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Background: Some individuals have a normal audiogram but have listening difficulties (LiD). As many studies have investigated the relationship between listening and developmental disorders, the traits of developmental disorders might explain the symptoms of LiD. In this study, we examined the traits of developmental disorders of adults with LiD to help clarify the cause of LiD symptoms. Methods: In total, 60 adults with LiD and 57 adults without LiD were included. Participants completed a questionnaire for the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) test, the Adult Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Rating Scale (A-ADHD), the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (SP), and the severity of subjective LiD in daily life. Results: Before analysis, we excluded participants with LiD who were already diagnosed or met the criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or ADHD, and the results of the remaining 30 participants (50.0%) with LiD were analyzed. Adults with LiD showed higher scores than those without LiD in the AQ. Attention switching in the AQ and attention ability in the A-ADHD scale were correlated with the severity of LiD symptoms in everyday life. The AQ scores were also significantly correlated with subscales of the SP. Conclusions: Adults with LiD showed greater autistic traits than those without LiD; therefore, LiD symptoms are possibly related to autistic symptoms. Furthermore, adults with LiD might have attention disorder traits of both ASD and ADHD and sensory processing problems. These findings suggest that the attention problems in adults with LiD noted in previous studies might be related to these traits of developmental disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People tend to obtain information through fragmented reading. However, this behavior itself might lead to distraction and affect cognitive ability. To address it, it is necessary to understand how fragmented reading behavior influences readers' attention switching. In this study, the researchers first collected online news that had 6 theme words and 60 sentences to compose the experimental material, then defined the degree of text dissimilarity, used to measure the degree of attention switching based on the differences in text content, and conducted an EEG experiment based on P200. The results showed that even after reading the fragmented text content with the same overall content, people in subsequent cognitive tasks had more working memory capacity, lower working memory load, and less negative impact on cognitive ability with the text content with lower text dissimilarity. Additionally, attention switching caused by differences in concept or working memory representation of text content might be the key factor affecting cognitive ability in fragmented reading behavior. The findings disclosed the relation between cognitive ability and fragmented reading and attention switching, opening a new perspective on the method of text dissimilarity. This study provides some references on how to reduce the negative impact of fragmented reading on cognitive ability on new media platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neural mechanisms underpinning the dynamic switching of a listener's attention between speakers are not well understood. Here we addressed this issue in a natural conversation involving 21 triadic adult groups. Results showed that when the listener's attention dynamically switched between speakers, neural synchronization with the to-be-attended speaker was significantly enhanced, whereas that with the to-be-ignored speaker was significantly suppressed. Along with attention switching, semantic distances between sentences significantly increased in the to-be-ignored speech. Moreover, neural synchronization negatively correlated with the increase in semantic distance but not with acoustic change of the to-be-ignored speech. However, no difference in neural synchronization was found between the listener and the two speakers during the phase of sustained attention. These findings support the attenuation model of attention, indicating that both speech signals are processed beyond the basic physical level. Additionally, shifting attention imposes a cognitive burden, as demonstrated by the opposite fluctuations of interpersonal neural synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the level of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and to detect a possible correlation between the autistic traits and the level of fear and to learn about other factors that may affect the level of fear. Methods: The study utilised a questionnaire and was conducted online in the period from 16.02.2021 to 11.06.2021. The test group consisted of 214 respondents with an average age of 23.78 years (95%CI: 22.48 - 25.08; max: 61, min: 14) from the general population. The study used The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire to assess the degree of autistic traits in the general population and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, which was used to assess the level of fear of COVID-19. Results: Among the respondents, 9 people scored =32 on the AQ test and were considered to have a high degree of autistic traits. In multiple regression (R2 = 0.1, p<0.0001), a positive relationship between the severity of fear of COVID-19 and the autistic traits (p=0.01) and age (p<0.001) was obtained. Additionally, a second multiple regression (R2 = 0.1, p<0.000001) including the subscales of AQ was performed and a positive relationship between the severity of fear of COVID-19 and the difficulties in attention switching (p=0.0004) and age (p=0.00001) was obtained. Conclusion: People with higher autistic traits present greater fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest that it might be caused by cognitive stiffness and disorders in emotions regulation, according to the literature. The elderly also present higher levels of fear. The other variables did not affect the level of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to advance our understanding of the nature and source(s) of individual differences in pragmatic language behavior over the adult lifespan. Across four story continuation experiments, we probed adults' (N = 496 participants, ages 18-82) choice of referential forms (i.e., names vs. pronouns to refer to the main character). Our manipulations were based on Fossard et al.'s (2018) scale of referential complexity which varies according to the visual properties of the scene: low complexity (one character), intermediate complexity (two characters of different genders), and high complexity (two characters of the same gender). Since pronouns signal topic continuity (i.e., that the discourse will continue to be about the same referent), the use of pronouns is expected to decrease as referential complexity increases. The choice of names versus pronouns, therefore, provides