Temporal Binding and Segmentation in Visual Search: A Computational Neuroscience Analysis

Human visual search operates not only over space but also over time, as old items remain in the visual field and new items appear. Preview search (where one set of distractors appears before the onset of a second set) has been used as a paradigm to study search over time and space [Watson, D. G., & Humphreys, G. W. Visual marking: Prioritizing selection for new objects by top–down attentional inhibition of old objects. Psychological Review, 104, 90–122, 1997], with participants showing efficient search when old distractors can be ignored and new targets prioritized. The benefits of preview search are lost, however, if a temporal gap is introduced between a first presentation of the old items and the re-presentation of all the items in the search display [Kunar, M. A., Humphreys, G. W., & Smith, K. J. History matters: The preview benefit in search is not onset capture. Psychological Science, 14, 181–185, 2003a], consistent with the old items being bound by temporal onset to the new stimuli. This effect of temporal binding can be eliminated if the old items reappear briefly before the new items, indicating also a role for the memory of the old items. Here we simulate these effects of temporal coding in search using the spiking search over time and space model [Mavritsaki, E., Heinke, D., Allen, H., Deco, G., & Humphreys, G. W. Bridging the gap between physiology and behavior: Evidence from the sSoTS model of human visual attention. Psychological Review, 118, 3–41, 2011]. We show that a form of temporal binding by new onsets has to be introduced to the model to simulate the effects of a temporal gap, but that effects of the memory of the old item can stem from continued neural suppression across a temporal gap. We also show that the model can capture the effects of brain lesion on preview search under the different temporal conditions. The study provides a proof-of-principle analysis that neural suppression and temporal binding can be sufficient to account for human search over time and space

Decomposition of neural circuits of human attention using a model based analysis: sSoTs model application to fMRI data

The complex neural circuits found in fMRI studies of human attention were decomposed using a model of spiking neurons. The model for visual search over time and space (sSoTS) incorporates different synaptic components (NMDA, AMPA, GABA) and a frequency adaptation mechanism based on IAHP current. This frequency adaptation current can act as a mechanism that suppresses the previously attended items. It has been shown [1] that when the passive process (frequency adaptation) is coupled with a process of active inhibition, new items can be successfully prioritized over time periods matching those found in psychological studies. In this study we use the model to decompose the neural regions mediating the processes of active attentional guidance, and the inhibition of distractors, in search. Activity related to excitatory guidance and inhibitory suppression was extracted from the model and related to different brain regions by using the synaptic activation from sSoTS’s maps as regressors for brain activity derived from standard imaging analysis techniques. The results show that sSoTS pulls-apart discrete brain areas mediating excitatory attentional guidance and active distractor inhibition

Cross-cultural differences in visual attention: a computational modelling study

Literature in visual perception has identified that there are cross-cultural differences in visual perception [1]. Research comparing members of interdepended and collectivist East Asian cultures with independent and individualist European American cultures into picture perception showed that East Asians are more likely to attend the perceptual field as a whole and to focus on context and Westerns to focus on the salient foreground objects [1]. Research on cross-cultural differences has focused on investigating cross-cultural differences related to bottom-up information. Furthermore, research that experimentally manipulated the cultural norms of individualism and collectivism groups managed to attenuate cultural-specific preferences for social factors beneficial in human motivation [2]. Investigating the underlying mechanisms involved in these differences is very important as it can affect everyday tasks, advertisement and many other aspects of our everyday life. Here we present the first steps of this work, investigating the underlying processes in cross-cultural differences using computational modelling studies. The computational model is based on the spiking Search over Space and Time (sSoTS) model [3], that has been used to simulate Visual Attention task. sSoTS has incorporated mechanisms that allows us to investigate both bottomup and top-down processes. We show that sSoTS can successfully simulate cross-cultural differences in Visual attention involving bottom-up tasks. Moreover, we expand the studies by making predictions from the computational modelling studies for cross-cultural differences and top-down tasks

Bridging the gap between physiology and behavior: evidence from the sSoTS model of human visual attention

