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Early sensory information processes are enhanced on visual oddball and S1-S2 tasks in Parkinson's disease: a visual event-related potentials study.

To observe sensory and cognitive information processing in Parkinson's disease (PD), 34 PD patients and 26 controls were investigated. A visual oddball paradigm and an S1-S2 paradigm were employed to record the early (P1, N1, P2) and late (N2, P3) event-related potentials (ERPs) at Cz, Pz and Oz. Results showed: (1) enlarged P1 amplitude at all electrode locations on both tasks, (2) shortened N1 latency and enlarged P2 amplitude at Oz on both tasks, (3) enlarged N1 amplitude at Cz during an oddball paradigm, (4) delayed N2 latency and decreased N2, P3 amplitude on both tasks, and (5) delayed P3 latency and reaction time during the S1-S2 paradigm. Abnormal ERP changes were correlated with worsened scores on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised and motor dysfunction scales in PD. We surmise overactive aspects or failed inhibitory modulation of sensory information processing in the early ERP stage and deficient cognitive information processing during the late ERP stage in PD.

Adult↗

The relation between nonnutritive sucking and visual information processing in the human newborn.

This paper considers the relation between visual information processing and the burst-pause pattern of nonnutritive sucking in the human infant. Sucking and visual scanning activity were investigated in 2 independent studies. The results did not support the view that sucking is affected by ongoing processing activity. It is argued that previously reported effects of processing on sucking reflect a phasic component of the orientation reaction (OR) to stimuli, not a sustained processing of those stimuli. Additionally, no existing evidence supports the idea that the components of the natural burst-pause pattern of sucking differentially affect information processing in the human newborn.

Eye Movements↗

Social information processing by aggressive and nonaggressive men with mental retardation.

The social information-processing skills of 16 aggressive and 19 nonaggressive men with borderline to moderate mental retardation were examined in light of some of the steps described in Dodge's social information-processing model (Dodge, Pettit, McClaskey, & Brown, 1986). Contrary to expectations based on Dodge et al.'s findings with children who did not have mental retardation, aggressive and nonaggressive groups did not differ in their ability to generate multiple solutions or in their ability to provide appropriate responses. Similar to Dodge et al.'s findings, however, subjects in the aggressive group generated significantly more aggressive solutions and tended more often to give an aggressive response first than did the nonaggressive subjects. Preliminary implication for treatment were offered.

Aggression↗

Voluntary timing and brain function: an information processing approach.

This article takes an information processing perspective to review current understanding of brain mechanisms of human voluntary timing. Theoretical accounts of timing of the production of isochronous tapping and rhythms and of bimanual responding repetitive responding are reviewed. The mapping of higher level temporal parameter setting and memory processes and of lower level motor implementation process onto cortical and subcortical brain structures is discussed in relation to evidence from selective lesions in a range of neurological motor disorders. Brain activation studies that have helped identify key brain structures involved in the control of timing are reviewed.

Brain↗

Speed of information processing after unilateral stroke.

Speed of information processing in the subacute stage after stroke was studied in 88 first ever, unilateral, ischemic stroke patients. The patient group included 42 right and 46 left hemisphere patients. Seventy-one control subjects were also examined. Four reaction time tasks with different levels of complexity were used: two visuomotor, and two semantic categorisation tasks. The results showed that stroke causes a decrease in decision making speed, but that the effect is different for right and left hemisphere patients. The right hemisphere group were slower than the control group on all reaction time tasks, and slower than the left hemisphere patients on the visuomotor tasks. The left hemisphere patients were slower than the healthy controls, only on the most complex tasks, the categorisation tasks.

Adult↗

Time courses in visual-information processing: some theoretical considerations.

In the literature two different views with regard to the time course of activation of "recognition units"--hypothetical entities that represent identity information--are proposed. Both views are derived from a restricted set of phenomena in visual perception. The first view gets its intuitions from phenomena such as those summarized by Bloch's law; these phenomena show integration or summation of activation over time. This "grow-and-grow" view assumes that recognition units accumulate activation gradually over time. The second view finds its inspiration in phenomena such as Mach-bands and simultaneous contrast; these phenomena show inhibition or steady-state suppression over time. This "grow-and-shrink" view assumes that the activation levels increase fast initially and then start to decrease. The perception literature strongly suggests that it may be light intensity that determines whether mainly integration (and phenomena such as Bloch's law) or inhibition (and phenomena such as Mach-bands) is obtained. So it is also likely that both information-processing views apply only to a limited range of intensity conditions; the "grow-and-grow" view to conditions of low-light intensities, and the "grow-and-shrink" view to conditions of intermediate- and high-light intensities. It is argued that, to arrive at a complete view, a visual phenomenon that applies to the complete range of light intensities should be taken as a background for generating hypotheses about time courses in visual-information processing. The Broca-Sulzer effect is such a phenomenon. Starting from this phenomenon a simple, synthesizing, information-processing model is derived that is compatible with both the "grow-and-grow" view and the "grow-and-shrink" view.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Arousal↗

Auditory information processing during human sleep as revealed by event-related brain potentials.