insight into participants' perception of the topicality of a referent, and whether that varies by age and cognitive capacity. In Experiment 1, we used the scale to test the association between referential choice, aging, and cognition, identifying a link between older adults' switching skills and optimal referential choice. In Experiments 2-4, we tested novel manipulations that could impact the scale and found both the TIMING of a competitor referent's presence and EMPHASIS placed on competitors modulated referential choice, leading us to refine the scale for future use. Collectively, Experiments 1-4 highlight what type of contextual information is prioritized at different ages, revealing older adults' preserved sensitivity to (visual) scene complexity but reduced sensitivity to linguistic prominence cues, compared to younger adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to investigate the level of fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and to detect a possible correlation between the autistic traits and the level of fear and to learn about other factors that may affect the level of fear.MethodsThe study utilised a questionnaire and was conducted online in the period from 16.02.2021 to 11.06.2021. The test group consisted of 214 respondents with an average age of 23.78 years (95%CI: 22.48 – 25.08; max: 61, min: 14) from the general population. The study used The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) questionnaire to assess the degree of autistic traits in the general population and The Fear of COVID-19 Scale, which was used to assess the level of fear of COVID-19.ResultsAmong the respondents, 9 people scored ≥32 on the AQ test and were considered to have a high degree of autistic traits. In multiple regression (R2 = 0.1, p

Researchers have investigated the impact of social presence and avatars across various contexts. While many studies highlight the positive outcomes associated with increased social presence for students, prior research has not delved into how heightened presence may affect students exhibiting traits of neurodiversity. This study (N = 291) assesses participants' perceptions of avatars in terms of anthropomorphism and two presence categories: other-copresence and self-copresence. Additionally, the study explores the moderating role of neurodiversity traits, specifically attention switching and attention to detail, on perceptions of self-copresence. The analysis reveals that more anthropomorphic avatars enhance perceptions of other-copresence. However, moderation analysis indicates that individuals struggling with attention-switching experience reduced self-copresence when other-copresence is higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since few studies have explored the impact of Pilates exercise on cognitive functions in adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), this study aims to evaluate the effect of Pilates training on attention switching and sustained attention in a sample of adults with ADHD. The sample consisted of 52 adults with ADHD in the age range of 20 to 50 years, who were randomized into a 24-week Pilates training group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 27). The participants were followed up for 6 months. The treatment group (Pilates exercise) exhibited significant improvement in sustained attention in the post-test and follow-up, particularly in terms of omission errors, commission errors, and reaction time (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results suggested that attention switching improved substantially in the post-test in terms of perseverative errors, non-perseverative errors, and total errors (p < 0.05). Findings offer evidence on the positive impact of Pilates training on attention problems in adults with ADHD. Registration code: IR.UM. REC.1398.133. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention switching is involved in postural adjustments for gait. A deficit in attention switching was expected among patients having Parkinson's disease and experiencing freezing. There was a deficit in attention switching abilities among the patients of Parkinson's disease, having episodes of freezing of gait. The task accuracy and reaction time of the freezing group was significantly reduced compared to the non-freezing group having Parkinson's disease and healthy control group on total AST task performance, congruent and incongruent trials. The non-freezing group with Parkinson's disease was also slower than the healthy control group, but its accuracy was not affected. The results suggest that patients with freezing of gait experienced a stronger deficit in attention-switching than the non-freezing group of Parkinson's disease. This attention switching deficit among freezers may imply inappropriate allocation of attention for postural responses required for stepping and resulting in freezing. Also, the non-freezing group may have prioritized accuracy over time as a compensatory strategy that may be slowing their gait but prevents freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality (AR) is being used increasingly in a number of domains for task assistance. Evolving augmented reality solutions may require more than one display screen in certain scenarios. Switching between the display screens repeatedly, in order to gather information, would thus be required in such AR environments. Repeatedly switching between the display screens will require the users to change their attention continuously. Additionally, the eye lens will have to accommodate at different distances when viewing the information presented on multiple display screens. These repeated accommodation demands, to change the focus of the eye lens, will put additional strain on the accommodation mechanism of the eye, thereby increasing visual fatigue. Attention switching and increased accommodation demands will eventually affect human performance. The human visual system will also be affected by the amount of light it is exposed to. It is understandable that the brightness of the display in an AR environment with respect to the ambient light would affect the visual fatigue induced in the users and eventually impact their performance. This study was aimed at studying the effect of repeated eye lens accommodation, attention switching and display screen brightness on human performance and visual fatigue, under typical illumination conditions. It was observed that medium brightness level induced least visual fatigue and resulted in highest performance levels in a room well lit by LED luminaries. Repeated eye lens accommodation and attention switching, involved in screen switching, were found to induce visual fatigue and adversely affect human performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Available data suggest that inflexible allocation of attention in people on the autism spectrum can lead to anxiety and depression symptoms, through the increase of repetitive negative