"We have identified neural signals processing significant interference in humans for the first time, revealing unique processing mechanisms distinct from animals and uncovering the neural mechanisms of attention capture in humans," said Wang Bench, Associate Researcher at the Institute of Brain Science and Rehabilitation Medicine, South China Normal University.
Recently, Wang Bench's team, with the support of the 2030 Science and Technology Innovation Project - "Brain Science and Neuromorphic Research" and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, for the first time tracked significant interference processing in the human brain. The relevant findings were published online in Nature Human Behaviour, with their research brief also simultaneously published in Nature Human Behaviour.
According to Wang Bench, from an evolutionary perspective, rapid recognition of salient objects is crucial for animal survival. This allows us to quickly evade predators' attacks, serving as a danger warning. However, in daily life, rapid recognition of salient objects often interferes with our current work and learning, capturing our attention.
"For example, when we are focused on work, the phone rings, and we have to put down our current tasks," said Wang Bench, the sole corresponding and final author of the paper. For a long time, numerous studies have confirmed the phenomenon of attention capture at the behavioral level. However, there have been many controversies and mysteries regarding how humans process salient objects and their neural basis.
Through intracranial EEG signal collection, this study tracked neural signals processing salient objects (significant interference) in the human brain. Through model transformation, the research found that this signal appeared in high-frequency signals 200-300 milliseconds after the stimulus appeared. More importantly, Wang Bench's team found differences in information processing compared to primates.
"Human processing of salient objects is more derived from the ACC (anterior cingulate cortex) and temporal lobe, rather than the traditional view of the PFC (prefrontal cortex) and IP (intraparietal) regions, updating our understanding of this phenomenon in humans," said Wang Bench.
It is understood that the above research was conducted through interdisciplinary research involving Wang Bench's team and relevant hospitals, collecting intracranial electrophysiological data from humans, and represents another major advancement in the field of cognitive neuroscience by the Department of Psychology at South China Normal University.
Related Paper Information: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01852-5
Related Brief Information: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01856-1
