologists and neuroscientists studying vision and its temporal characteristics

an island endemic forest specialist and a widespread habitat generalist

Background. The bay cat Catopuma badia is endemic to Borneo, whereas its sister species the Asian golden cat Catopuma temminckii is distributed from the Himalayas and southern China through Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Based on morphological data, up to five subspecies of the Asian golden cat have been recognized, but a taxonomic assessment, including molecular data and morphological characters, is still lacking. Results. We combined molecular data (whole mitochondrial genomes), morphological data (pelage) and species distribution projections (up to the Late Pleistocene) to infer how environmental changes may have influenced the distribution of these sister species over the past 120 000 years. The molecular analysis was based on sequenced mitogenomes of 3 bay cats and 40 Asian golden cats derived mainly from archival samples. Our molecular data suggested a time of split between the two species approximately 3.16 Ma and revealed very low nucleotide diversity within the Asian golden cat population, which supports recent expansion of the population. Discussion. The low nucleotide diversity suggested a population bottleneck in the Asian golden cat, possibly caused by the eruption of the Toba volcano in Northern Sumatra (approx. 74 kya), followed by a continuous population expansion in the Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene. Species distribution projections, the reconstruction of the demographic history, a genetic isolation-by-distance pattern and a gradual variation of pelage pattern support the hypothesis of a post-Toba population expansion of the Asian golden cat from south China/Indochina to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Our findings reject the current classification of five subspecies for the Asian golden cat, but instead support either a monotypic species or one comprising two subspecies: (i) the Sunda golden cat, distributed south of the Isthmus of Kra: C. t. temminckii and (ii) Indochinese, Indian, Himalayan and Chinese golden cats, occurring north of the Isthmus: C. t. moormensis

COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on dental education: digitalization – progress or regress? Example of an online hands-on course

Background Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the accompanying contact restrictions, a new challenge arose for dental education. Despite the limited overall situation, it must be ensured that, in addition to theoretical content, practical skills in particular continue to be taught. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and implement an online hands-on course for dental students that ensures practical training, even during the pandemic. Methods The newly developed course was held from April 2020 to March 2021. A total of six groups (each consisting of approximately 40–50 students) took part in the course. The participating students were in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of study. The course taught theoretical basics (via an online platform) and promoted the learning of practical/surgical techniques on models such as bananas, pork bellies, or chicken thighs with live demonstrations (via ZOOM) and interactive post-preparation by students at home (and in a rotating small group of 3–7 students on site). Student self-evaluation (at the beginning and end of the course) and course evaluation were performed using questionnaires. The learning success was analyzed (through self-evaluations) using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (significance level alpha = 0.05). Results Concerning students´ self-evaluations, the theoretical knowledge, general surgical skills (such as surgical instrument handling), and specific surgical skills (such as performing a kite flap) improved during the course, with significant results (p < 0.001 for each). About 60% of the students rated the course overall as excellent (grades 9 or 10 on a Likert scale of 1 to 10). The technical implementation of the course was rated with a median of 9 (= very good, on a Likert scale of 1 to 10). 38.5% described the applicability of the skills learned for their later professional life as extremely good. Conclusions The results of this work suggest that, within the limitations of this study, the introduced concept of an online hands-on course could be an appropriate form of teaching practical dental skills, even during a pandemic. Further research is needed in the field of digital education for dental students

COMPARAÇÃO ENTRE O MÉTODO REEQUILÍBRIO TORACOABDOMINAL E A TÉCNICA DE DRENAGEM AUTÓGENA ASSISTIDA SOBRE OS PARÂMETROS FISIOLÓGICOS E DESCONFORTO RESPIRATÓRIO EM RECÉM-NASCIDOS PRÉ-TERMO:ENSAIO CLÍNICO RANDOMIZADO

Assisted Autogenous Drainage (DAA) and the Thoracoabdominal Rebalancing (RTA) method assist in the synergism of abdominal muscles and breathing, which facilitates bronchial hygiene and improves respiratory mechanics. The aim of this study was to compare the RTA method with the DAA on physiological parameters and respiratory distress in preterm newborns (PTNB). This is a randomized clinical trial in which 30 PTNB participated, allocated in two groups (DAA and RTA group), submitted to a treatment protocol that used DAA or RTA. The variables analyzed were peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), respiratory rate (RR) and heart rate (HR) in addition to respiratory distress (DR) by the Silverman Andersen Bulletin (BSA). Data were collected in 2 moments: before randomization and immediately after the end of the protocol. The HR of PTNBs, immediately after, submitted to AAD decreased significantly in relation to the RTA group (p = 0.040). For the variables SpO₂, RR and BSA score, there was no difference between the experimental groups in any of the evaluated moments. On the other hand, in the intra-group comparison, SpO₂ increased (DAA: p = 0.002; RTA: p = 0.004) and FR decreased (DAA: p = 0.015; RTA: p = 0.017) significantly. Thus, the data show that the RTA and DAA do not differ with respect to the variables analyzed in this study, but are safe and have beneficial results in the SpO₂ and RF of PTNBA Drenagem Autógena Assistida (DAA) e o método Reequilíbrio Toracoabdominal (RTA) auxiliam no sinergismo da musculatura abdominal e da respiração, o que facilita a higiene brônquica e melhora da mecânica respiratória. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar o método de RTA com a DAA sobre os parâmetros fisiológicos e desconforto respiratório no recém-nascido pré-termo (RNPT). Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado do qual participaram 30 RNPT, alocados em dois grupos (grupo DAA e RTA), submetidos a um protocolo de tratamento que utilizou a DAA ou o RTA. As variáveis analisadas foram a saturação periférica de oxigênio (SpO₂), frequência respiratória (FR) e cardíaca (FC) além do desconforto respiratório (DR) pelo Boletim de Silverman Andersen (BSA). Os dados foram coletados em 2 momentos: antes da randomização e imediatamente após o término do protocolo. A FC dos RNPT, no momento imediatamente após, submetidos à DAA diminuiu significativamente em relação ao grupo RTA (p=0,040). Para as variáveis SpO₂, FR e escore do BSA, não houve diferença entre os grupos experimentais em nenhum dos momentos avaliados. Por outro lado, na comparação intragrupo, a SpO₂ aumentou (DAA: p=0,002; RTA: p=0,004) e a FR diminuiu (DAA: p=0,015; RTA: p=0,017) significativamente. Desta forma, os dados mostram que o RTA e DAA não diferem entre si no que se refere as variáveis analisadas neste estudo, mas se mostram seguros e apresentam resultados benéficos na SpO₂ e FR dos RNPT