thinking (worry and rumination). In the present study, we used dispositional mindfulness as a proxy to attention flexibility and tested its role in the influence of repetitive negative thinking on affective symptoms (anxiety and depression) in people with different autistic-like traits. Method: Path analysis was used to test the direct and indirect effects of different autistic-like traits, dispositional mindfulness, worry and rumination on anxiety-related concerns and depression symptoms in a sample (n = 209) of neurotypical adults. Results: Autistic-like traits implying poor attention switching and communication abilities were linked to higher dispositional mindfulness, increased repetitive thinking, and stronger affective symptoms through largely shared pathways. Autistic-like traits implying strong attention-to-detail bypassed dispositional mindfulness in the pathways linking increased repetitive negative thinking and stronger affective symptoms. Conclusions: The present findings indicate that dispositional mindfulness can play a protective role against the impact of worry and rumination on affective symptoms in some people but not in others, depending on different autistic-like traits. Preregistration: This study was not pre-registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have revealed the effect of set size (the number of activated items) on object switching in working memory, but the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. In this study, participants were asked to first remember two (small size) or three (large size) two‐digit numbers and the corresponding geometrical figures as different references for numerical comparison and then compare a series of numbers (10–99) to the reference numbers cued by different geometrical figures. The cue repeated or switched across trials. Behavioral results revealed that the switch cost was greater in the large‐size condition than in the small‐size condition. Event‐related potential results showed that in the N2 component, an interaction was observed between set size and transition, with a significant transition effect (switch minus repeat) in the large‐size condition and a non‐significant transition effect in the small‐size condition. The same interaction was observed in the P3 component, with a larger amplitude difference (switch minus repeat) in the large‐size condition than in the small‐size condition. These results suggested that when set size is increased, the effort to inhibit the irrelevant items increases, resulting in large cost of object switching in working memory. In the first ERP study of the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of set size on the cost of object switching in working memory, we showed that the effect of memory set size on switch cost is mirrored in brain potentials in the N2 and P3 components, with a larger amplitude difference (switch minus repeat) in large‐size than small‐size condition, reflecting increased selective inhibition of irrelevant items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interoceptive accuracy has been widely measured using the Heartbeat Tracking Test (HTT). We devised the novel paradigm of Interoception-Exteroception Synchronicity Judgement (IESJ) task to assess participants' interoceptive accuracy, exteroceptive accuracy, and the balancing score which reflected the ability to allocate attentions between interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. This study administered the behavioural paradigms of the HTT and the IESJ as well as other self-report scales to 119 typically-developing youths. Individuals with lower autistic traits (n = 30) showed comparable interoceptive accuracy, exteroceptive accuracy, and balancing scores as their higher autistic traits counterparts (n = 33). Taken together, the high autistic traits subgroup exhibited higher levels of alexithymia but not empathy or interoception than the low autistic traits subgroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobilephone distraction in learning is a widely observed phenomenon due to dividing and switching attention between learning activities (e.g., attending lectures and reading textbooks) and off-task activities (e.g., texting and chatting). In the past 30 years, hundreds of empirical studies have examined this distraction and generated abundant but inconclusive findings. Built on two influential meta-analyses (Liu et al., 2017; Kates et al., 2018), this meta-analysis aimed to systematically synthesize evidence from 27 randomized controlled experiments, with a total of 55 effect sizes and 2245 participants, and precisely estimate the effect of mobilephone distraction on students' immediate recall scores for the first time. It is concluded that mobilephone distraction (1) causes an overall negative medium-sized effect on immediate recall (Hedges'g = −0.65, 95% CI [-0.81, −0.49]), (2) has a negative nearly-large-sized effect on lecture recall (Hedges's g = −0.70, 95% CI [ -.86, -.54 ]), (3) is significantly moderated by gender but not by the 10 other moderators related to study features and demographical variables, and (4) is not distorted by publication bias, outlier studies, and missing data. These findings and future studies are discussed. • Mobilephone distraction in learning is widely observed phenomenon. • Evidence from 27 experiments is synthesized in a meta-analysis. • Mobilephone distraction causes a negative medium-sized effect on learning memory. • It also harms females significantly more than males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of non-informational speech spectrum noise as a distractor on cognitive and listening comprehension ability was examined in fifty-three young, normal hearing adults. Time-controlled tasks were used to measure auditory working memory (WM) capacity and attention switching (AS) ability. Listening comprehension was measured using a lecture, interview, and spoken narratives test. Noise level was individually set to achieve at least 90% or higher speech intelligibility. Participants’ listening comprehension in the presence of distracting noise was better on inference questions compared to listening in quiet. Their speed of information processing was also significantly faster in WM and AS tasks in noise. These results were consistent with the view that noise may enhance arousal levels leading to faster information processing during cognitive tasks. Whereas the speed of AS was faster in noise, this rapid switching of attention resulted in more errors in updating items. Participants who processed information faster in noise and did so accurately, more effectively switched their attention to refresh/rehearse recall items within WM. More efficient processing deployed in the presence of noise appeared to have led to improvements in WM performance and making inferences in a listening comprehension task. Additional research is required to examine these findings using background noise that can cause informational masking.

