title: Visual target detection paradigm for the study of selective attention.
abstract: The current protocol can be used to examine selective attention. It has been used to acquire behavioral performance data in neurologically healthy normal control subjects and schizophrenic patients. A modified version, also described here, has been used to acquire functional neuroimaging data in normal subjects using positron emission tomography. Subject response accuracy and reaction times are recorded while subjects detect visual stimuli in either hemifield (left vs. right of a fixation point) or along the vertical meridian (above or below fixation). The lateralized presentation of stimuli permits the study of hemispheric specialization for selective attentional processes. Attentional load is manipulated by presenting larger-sized target stimuli alone (i.e., the letter 'O') or smaller-sized target stimuli surrounded by flanking letters. This protocol report includes a description of subject exclusion criteria, procedural details, relevant experimental conditions and variables, suggestions for data analysis, expected results, and a discussion of the protocol's significance for attentional research along with suggestions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience PET Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Box 1505, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029-6574, USA. taberm01@doc.mssm.edu
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tabert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chokron
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brickman
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Buchsbaum
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D020649:Pulvinar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose