Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search
Background: Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the...
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IMR Press
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/5/10.31083/JIN36513 |
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| author | Yanzhang Chen Paola Sessa Sabrina Brigadoi Alberto Petrin Suiping Wang Roberto Dell’Acqua |
| author_facet | Yanzhang Chen Paola Sessa Sabrina Brigadoi Alberto Petrin Suiping Wang Roberto Dell’Acqua |
| author_sort | Yanzhang Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the human brain processes competing salient stimuli by monitoring N2pc and PD, two event-related components thought to reflect target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. However, whether these components reflect the activity of a single or distinct neural mechanism remains controversial. Herein, we investigated the neural substrate of N2pc and PD by manipulating the vertical elevation of target and distractor relative to the visual horizontal meridian using two variants of the additional-singleton paradigm. Methods: In Experiment 1, participants searched for a shape singleton and identified the orientation of an embedded tilted bar while ignoring a color singleton. In Experiment 2, the tilted bars were removed and participants performed a shape search while ignoring a color singleton. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings at posterior sites (PO7/8) measured N2pc and PD components. Reaction times and ERP amplitudes were analyzed across conditions. Results: The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 showed that N2pc and PD responded in opposite ways to the manipulation of vertical elevation. N2pc was robust for targets in the lower visual hemifield and reversed in polarity (i.e., post-N2pc positivity ) for targets in the upper visual hemifield. Conversely, PD was more pronounced for distractors in the upper visual hemifield and nil for those in the lower visual hemifield. Critically, vertical elevation did not influence psychophysical estimates of search efficiency in either experiment, suggesting that the relationship between these components and their functional significance is less straightforward than previously thought. Conclusions: These results provide empirical support for the idea that N2pc and PD are influenced by the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex in a manner consistent with the neural and functional dissociation of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d209f10e38d64d31b24fb9db88524d43 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0219-6352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
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| series | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-d209f10e38d64d31b24fb9db88524d432025-08-20T02:03:23ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience0219-63522025-05-012453651310.31083/JIN36513S0219-6352(25)00930-1Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual SearchYanzhang Chen0Paola Sessa1Sabrina Brigadoi2Alberto Petrin3Suiping Wang4Roberto Dell’Acqua5Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory of Reading and Development in Children and Adolescents (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, 510631 Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization (DPSS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization (DPSS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization (DPSS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyPhilosophy and Social Science Laboratory of Reading and Development in Children and Adolescents (South China Normal University), Ministry of Education, 510631 Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Developmental Psychology and Socialization (DPSS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyBackground: Directing attention to relevant visual objects while ignoring distracting stimuli is crucial for effective perception and goal-directed behavior. Event-related potential (ERP) studies using the additional-singleton paradigm have provided valuable insights into how the human brain processes competing salient stimuli by monitoring N2pc and PD, two event-related components thought to reflect target selection and distractor suppression, respectively. However, whether these components reflect the activity of a single or distinct neural mechanism remains controversial. Herein, we investigated the neural substrate of N2pc and PD by manipulating the vertical elevation of target and distractor relative to the visual horizontal meridian using two variants of the additional-singleton paradigm. Methods: In Experiment 1, participants searched for a shape singleton and identified the orientation of an embedded tilted bar while ignoring a color singleton. In Experiment 2, the tilted bars were removed and participants performed a shape search while ignoring a color singleton. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings at posterior sites (PO7/8) measured N2pc and PD components. Reaction times and ERP amplitudes were analyzed across conditions. Results: The results of both Experiments 1 and 2 showed that N2pc and PD responded in opposite ways to the manipulation of vertical elevation. N2pc was robust for targets in the lower visual hemifield and reversed in polarity (i.e., post-N2pc positivity ) for targets in the upper visual hemifield. Conversely, PD was more pronounced for distractors in the upper visual hemifield and nil for those in the lower visual hemifield. Critically, vertical elevation did not influence psychophysical estimates of search efficiency in either experiment, suggesting that the relationship between these components and their functional significance is less straightforward than previously thought. Conclusions: These results provide empirical support for the idea that N2pc and PD are influenced by the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex in a manner consistent with the neural and functional dissociation of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/5/10.31083/JIN36513additional-singletonvisual searchn2pcpdneural substrate |
| spellingShingle | Yanzhang Chen Paola Sessa Sabrina Brigadoi Alberto Petrin Suiping Wang Roberto Dell’Acqua Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search Journal of Integrative Neuroscience additional-singleton visual search n2pc pd neural substrate |
| title | Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search |
| title_full | Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search |
| title_fullStr | Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search |
| title_short | Vertical Elevation as a Key Factor for the Neural Distinction of Target Selection and Distractor Suppression in Visual Search |
| title_sort | vertical elevation as a key factor for the neural distinction of target selection and distractor suppression in visual search |
| topic | additional-singleton visual search n2pc pd neural substrate |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/24/5/10.31083/JIN36513 |
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