Although adult patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sleep problems, few studies have verified the effect of a psychological approach specific to sleep–wake rhythms on these sleep disturbances. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to develop a trans-diagnostic approach with sleep scheduling and regularity of sleep duration as core modules, and to examine the effect of the intervention in adult ADHD and/or ASD subjects with sleep disturbances. This was a within-group pilot study. Ten patients with adult ADHD and/or ASD with sleep disturbances (10 males, age: 27.4 ± 5.6 years) took part in a 90-min weekly group intervention for 5 weeks. All participants were assessed on scales for sleep complaints, anxiety, depression, and symptoms of ADHD and ASD before and after the intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. The results showed that the intervention significantly improved sleep disturbances at post-intervention (p = 0.003, d = 1.30, 95% CI 0.31–2.28) and at the 3-month follow-up (p = 0.035, d = 0.41, 95% CI − 0.48 to 1.30). In addition, attention switching for ASD symptoms was significantly reduced post-intervention (p = 0.031, d = 1.16, 95% CI 0.19–2.13). This is the first pilot study of a trans-diagnostic group approach for adult ADHD and/or ASD with sleep disturbances. The intervention primarily led to an improvement of sleep disturbances, followed by improvement of disease-specific symptoms in adult subjects with ADHD and ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing popularity of mobile multimedia technologies determines the need to study the question of what impact they have on our mental sphere. An overview of domestic and foreign publications on the changes in our mental functions under the influence of mobile phones (in particular smartphones) has been given in the article. The results of a study that shows changes in the properties of students’ attention under the influence of intermediate actions with a smartphone also have been presented in the article. The study was carried out in several stages. Using the survey, the features of students ‘ attachment to their gadgets were revealed. According to the results of two experimental series, the features of students ‘ attention properties in the conditions of interaction with smartphones and without them were diagnosed and compared.

The effect of non-informational speech spectrum noise as a distractor on cognitive and listening comprehension ability was examined in fifty-three young, normal hearing adults. Timecontrolled tasks were used to measure auditory working memory (WM) capacity and attention switching (AS) ability. Listening comprehension was measured using a lecture, interview, and spoken narratives test. Noise level was individually set to achieve at least 90% or higher speech intelligibility. Participants' listening comprehension in the presence of distracting noise was better on inference questions compared to listening in quiet. Their speed of information processing was also significantly faster in WM and AS tasks in noise. These results were consistent with the view that noise may enhance arousal levels leading to faster information processing during cognitive tasks. Whereas the speed of AS was faster in noise, this rapid switching of attention resulted in more errors in updating items. Participants who processed information faster in noise and did so accurately, more effectively switched their attention to refresh/rehearse recall items within WM. More efficient processing deployed in the presence of noise appeared to have led to improvements in WM performance and making inferences in a listening comprehension task. Additional research is required to examine these findings using background noise that can cause informational masking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The problem of switching the attention of schoolchildren can be solved by exercises in physical education classes at school. Aim: To determine the influence of exercise Classics on the ability of schoolchildren to switch their attention at the age of 9-10 years. Method: The study was conducted over a period of 9 months, in which 40 9-10-year-olds took part. Physical education classes were held 2 times a week for 40 minutes each lesson. The level of development of coordination abilities was assessed on the «Shuttle run» test, and the indicators of attention switching on the «Method of Numbers» test. The programs bio-stat 2009, Microsoft excel 2016 and t-student were used for mathematical and statistical processing of results. Results: Before the beginning of the pedagogical experiment, the indicators of school children between the groups did not have significant differences (P>0.05). After the end of the study, the indicators in both groups improved. In CG, in the «Shuttle run» test, the indicators improved from 10.2±0.6 to 9.9±0.5 (P>0.05), and in the test for the level of attention switching, the indicators improved by 5.4% (P>0.05). In EG, in the «Shuttle run 3x10 m» test, the indicators improved from 9.9±0.5 to 8.5±0.4 (P<0.05), and in the «Method of Numbers» test, the indicators improved by 26.6%. These results indicate the effectiveness of using exercise Classics in physical education lessons in working with younger schoolchildren. Conclusion: If schoolchildren will perform exercise Classics in physical education classes at school, they will improve not only coordination abilities, but also attention switching indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People tend to obtain information through fragmented reading. However, this behavior itself might lead to distraction and affect cognitive ability. To address it, it is necessary to understand how fragmented reading behavior influences readers' attention switching. In this study, the researchers first collected online news that had 6 theme words and 60 sentences to compose the experimental material, then defined the degree of text dissimilarity, used to measure the degree of attention switching based on the differences in text content, and conducted an EEG experiment based on P200. The results showed that even after reading the fragmented text content with the same overall content, people in subsequent cognitive tasks had more working memory capacity, lower working memory load, and less negative impact on cognitive ability with the text content with lower text dissimilarity. Additionally, attention switching caused by differences in concept or working memory representation of text content might be the key factor affecting cognitive ability in fragmented reading behavior. The findings disclosed the relation between cognitive ability and fragmented reading and attention switching, opening a new perspective on the method of text dissimilarity. This study provides some references on how to reduce the negative impact of fragmented reading on cognitive ability on new media platforms., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Cao, Luo, Zhou and Jiang.)

