Optimizing the auditory distraction paradigm: behavioral and event-related potential effects in a lateralized multi-deviant approach.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed at adapting a multi-deviant auditory distraction paradigm for a comprehensive screening of functions of voluntary and involuntary auditory attention.


METHODS
Subjects performed phonetic discrimination on lateralized consonant-vowel syllables in a distraction paradigm in which task-irrelevant deviances occurred on different syllable features. Behavioral performance and event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured within a multi-deviant (frequency, location, and duration deviants, p=0.11 each) and a classic single-deviant design (frequency deviants only, p=0.11). Additionally, ERP effects obtained in an active and a passive multi-deviant condition were compared.


RESULTS
Behavioral and electrophysiological deviance-related effects were rather similar in the multi-deviant and the single-deviant paradigm. Furthermore, the comparison to the passive listening condition revealed a marked effect of voluntary attention on sensory processing of the syllables.


CONCLUSIONS
The multi-deviant distraction paradigm provides a gain in time compared to the classic single-deviant distraction paradigm which is not accompanied by a loss in the strength of the effects. Inclusion of a passive listening condition enables the additional evaluation of effects of voluntary attention.


CONCLUSIONS
The present multi-deviant distraction paradigm creates an important step towards a tool suited to investigate involuntary and voluntary attention in selected groups of patients during the processing of task-relevant and task-irrelevant auditory information across different acoustic dimensions.
Grimm
Sabine
S
Institute of Psychology I, University of Leipzig, Seeburgstr. 14-20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Schröger
Erich
E
Bendixen
Alexandra
A
Bäss
Pamela
P
Roye
Anja
A
Deouell
Leon Y
LY
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010700:Phonetics; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*