Regulation of attention to novel stimuli by frontal lobes: an event-related potential study.
This study examined the relationship between orienting responses to novel events and subsequent exploratory behavior. The N2-P3 electrophysiologic component of the orienting response was found to be larger for novel than repetitive background stimuli. Across subjects, the amplitude of this N2-P3 response in frontal regions strongly predicted the proportional increase in the duration of viewing directed toward novel compared to background stimuli. Within subjects, larger N2-P3 amplitudes in response to novel stimuli were associated with longer viewing durations on those stimuli. These results suggest that the N2-P3 component of the orienting response reflects the activity of a neural system involving frontal networks that dynamically regulates the subsequent allocation of attentional resources to novel stimuli.
Daffner
K R
KR
Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Mesulam
M M
MM
Scinto
L F
LF
Cohen
L G
LG
Kennedy
B P
BP
West
W C
WC
Holcomb
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013997:Time Factors