BACKGROUND: The background is to determine the influence of speed and strength training of schoolchildren aged 13–14 on the indicators of the ability of children with different nervous system strength to switch attention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on sixty schoolchildren in a class 7, located in the city of Kirov, in Russia. The data were collected using an independent pedagogical experiment. Physical education at the school was held two times a week for 40 min each lesson. Children from class 7a (20 people) were engaged in the usual program and formed a control group. Children from class 7b (20 people) formed an experimental group, they performed an additional set of physical exercises at each lesson, aimed at developing speed and strength abilities. The strength of the nervous system was determined by tapping test, and the indicators of switching the attention of schoolchildren were determined by the test “Method of Numbers”. T-student was used. RESULTS: After the pedagogical experiment, the indicators of attention switching in the control group improved. In children with a strong nervous system, the indicator was higher by 7%, and in children with a weak nervous system, the indicators increased from 33.7 ± 3.1 s to 32.0 ± 2.9 s. At the same time, in the experimental group, in both subgroups, the indicators increased significantly. Children with a strong nervous system improved performance by 14%, and children with a weak nervous system improved performance from 34.4 ± 3.9 s to 29.2 ± 3.3 s. CONCLUSION: The indicators of switching the attention of children aged 13–14 years will improve if they perform physical exercises at each physical culture lesson at school, which are aimed at developing speed and strength abilities. The components of the load for the development of abilities should be differentiated taking into account the strength of the schoolchildren nervous system.

Gait stability and secondary task performance are affected by the need to share attention when dual-tasking. Further decrements may result from the need to switch attention between multiple secondary tasks. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of attention switching upon gait stability and task performance in healthy younger and older adults. Ten healthy younger and ten healthy older adults walked on a treadmill at their preferred speed during three trials including: (1) baseline walking; (2) non-switching task walking, requiring response to an auditory-spatial or visual-spatial cue presented in an expected order; and (3) switching task walking, which required response to an auditory-spatial or visual-spatial cue presented in an unexpected order. Response time and accuracy, the margin of stability in the frontal (MoSML) and sagittal planes (MoSA: anterior, MoSP: posterior), step width and step length were calculated for non-switching and switching tasks. The MoSML, MoSA, MoSP, step width and step length during non-switching and switching tasks were normalized to baseline walking. Older adults took significantly longer to respond to cues and made more errors during the switching task compared to younger adults. Younger adults took narrower steps (p < 0.01) and displayed a reduction in MoSML (p < 0.01) during the switching task compared with the non-switching task. Conversely, older adults displayed no differences in MoSML between tasks. These findings suggest that attention switching results in different task prioritization strategies in younger and older adults during walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Attention switching is postulated in many theories as a crucial executive function related to mindfulness. However, the existing literature does not provide convincing support for this claim. Based on the attentional control theory, the presented experiment tested the hypothesis that brief mindfulness training improves attention switching in the presence of anxiety. Methods: Seventy-four undergraduates (53 women) with an average age of 22.25 years (SD = 2.42) performed a pre-test switching task, watched an emotional film clip, and then were randomly assigned to three conditions: brief mindfulness training, worry induction, and free mind-wandering, followed by a post-test switching task. Results: We found reduced overall reaction times (i.e., for both switch and no-switch trials) in mindfulness compared with worry and free mind-wandering conditions (F[2,68.9] = 5.09, p =.009, η2 =.13), but no differences between conditions with regard to the switch cost. Conclusions: The results are discussed in the context of working memory capacity and processing speed theory. We suggest that mindfulness may release attentional resources otherwise engaged in the inhibition of task-irrelevant thinking associated with anxiety and thus facilities the general efficiency of cognitive processes. Suggestions for future research are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acoustic stimulus elicits an electroencephalographic response called auditory event-related potential (ERP). When some members of a stream of standard auditory stimuli are replaced randomly by a deviant stimulus and this stream is presented to a subject who ignores the stimuli, two different ERPs to deviant and standard stimuli are recorded. If the ERP to standard stimuli is subtracted from the ERP to deviant stimuli, the difference potential (DP) waveform typically exhibits a series of negative-positive-negative deflections called mismatch negativity (MMN), P3a, and reorienting negativity (RON), which are associated with pre-attentive change detection, involuntary attention switching, and reorienting of attention, respectively. The aim of the present study was to investigate how these pre-attentive processes are affected if the change occurs earlier than its usual timing implied by isochronous standard stimuli. In the MMN paradigm employed, 15% of the standards were randomly replaced by deviant stimuli which differed either in their pitch, their earlier onset time, or in both. Event-related responses to these three deviants [timely pitch change (RTP), earlier onset (REO), earlier pitch change (REP)] and to standards (RS) were recorded from 10 reading subjects. To maintain identical stimulation histories for the responses subtracted from each other, “deviant-standard” difference potentials (DP) for “timely” and “early” pitch deviances were derived as follows: DPTP = RTP − RS and DPEP = REP − REO. Interestingly, the MMN components of the DPs to timely and early pitch deviances had similar amplitudes, indicating that regularity of stimulus timing does not provide any benefit for the pre-attentive auditory change detection mechanism. However, different scalp current density (SCD) dynamics of the MMN/P3a complexes, elicited by timely and early pitch deviances, suggested that an auditory change in a stimulus occurring earlier-than-usual initiates a faster and more effective call-for-attention and causes stronger attention switching than a timely change. SCD results also indicated that the temporal, frontal, and parietal MMN components are simultaneously present rather than emerging sequentially in time, supporting the MMN models based on parallel deviance processing in the respective cortices. Similarity of the RONs to timely and early pitch deviances indicated that reorienting of attention is of the same strength in two cases.

