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Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults

In young adults, primary visual task processing can be either enhanced or disrupted by novel auditory stimuli preceding target events, depending on task demands. Little is known about this phenomenon in older individuals, who, in general, are more susceptible to distraction. In the current study, ag...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tusch, Erich S., Feng, Nicole C., Holcomb, Phillip J., Daffner, Kirk R.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5671602/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29163131
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00348
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author Tusch, Erich S.
Feng, Nicole C.
Holcomb, Phillip J.
Daffner, Kirk R.
author_facet Tusch, Erich S.
Feng, Nicole C.
Holcomb, Phillip J.
Daffner, Kirk R.
author_sort Tusch, Erich S.
collection PubMed
description In young adults, primary visual task processing can be either enhanced or disrupted by novel auditory stimuli preceding target events, depending on task demands. Little is known about this phenomenon in older individuals, who, in general, are more susceptible to distraction. In the current study, age-related differences in the electrophysiological effects of task-irrelevant auditory stimuli on visual target processing were examined. Under both low and high primary task loads, the categorization/updating process in response to visual targets preceded by auditory novels, as indexed by the target P3 component, was enhanced in young, but diminished in old adults. In both age groups, the alerting/orienting response to novel auditory stimuli, as measured by the P3a, was smaller under high task load, whereas redirecting attention to the visual task after a novel auditory event, as indexed by the reorienting negativity (RON), tended to be augmented under high task load. Old subjects generated a smaller P3a and RON. We conclude that task irrelevant novel auditory stimuli have the opposite effect on the processing of visual targets in young and old adults. This finding may help explain age-related increases in the disruption of primary task activity by irrelevant, but salient auditory events.
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spelling pubmed-56716022017-11-21 Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults Tusch, Erich S. Feng, Nicole C. Holcomb, Phillip J. Daffner, Kirk R. Front Aging Neurosci Neuroscience In young adults, primary visual task processing can be either enhanced or disrupted by novel auditory stimuli preceding target events, depending on task demands. Little is known about this phenomenon in older individuals, who, in general, are more susceptible to distraction. In the current study, age-related differences in the electrophysiological effects of task-irrelevant auditory stimuli on visual target processing were examined. Under both low and high primary task loads, the categorization/updating process in response to visual targets preceded by auditory novels, as indexed by the target P3 component, was enhanced in young, but diminished in old adults. In both age groups, the alerting/orienting response to novel auditory stimuli, as measured by the P3a, was smaller under high task load, whereas redirecting attention to the visual task after a novel auditory event, as indexed by the reorienting negativity (RON), tended to be augmented under high task load. Old subjects generated a smaller P3a and RON. We conclude that task irrelevant novel auditory stimuli have the opposite effect on the processing of visual targets in young and old adults. This finding may help explain age-related increases in the disruption of primary task activity by irrelevant, but salient auditory events. Frontiers Media S.A. 2017-10-31 /pmc/articles/PMC5671602/ /pubmed/29163131 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00348 Text en Copyright © 2017 Tusch, Feng, Holcomb and Daffner. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Tusch, Erich S.
Feng, Nicole C.
Holcomb, Phillip J.
Daffner, Kirk R.
Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title_full Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title_fullStr Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title_full_unstemmed Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title_short Task-Irrelevant Novel Sounds have Antithetical Effects on Visual Target Processing in Young and Old Adults
title_sort task-irrelevant novel sounds have antithetical effects on visual target processing in young and old adults
topic Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5671602/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29163131
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00348
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