We present the case for a role of biologically plausible neural network modelling in bridging the gap between physiology and behavior. We argue that spiking level networks can allow ‘vertical’ translation between physiological properties of neural systems and emergent ‘whole system’ performance – enabling psychological results to be simulated from implemented networks, and also inferences to be made from simulations concerning processing at a neural level. These models also emphasise particular factors (e.g., the dynamics of performance in relation to real-time neuronal processing) that are not highlighted in other approaches and which can be tested empirically. We illustrate our argument from neural-level models that select stimuli by biased competition. We show that a model with biased competition dynamics can simulate data ranging from physiological studies of single cell activity (Study 1) to ‘whole system’ behavior in human visual search (Study 2), while also capturing effects at ‘intermediate level’, including performance break down after neural lesion (Study 3) and data from brain imaging (Study 4). We also show that, at each level of analysis novel predictions can be derived from the biologically plausible parameters adopted, which we proceed to test (Study 5). We argue that, at least for studying the dynamics of visual attention, the approach productively links single cell to psychological data

Effective Communication for Water Resilient Communities: A Conceptual Framework

Communication campaigns to promote the importance of water as a vital but limited resource have evolved in many ways. Nowadays, the resources, techniques and skills to deliver effective communication campaigns are far greater than ever before. Over the past decades, there has been a significant body of research towards improving water conservation campaign communication but with limited success in promoting more resilient behaviours on behalf of water consumers. While the media and technology have rapidly evolved and awareness among consumers may have increased, this has not been sufficient to make the communication effective in changing behaviour. Communications to promote resilience among consumers need to reach a wide audience, capture audiences’ attention, build awareness and motivate water consumers to consume water sustainably. This represents a subject in need of further theoretical and conceptual investigation. This research reviews various approaches to effective communication and through a synthesis of the concepts aim to present a new, socio-psychological water conservation conceptual framework. The present conceptual framework integrates emotional appeal, for use on social media platforms and in order to foster more water resilient communities. This framework represents a potentially major contribution in providing guidelines for water sectors to deliver effective video communications on social media platform

BCU Magnesium Symposium 2017 Abstract Booklet

Abstracts of magnesium research at BCU and Meridian Technologies Ltd, supplementary material to the BCU Magnesium symposium 20 July 201

Technostress and academic motivation: direct and indirect effects on university students' psychological health

Introduction: Research has well demonstrated that the pandemic entailed several implications among university students worldwide in terms of increased use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), technostress, disruptions in academic goals and motivation processes, and growing psychological suffering. Responding to the new research need to go in-depth into the processes linking technostress and motivation dimensions to inform current research/interventions, the present study aimed to explore the direct effects of perceived Technostress dimensions (Techno-Overload, Work-Home Conflict, Pace of Change, Techno-Ease, Techno-Reliability, and Techno-Sociality) and Academic Motivation dimensions (Amotivation, Intrinsic, and Extrinsic Motivation dimensions) on students' perceived levels of Anxiety/Depression and test the potential indirect effect (mediating role) of Academic Motivation dimensions in the associations between Technostress and psychological health conditions. Methods: Overall, 1,541 students from five European countries (Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Serbia, United Kingdom) completed a survey comprising a Background Information Form, the Technostress Scale, the Academic Motivation Scale-College, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Hayes' PROCESS tool was used to test direct and indirect (mediating) effects. Results: Data revealed that Techno-Overload, Work-Home Conflict, Amotivation, and Extrinsic Motivation-Introjected had a direct negative effect, whereas Techno-Ease, Techno-Reliability, Techno-Sociality, all Intrinsic Motivation dimensions, and Extrinsic Motivation-Identified had a direct protective role for students' psychological health. The significant indirect role of motivation dimensions in the associations between Technostress dimensions and Anxiety/Depression was fully supported. Discussion: Findings allow gaining further insight into the pathways of relationships between technostress, motivation, and psychological health, to be used in the current phase, featured by the complete restoration of face-to-face contacts, to inform the development of tailored research and interventions, which address lights and shadows of the technology use, and which take into account the necessity to enhance its potentials yet without impairing students' motivation and psychological health

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

26th Annual Computational Neuroscience Meeting (CNS*2017): Part 3 - Meeting Abstracts - Antwerp, Belgium. 15–20 July 2017

This work was produced as part of the activities of FAPESP Research,\ud Disseminations and Innovation Center for Neuromathematics (grant\ud 2013/07699-0, S. Paulo Research Foundation). NLK is supported by a\ud FAPESP postdoctoral fellowship (grant 2016/03855-5). ACR is partially\ud supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)