Biomaterial Database

Precortical filtering and selective attention: an evoked potential analysis. 1990

L O Bauer, and R L Bayles

Department of Psychiatry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06032.

Attention-related changes in the human auditory brainstem response and the short-latency somatosensory evoked potential (SLSEP) were demonstrated in separate experiments. In Experiment 1, ABRs were recorded during conditions in which subjects awaited the presentation of either auditory or somatosensory target stimuli. In Experiment 2, median nerve SLSEPs were recorded in a similar task context. Analyses of ABR and SLSEP component amplitudes and latencies revealed that the auditory nerve (wave II) and rostral brainstem (wave V) components of the ABR, and the cervical component (N12) of the SLSEP, were facilitated when attention was directed toward stimuli that were presented in the same sensory modality and receptive field as the EP-eliciting stimuli. These results suggest that central mechanisms can modulate the transmission of auditory and somatosensory information at an early, precortical stage and that these mechanisms play a role in auditory and somatosensory selective attention.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D002540	Cerebral Cortex	The thin layer of GRAY MATTER on the surface of the CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES that develops from the TELENCEPHALON and folds into gyri and sulci. It reaches its highest development in humans and is responsible for intellectual faculties and higher mental functions.	Allocortex,Archipallium,Cortex Cerebri,Cortical Plate,Paleocortex,Periallocortex,Allocortices,Archipalliums,Cerebral Cortices,Cortex Cerebrus,Cortex, Cerebral,Cortical Plates,Paleocortices,Periallocortices,Plate, Cortical
D004569	Electroencephalography	Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain.	EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D005073	Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory	The electric response evoked in the CEREBRAL CORTEX by stimulation along AFFERENT PATHWAYS from PERIPHERAL NERVES to CEREBRUM.	Somatosensory Evoked Potentials,Evoked Potential, Somatosensory,Somatosensory Evoked Potential
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001143	Arousal	Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system.	Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions
D001307	Auditory Perception	The process whereby auditory stimuli are selected, organized, and interpreted by the organism.	Auditory Processing,Perception, Auditory,Processing, Auditory
D012677	Sensation	The process in which specialized SENSORY RECEPTOR CELLS transduce peripheral stimuli (physical or chemical) into NERVE IMPULSES which are then transmitted to the various sensory centers in the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Sensory Function,Organoleptic,Function, Sensory,Functions, Sensory,Sensations,Sensory Functions