Clarifying Response Processes and Efficiency in a Cued Continuous Performance Test
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1
University Of Wollongong, School of Psychology, Australia
Background
The cued Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is known to elicit the contingent negative variation (CNV), which facilitates response preparation to upcoming Targets/NonTargets (imperative stimuli). Less prevalent in the literature is the examination of ERP responses to the cues, and how the preparatory activity these stimuli elicit influences the subsequent processing of imperative stimuli. Our study aimed to clarify whether the response processes to the imperatives were similar to those occurring to the cue, and determine if physiological and behavioural response efficiency was facilitated by this preparatory activity.
Methods
Continuous EEG was recorded from 70 participants during a computerised version of the Gordon-CPT that involved a fixed series of digits presented on a monitor with 1000 ms SOA. Subjects were required to press a button to the Target, 9, when cued by 1, and refrain from responses to cued NonTarget numbers. Single trial ERPs were extracted for the cue and two imperatives, and were analysed via Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Response components to cues and imperatives were assessed for similarity using the coefficient of congruence (rc); latencies were also assessed. For behavioural performance, reaction time (RT) was measured from Target onset and correlated with CNV amplitude.
Results
PCA identified 7 response components for the cue and imperatives: N1, PN, P2, N2c, N2b, P3, and SW. All were deemed to be similar between the stimulus types (rc > .80), except the N2cs, which showed little resemblance (rc < .80). Peak latencies strongly correlated between cue and imperatives (r = .99), with shorter latencies apparent for imperative components. RTs reduced as a function of increasing CNV amplitude.
Discussion
The response components to imperatives are strongly related to cue response components, suggesting that similar response processes are occurring for these stimuli during the task. The preparatory activity elicited by the cue enhances both electrophysiological and behavioural response efficiency in this cued paradigm.
Keywords:
Continuous Performance Test (CPT),
event-related potentials (ERPs),
Principal Components Analysis (PCA),
response processes,
response efficiency
Conference:
ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia, 28 Nov - 1 Dec, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Poster
Topic:
Attention
Citation:
Barry
RJ,
Karamacoska
D and
Steiner
GZ
(2013). Clarifying Response Processes and Efficiency in a Cued Continuous Performance Test.
Conference Abstract:
ACNS-2013 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Society Conference.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2013.212.00142
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Received:
11 Sep 2013;
Published Online:
25 Nov 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Diana Karamacoska, University Of Wollongong, School of Psychology, Wollongong, Australia, d.karamacoska@westernsydney.edu.au