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How does covert attention modulate visual perception? Psychophysics, neurostimulation and neuroimaging

Award Number: F99NS120705
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2022

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How does covert attention modulate visual perception? Psychophysics, neurostimulation and neuroimaging - Project Summary Covert spatial attention is a selective process that filters incoming information. Given the high cost of cortical computation, such a mechanism is needed for optimal management of resources. Studies focused on the cortical implementation of exogenous (involuntary; bottom-up) and endogenous (voluntary; top-down) attention often implicate frontal and parietal areas in attentional modulation and assume similar effects in occipital areas. Though a handful of fMRI studies suggest a link between early visual areas and covert attention, fMRI records but does not manipulate brain function, leaving questions regarding causality unanswered. Additionally, research implicating exogenous, bottom-up, modulations to frontal areas is lacking. Behaviorally, differences between both covert attention systems have also been reported. In tasks for which increasing spatial resolution is detrimental to performance, exogenous attention impairs performance, but endogenous attention always improves performance. Using selective adaptation, studies have revealed that unlike endogenous attention which flexibly increases or decreases spatial resolution, exogenous attention always increases resolution. These results suggest that both covert attention systems may alter visual representations to basic visual dimensions (e.g. spatial frequency and contrast) in a differential way. More empirical work is needed to delineate the cortical computations and regions responsible for attentional modulations in performance. Addressing these questions requires an innovative research program that integrates model-based psychophysical approaches, non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS) and human electrophysiology. My dissertation work so far has employed model-based psychophysics and TMS to test the hypotheses that: (1) exogenous attention alters sensory tuning by boosting the gain of the target orientation along with spatial frequencies greater than the target; (2) a brief disruption (via TMS) of early visual areas would diminish benefits and costs on performance brought about by exogenous attention. This work has produced several significant results and generated follow-up questions that I will address in the proposed research plan. To do so, I will use computational modeling and reverse correlation to test differences at the level of representation between both covert attention systems. Additionally, with the help of fMRI guided TMS I will test the functional role of occipital and frontal areas in endogenous and exogenous attention’s effect on performance. This experience will provide training in model-based psychophysics, neuroanatomy, and fMRI guided TMS. In the proposed postdoctoral training phase, I will gain theoretical and methodological training in human electrophysiology which will introduce temporal dynamics into my research. Such a combination of experiments and methods has the potential to generate highly impactful findings and novel lines of research as well as inform studies involved in the rehabilitation of attention related disorders.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$41,352 )
2023	2022	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	3/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$8,784
2023	2022	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	2	6/20/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$32,568
														Subtotal = -$41,352

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $41,352 )
2022	2022	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	2	4/28/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$717
2022	2022	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	2	12/14/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,636
2022	2022	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	2	6/23/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1
														Subtotal = $41,352

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $40,636 )
2021	2021	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	000	1	12/28/2020	NEW	$40,120
2021	2021	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	001	1	12/28/2020	NEW	$0
2021	2021	NEW YORK UNIVERSITY	70 WASHINGTON SQ S	NEW YORK	NY	10012	NEW YORK	USA	Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders	002	1	5/13/2021	NEW	$516
														Subtotal = $40,636

Grand Total All Awards = $40,636

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How does covert attention modulate visual perception? Psychophysics, neurostimulation and neuroimaging

Award Number: F99NS120705

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 01/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2022

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