The main goal of this review is to elucidate up to what extent pre-attentive auditory information processing is affected during human sleep. Evidence from event-related brain potential (ERP) studies indicates that auditory information processing is selectively affected, even at early phases, across the different stages of sleep-wakefulness continuum. According to these studies, 3 main conclusions are drawn: (1) the sleeping brain is able to automatically detect stimulus occurrence and trigger an orienting response towards that stimulus if its degree of novelty is large; (2) auditory stimuli are represented in the auditory system and maintained for a period of time in sensory memory, making the automatic-change detection during sleep possible; and (3) there are specific brain mechanisms (sleep-specific ERP components associated with the presence of vertex waves and K-complexes) by which information processing can be improved during non-rapid eye movement sleep. However, the remarkably affected amplitude and latency of the waking-ERPs during the different stages of sleep suggests deficits in the building and maintenance of a neural representation of the stimulus as well as in the process by which neural events lead to an orienting response toward such a stimulus. The deactivation of areas in the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex during sleep contributing to the generation of these ERP components is hypothesized to be one of the main causes for the attenuated amplitude of these ERPs during human sleep.

Attention↗

Information processing limitations with aging in the visual scaling of isometric force.

The experiment examined if age-related increases in force variability were due to decreases in visual acuity and/or visual-motor information processing deficits. Visual information scale was manipulated over a 250-fold range as young (20-29 years old) and old (60-79 years old) participants produced isometric force output to a visually presented target. Older adults were found to have a very small decrement in visual acuity, but there was no relation between visual acuity and force variability. Force variability exhibited a U-shaped trend as a function of visual information scale. Young adults had less relative variability and higher visual information transfer than the oldest old and these age differences increased with visual information scale. It is concluded that the age-related declines in visual-motor information processing influence changes in neuromuscular function and the emergent differences in force variability at the behavioral level.

Adult↗

Global effects of fluctuations in neural information processing.

We are interested in how the complex dynamics of the brain, which may include oscillations, chaos and noise, can affect the efficiency of neural information processing. Here, we consider the amplification and functional role of fluctuations, expressed as chaos or noise in the system. Using computer simulations of a neural network model of the olfactory cortex, we demonstrate how microscopic fluctuations can result in global effects at the network level. In particular, we show that the rate of information processing in associative memory tasks can be maximized for optimal noise levels. Noise can also induce transitions between different dynamical states, related to learning and memory. A chaotic-like behavior, induced by noise or by an increase in neuronal excitability, can enhance system performance if it is transient and converges to a limit cycle memory state. The level of accuracy required for correct pattern association further affects the rate of information processing. We discuss how neuromodulatory control of the cortical dynamics can shift the balance between rate and accuracy optimization, as well as between sensitivity and stability.

Acetylcholine↗

Culture-fair cognitive ability assessment: information processing and psychophysiological approaches.

Valid assessment with diverse populations requires tools that are not influenced by cultural elements. This study investigated the relationships between culture, information processing efficiency, and general cognitive capacities in samples of Caucasian and Mexican American college students. Consistent with the neural efficiency hypothesis, pupillary responses (indexing mental effort) and detection accuracy scores on a visual backward-masking task were both significantly related to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Full Scale scores. These measures of information processing efficiency were similar in the two groups. However, they were related only to Caucasian American, but not to a comparable sample of Mexican American, students' WAIS-R scores. Therefore, the differential validity in prediction suggests that the WAIS-R test may contain cultural influences that reduce the validity of the WAIS-R as a measure of cognitive ability for Mexican American students. Information processing and psychophysiological approaches may be helpful in developing culture-fair cognitive ability measures.

Adolescent↗

The need and ability to achieve cognitive structuring: individual differences that moderate the effect of stress on information processing.