Extant research regarding humor appreciation in individuals with autism spectrum disorder has been equivocal. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the severity of autism spectrum disorder characteristics and humor appreciation in typically developing individuals. We hypothesized that the severity of autistic traits would have a U-shaped linear relationship with humor appreciation. Eighty typically developing undergraduates between the ages of 18 and 22 years (Mage = 20.20; SDage = 1.08) were recruited for this study. They were asked to answer 24 statements, devised to measure humor appreciation, in response to a joke stimulus comprising 12 typically funny daily life occurrences (two statements per episode). The participants also responded to the Japanese version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient. A significant U-shaped relationship was observed between the severity of autistic traits and appreciation of humor. A similar significant U-shaped relationship was seen between humor appreciation and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient subscales of attention switching, communication, and imagination. Humor appreciation showed no significant U-shaped relationship with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient subscales of social skills and local details. This study identified ways that autistic traits may influence how people appreciate humor. These findings are discussed in relation to cognitive processes underlying humor appreciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a two-component switching paradigm, in which participants switched between two auditory attention selection criteria (attention component: left vs. right ear) and two judgements (judgement component: number vs. letter judgement), we found high judgement switch costs in attention criterion repetitions, but low costs in attention criterion switches. This finding showed an interaction of components. Previous two-component switching studies observed differently emphasised interaction patterns. In the present study, we explored whether the strength of the interaction pattern reflects the strength of the binding of target location and judgement. Specifically, we investigated whether exogenous target location cueing led to weaker binding than endogenous cueing, and whether preparation for ear selection could influence the binding. Attention switches with auditory exogenous target location cues did not affect the component interaction pattern, whereas a prolonged preparation interval led to a more emphasised pattern. Binding between target location and judgement may therefore be rather automatic and may not necessarily require concurrent component processing. Sufficient time for target location switches with long preparation time may activate the previous trial's episode or facilitate switches of the subsequent judgement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acoustic stimulus elicits an electroencephalographic response called auditory event-related potential (ERP). When some members of a stream of standard auditory stimuli are replaced randomly by a deviant stimulus and this stream is presented to a subject who ignores the stimuli, two different ERPs to deviant and standard stimuli are recorded. If the ERP to standard stimuli is subtracted from the ERP to deviant stimuli, the difference potential (DP) waveform typically exhibits a series of negative-positive-negative deflections called mismatch negativity (MMN), P3a, and reorienting negativity (RON), which are associated with pre-attentive change detection, involuntary attention switching, and reorienting of attention, respectively. The aim of the present study was to investigate how these pre-attentive processes are affected if the change occurs earlier than its usual timing implied by isochronous standard stimuli. In the MMN paradigm employed, 15% of the standards were randomly replaced by deviant stimuli which differed either in their pitch, their earlier onset time, or in both. Event-related responses to these three deviants [timely pitch change (RTP), earlier onset (REO), earlier pitch change (REP)] and to standards (RS) were recorded from 10 reading subjects. To maintain identical stimulation histories for the responses subtracted from each other, "deviant-standard" difference potentials (DP) for "timely" and "early" pitch deviances were derived as follows: DPTP = RTP − RS and DPEP = REP − REO. Interestingly, the MMN components of the DPs to timely and early pitch deviances had similar amplitudes, indicating that regularity of stimulus timing does not provide any benefit for the pre-attentive auditory change detection mechanism. However, different scalp current density (SCD) dynamics of the MMN/P3a complexes, elicited by timely and early pitch deviances, suggested that an auditory change in a stimulus occurring earlier-than-usual initiates a faster and more effective call-for-attention and causes stronger attention switching than a timely change. SCD results also indicated that the temporal, frontal, and parietal MMN components are simultaneously present rather than emerging sequentially in time, supporting the MMN models based on parallel deviance processing in the respective cortices. Similarity of the RONs to timely and early pitch deviances indicated that reorienting of attention is of the same strength in two cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been stated that Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increases the likelihood of risky behavior such as intimate partner violence (IPV), but the cognitive mechanisms that facilitate or underlie these types of behavior remain unexplained. In this regard, several authors have established that impulsivity and inattentive symptoms might affect basic processes such as emotional decoding and set-shifting abilities, which are important processes for emotional and behavioral regulation. Hence, these symptoms entail a reduction in sensitivity to key contextual stimuli. