Individual differences in perceptual switching rates; the role of occipital alpha and frontal theta band activity.
Prolonged presentation of visually ambiguous figures leads to perceptual switching. Individual switching rates show great variability. The present study compares individuals with high versus low switching rates by investigating human scalp electroencephalogram and blink rates. Eight subjects viewed the Necker cube continuously and responded to perceptual switching by pressing a button. Frequent switchers showed characteristic occipital alpha and frontal theta band activity prior to a switch, whereas infrequent switchers did not. The alpha activity was specific to switching, the theta activity was generic to perceptual processing conditions. A negative correlation was observed between perceptual switching and blink rates. These results suggest that the ability to concentrate attentional effort on the task is responsible for the differences in perceptual switching rates.
Nakatani
Hironori
H
Laboratory for Perceptual Dynamics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1, Hirosawa, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. hnakatani@brain.riken.go.jp
van Leeuwen
Cees
C
D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time; D013826:Theta Rhythm; D013997:Time Factors