The authors examined the hypothesis that the interaction between the need for cognitive structure (NCS) and the ability to achieve cognitive structure (AACS) moderates the effect of stress on information processing. NCS is the preference for using cognitive structuring, as opposed to piecemeal processes, as a means to achieve certainty. AACS is the extent to which individuals are able to apply information processes that are consistent with their levels of NCS. The hypothesis was validated in 4 studies, which showed that stress increased high-AACS participants' use of cognitive structuring if they had high NCS and reduced it if they had low NCS. An opposite effect was found for low-AACS participants. The implications of these results for the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the effect of stress on information processing are discussed.

Achievement↗

Information processing and interhemispheric transfer in left- and right-handed adults.

Two experiments are reported using simple reaction time (SRT) and visual evoked potentials (VEP) to measure information processing and interhemispheric transfer time (IHTT) in left- and right-handed subjects. Study 1 used an SRT procedure to estimate IHTT in 30 left-handed and 30 right-handed subjects. No differences in IHTT were indicated, but left- and right-handers were found to have opposite visual field advantages on the SRT task, indicating possible hemispheric differences in visual information processing. Study 2 was designed to test hypotheses generated in Study 1, using a VEP procedure to provide additional measures of visual information processing and IHTT. VEPs were collected during an SRT procedure in 20 left-handers and 20 right-handers, and SRT response hand and visual field advantages were replicated among right-handers only. Left-handers in Study 2 demonstrated no significant response hand or visual field effects on SRT. Analysis of the VEP N160 latency data indicated no significant laterality, hemisphere, or visual field effects, except for a robust hemisphere by visual field interaction, which reflects IHTT. The significant SRT left visual field advantage in right-handers was not reflected by hemispheric asymmetries in VEP N160 latency. It is concluded that left-handers and right-handers do not differ in IHTT in two functional regions of the corpus callosum, nor do they vary in simple visual receptive processing. Results are more consistent with variability in SRT resulting from differences in complex heteromodal processes beyond the striate and extrastriate visual cortex.

Adult↗

Measures of memory and information processing in elderly volunteers.

A screening study was carried out in normal elderly volunteers to determine 1. their scores in measures of memory and information processing 2. how the measures correlate with sample characteristics 3. how the measures correlate with each other and with the EEG. We report here on 111 subjects, 56 women and 55 men aged 53-77 years (63.9 +/- 6.8) with average intelligence (Coloured Progressive Matrices CPM 26.7 +/- 5.1). In the C-normed measures of the word list from the Nuremberg Geriatric Inventory (NGI) our sample scored better than average (immediate recall of words C = 7.5, delayed recall of words C = 8.2; mean C = 5). The sample even attained ceiling scores in the test of recognition. The sample likewise had a better than average speed in a color-word test (CWT) of focused attention similar to the Stroop test (e.g., reading C = 7.5, color-naming C = 6.7, interference task C = 6.3) and in the ZVT trail-making test (C = 7.0). In contrast, speed-free focused attention was only average (C = 5.2 and C = 5.5). The following sample characteristics correlated with test measures of memory and information processing (p less than 0.01): age negatively with immediate recall, trail making, incidental episodic memory, focused attention, speed in the CWT; intelligence correlated positively with 10-min adding which relies on working memory (Pauli test) and immediate recall; education correlated positively with delayed recall, visual memory performance in a figures test, immediate recall, and reading speed in the CWT; occupation correlated positively with figures test performance; exercise of profession correlated positively with incidental episodic memory and immediate recall. Age and occupation correlated more with motor measures than with cognitive measures (pegboard, 1 min tapping at maximal speed). Sex had no bearing on memory characteristics, but did on tracking (men better) and color-naming performance in the CWT (women better). Of the semiluxuries, only regular alcohol consumption showed a relationship with the test measures (negatively with color-naming speed, immediate recall, and pegboard performance). Analysis of memory and information processing measures revealed no correlations (r greater than or equal to 0.40) between memory measures from the word list, Pauli test, figures test, and learning. Measures of the CWT correlated with Pauli test and pegboard. ZVT score was the variable with the most correlations (CWT, Pauli test, pegboard). A factor analysis with a reduced set of variables should further clarify the inner structure of our subject's performance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aged↗

Information processes in the primate prefrontal cortex in relation to working memory processes.