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to examine the involvement of impulsivity (assessed by self-reports) and attention switching impairments (assessed with the Attention Switching Task; AST), as well as the associations between these cognitive processes in facial emotion decoding (assessed by the eyes test) and cognitive flexibility impairments (measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) in a sample of IPV perpetrators (n = 89; mean age = 40) and a control group matched on socio-demographic characteristics (n = 39; mean age = 41). IPV perpetrators had higher trait impulsivity and greater attention switching costs than controls. Moreover, differences were also found between groups in facial expression decoding and WCST performance, with IPV perpetrators showing lower Eyes Test and WCST scores. Mainly, we observed that the ability to recognize facial expressions was poorer when individuals showed high impulsivity in both groups, but this association was only explained by deficits in attention switching in IPV perpetrators. Our research reinforces the importance of impulsivity and inattentive symptoms as targets for specific cognitive rehabilitation interventions designed to prevent the long-term IPV risk of recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subclinical traits of autism were measured in children with somatic symptom disorder (SSD, n = 28) and compared with age-matched controls (n = 26) using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) children's version. The KINDLR quality of life questionnaire was used to assess functional disability. Although there was no significant group difference in total traits of autism, SSD group had significantly greater difficulty in attention switching domain. Logistic regression analysis confirmed attention switching and age were associated with increased likelihood of SSD. In SSD group, difficulty in attention switching significantly negatively correlated with total, family, and friends quality of life scores. In conclusion, assessment and treatment targeting difficulties in attention switching could be useful when dealing with children with SSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The autism-spectrum quotient scale was developed to study autism as a spectrum. Few studies have examined the psychometric properties of the 10 item AQ (AQ-10). We examine the AQ-10 measurement ability and convergent validity in a population health survey (n = 44,722).Methods: The item severity and item discrimination was assessed using item response theory. Convergent validity was assessed by regressing on ADHD, psychological distress (PD) and having an education in the sciences.Results: Whilst unidimensional, the AQ-10 had some poorly fitting items. Item discrimination ranged from very low to very high. The scale correlated as hypothesised with the regress expected when factoring in ADHD, PD and possessing an eduction in the sciences.Conclusion: The AQ-10 has adequate validity in the present sample and may be used in s as a measure of autistic traits. In Conclusion, The AQ-10 has adequate validity to be used in health surveys as a measure of autistic traits, although some items may perform poorly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Multifactorial explanations of developmental stuttering suggest that difficulties in self-regulation and weak attentional flexibility contribute to persisting stuttering. We tested this prediction by examining whether preschool-age children who stutter (CWS) shift their attention less flexibly than children who do not stutter (CWNS) during a modified version of the Dimension Card Change Sort (DCCS), a reliable measure of attention switching for young children. Methods Sixteen CWS (12 males) and 30 children CWNS (11 males) participated in the study. Groups were matched on age (CWS: M = 49.63, SD = 10.34, range = 38–80 months; CWNS: M = 50.63, SD = 9.82, range = 37–74 months), cognitive ability, and language skills. All children completed a computer-based variation of the DCCS, in which they matched on-screen bivalent stimuli to response buttons based on rules that switched mid-task. Results Results showed increased slowing for CWS compared to controls during the postswitch phase, as well as contrasting patterns of speed-accuracy tradeoff for CWS and CWNS as they moved from the preswitch to postswitch phase of the task. Conclusions Group differences in performance suggest that early stuttering may be associated with difficulty shifting attention efficiently and greater concern about errors. Findings are consistent with a growing literature indicating links between weak attentional control and persisting developmental stuttering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was shown that mental representations of objects created in human minds during the learning process, which take the form of hierarchically connected neurons called semblions, have properties explaining the hierarchical structure of metaphors and other mind tools embodied in Lakoff's cognitive linguistics concept. It was proven that, at the neurological level, semblions of objects, concepts, ideas and models can be associated with neuronal representations of phonemes heard in coincidence with other objects, creating new semblions which correspond to words. It was shown how activation of semblions can result in recalling, associating, thinking and other higher mental functions which are necessary to use natural language. It was considered why semblions representing mathematical notions enable an adequate description of numerous phenomena of the physical world but, at the same time, their polymodal counterparts can be used to describe qualia. The complementarity between Horzyk's associative intelligence model and Galus' model of architecture of self-aware systems was pointed out, which can be used to create artificial self-aware systems able to use both natural language and formal languages with understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How toddlers’ attention is distributed in the visual field during a magic trick was examined using three expectation conditions. Results showed that 2.5-year-old children assigned to the condition with major task-relevant information (i.e., a verbal cue to attend to one of the visual targets) (i) outperformed those who were assigned to the condition with no task-relevant information, (ii) displayed more attentional switches between visual targets than those who were assigned to the condition with no task-relevant information, and (iii) did not look significantly longer at