Working memory is a mechanism for short-term active storage of information as well as for processing stored information. Although evidence for neuronal mechanisms of temporary storage of information has accumulated for the prefrontal cortex, little is known about neuronal mechanisms for processing information. To understand how information is processed by prefrontal neurons, we first need to know what information is represented by single-neuron activity, and then examine how information represented by single-neuron activity or a population of activities changes along the temporal sequence of the trial. By examining task-related single-neuron activities while monkeys performed various working memory tasks, delay-period activity observed in the prefrontal cortex is considered to be a neuronal correlate of the mechanism for temporary active storage of information. Delay-period activity represents a variety of information including the spatial position and the physical feature of the stimulus, the forthcoming behavioral response, the quality of reward that the subject would receive, the difference of the task, or the rule of the task. Although delay-period activity could represent this variety of information, the information represented by delay-period activity is only the information relevant for task performance. In addition, using complex conditional tasks, delay-period activity has been shown to represent several kinds of information simultaneously. Based on these results, we examined how information represented by a population of prefrontal activities changes along the temporal sequence of the trial. Using two kinds of oculomotor delayed-response tasks, we first identified what information each task-related activity represents. Then, using population vector analysis, we could not only visualize information represented by a population of prefrontal activities, but also demonstrate the temporal change of information represented by a population of prefrontal activities. These attempts are important to understand information processes for working memory.

Animals↗

An information-processing perspective on childhood anxiety.

In the past decade, cognitive theories of adult anxiety disorders have become increasingly complex, reflecting enhanced understanding of anxiety-related information-processing. This growth has fostered the development and enhancement of numerous assessment and treatment methods. Unfortunately, similar growth has been slower to occur in theories of childhood anxiety. This paper attempts to foster such growth by adopting an information-processing perspective. Doing so expands the extant cognitive perspective on childhood anxiety in four major ways. First, the division of cognitive processing into a sequence of steps provides a framework for organizing predictions regarding cognitive factors in childhood anxiety. Second, consideration of the cognitive operations active during each stage in the sequence facilitates elaboration of the types of cognitive deficits and distortions characteristic of anxious children. Third, it promotes development and application of performance-based assessment methodologies. Finally, an information-processing perspective highlights several targets for clinical intervention that may promote widespread change in an anxiety-supporting cognitive system.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Backward masking, information processing, and schizophrenia.

Many researchers have used backward masking to examine information-processing speed in schizophrenic subjects. The validity of this approach rests upon two main assumptions. One is that the mask effectively limits the time a previously presented stimulus is available for processing. The other is that the components of the masking mechanism in schizophrenic subjects are comparable to those in control groups. It is argued that the masking procedures used in these studies fail to meet either assumption. Alternative interpretations of these investigations, however, suggest important hypotheses for further research in our quest to understand information-processing deficits associated with schizophrenia.

Humans↗

Visual information processing using bacteriorhodopsin-based complex LB films.

Image extraction and visual information processing using bacteriorhodopsin (bR)-based bioelectronic devices is presented. Image extraction was achieved using a photoreceptor consisting of bR and spiropyran films. The undesired signals from the photoreceptor were automatically eliminated from the whole signal by spiropyran films acting as an optical noise filter that increases the target signal to an undesired signal ratio. For the information processing, the photoreceptor consisting of bR and lipid films deposited with different configurations was used and the target signals were processed to achieve the pattern recognition. The pattern recognition was based on not only the response variability of bacteriorhodopsin, induced by different film configurations, but also on the initial learning process. The input patterns were predicted by simple calculation with the known signals through the initial learning process.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Event-related desynchronization in the EEG during emotional and cognitive information processing: differential effects of extraversion.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of the personality dimension extraversion/introversion (E) on the level and topographical distribution of event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the EEG whilst participants were engaged in emotional face and cognitive information processing. In this context we build up on former studies dealing with the role of E as a possible moderator variable in cortical activation patterns during performance of mental speed, reasoning and working memory tasks (i.e., cognitive information processing). In a sample of 33 introverts and 33 extraverts (31 were male, 35 female) we found extraverted individuals displaying a lower (left-hemispheric) cortical activation than introverts when their task was to judge the identity of two simultaneously presented facial emotions. This effect was only observed in the upper alpha frequency band ( approximately 9.6-11.6 Hz). In analyzing E differences during cognitive information processing (i.e., performance of a verbal and a figural-spatial task) E effects - which were moderated by participants' sex - were restricted to lower EEG (alpha) frequency ranges ( approximately 5.6-9.6 Hz). The results generally suggest that E is differently involved when different kinds of information are processed.

Adolescent↗