one of the visual targets in contrast to children assigned to the condition with no task-relevant information. The findings of an additional control condition suggest that the performance by children in the condition with major task-relevant information cannot merely be the consequence of the larger quantity of auditory information that was given during the interaction prior to the magic trick. In our task, verbal cue affected the switching of attention, not the prioritization of a specific region of space. These results are discussed in terms of advantage conferred by a diffuse mode of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a binaural-listening paradigm, age-related differences in the ability to intentionally switch auditory selective attention between two speakers, defined by their spatial location, were examined. Therefore 40 normal-hearing participants (20 young, Ø 24.8 years; 20 older Ø 67.8 years) were tested. The spatial reproduction of stimuli was provided by headphones using head-related-transfer-functions of an artificial head. Spoken number words of two speakers were presented simultaneously to participants from two out of eight locations on the horizontal plane. Guided by a visual cue indicating the spatial location of the target speaker, the participants were asked to categorize the target's number word into smaller vs. greater than five while ignoring the distractor's speech. Results showed significantly higher reaction times and error rates for older participants. The relative influence of the spatial switch of the target-speaker (switch or repetition of speaker's direction in space) was identical across age groups. Congruency effects (stimuli spoken by target and distractor may evoke the same answer or different answers) were increased for older participants and depend on the target's position. Results suggest that the ability to intentionally switch auditory attention to a new cued location was unimpaired whereas it was generally harder for older participants to suppress processing the distractor's speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The present study examines backward inhibition (BI) and non-inhibitory switching performance among depressed and healthy participants in a modified mixed antisaccade task. Specifically, sad and neutral faces were incorporated in the design to examine executive control difficulties associated with brooding trait. Methods: Thirty-nine participants took part in the study, including 19 depressed patients and 20 healthy control subjects. Participants completed a diagnostic interview and self-report questionnaires, including the Beck Depression Inventory and Ruminative Response Scale-Brooding Subscale. They were then instructed to complete prosaccade and antisaccade trials in the pure and mixed blocks whereby eye gazes were tracked to assess inhibition and switching efficiency. Results: For the switching effects, a significant group × brooding × task type interaction was found as hypothesized when multilevel modeling analysis was employed. Switching deficits associated with brooding was found to be greatest when sad faces were presented to depressed group. No significant results in BI or error rates were observed. Conclusion: The patterns observed suggest that as opposed to BI, set shifting difficulty associated with brooding trait may be modulated by negative mood and cognition. In future research, emotional faces other than sad faces may be used to further explore if the observations could be generalized to other affective conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention switching is a crucial ability required in everyday life, from toddlerhood to adulthood. In adults, shifting attention from one word (e.g., dog) to another (e.g., sea) results in backward semantic inhibition, that is, the inhibition of the initial word (dog). In this study, we used the preferential-looking paradigm to examine whether attention switching is accompanied by backward semantic inhibition in toddlers. We found that 24-month-olds can indeed refocus their attention to a new item by selectively inhibiting attention to the old item. The consequence of backward inhibition is that subsequent attention to a word semantically related to the old item is impaired. These findings have important implications for understanding the underlying mechanism of backward semantic inhibition and the development of lexical-semantic inhibition in early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on changes in the brain function throughout the adulthood in healthy men and women performing task switching (TS) in the visual modality. One hundred and forty healthy subjects aged 20 to 65 years (69 men) participated in the experiments. In the fMRI study, the subjects performed a test that required switching attention between two objectives (classifying figures according to their form or number). Using the voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we calculated the volumes of gray and white matter in the whole brain and in selected areas. The results showed that a common feature of different age and sex groups performing the TS was bilateral activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal areas, the inferior parietal lobes and the inferior occipital gyrus. We also found a transition from local to diffuse activation occurring with age. In young men (20 to 30 years of age) compared to women, a greater increase in the BOLD signal was found in the prefrontal areas bilaterally, the right parietal lobe and insula, and, in addition, bilateral activation in the supplementary motor area which were not observed in women. Older men and women (51 to 65 years) had no significant differences. The study of the BOLD signal correlations with age in women at the age from 20 to 40 and men from 20 to 55 years showed no significant changes. With further increase of age in both groups we found a consequent increase in the number of brain areas which are activated. The VBM analysis showed a significant decrease in the volume of gray, but not white, matter with age. No significant correlations between age-related changes in the gray matter volume (both in the whole brain and in the specific areas) and BOLD signal in this age group were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]