Training-related neural plasticity of basic visual functions in the mature human brain
Zusammenfassung der Projektergebnisse
During my post-doctoral fellowship, I had the opportunity to conduct research in the group of Prof. Dr. Daphne Bavelier at the University of Rochester, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. We investigated the neural plastic changes in attentional networks after video-game experience. Action video-game play has been shown to improve a broad range of perceptual and cognitive functions, suggesting relatively broad transfer. In addition, topdown attention is also rapidly enhanced after action game play, which has led to the proposal that changes in attentional control may be crucial to the broad transfer witnessed after action video game experience. The goal of this work has been to characterize the neural bases of the changes in attentional control induced by video game play. We asked (1) how video game experience shapes attentional control networks in adults playing video games on average of 5 hours per week and (2) how training on a video-game shapes attentional networks in patients with low vision in one eye, reengaging their vision via video game training. In the first part of this project, we characterized the interaction between top-down and stimulus driven attentional control networks as a function of video-game experience. We show that video game players (VGPs) outperformed non video game players (NVGPs) while revealing reduced activation in attention areas during target preparation but greater recruitment during target processing in two key areas regulating top-down and bottom-up interactions, the right Medial Frontal Gyrus (MFG), and bilateral Temporal Parietal Junction (TPJ) activation. In the second part of this project, we extended the crossmodal attention cueing paradigm to individuals who suffer from impaired vision such as amblyopia (lazy eye) patients that were retrained to regain vision of their weak eye by action game play. Three amblyopic patients who were trained on action video games for 40 hours and scanned before and after training revealed improved performance from pre- to post-training. While response to the auditory cue was reduced at post-training when preparing for the target, the top-down attentional network displayed enhanced recruitment after training. Interestingly, and in parallel to VGPs the right TPJ showed greater recruitment at post-test compared to pre-test when reorienting of attention was required. Numerous follow-up studies can be built upon these findings to improve our understanding of how the use of new technologies (in this case video games) influences neural processes. Retinotopic mapping data will be analyzed in order to investigate top-down attentional modulations in early visual cortical areas in video game players, but also in amblyopic patients before and after training. Moreover, we are investigating functional connectivity data in order to investigate changes in brain connectivity due to video game experience.
Projektbezogene Publikationen (Auswahl)
- (2012). Neural bases of selective attention in action video game players. Vision Research, 15, 132-43
Bavelier, D., Achtman, R.L., Mani, M., Föcker J.
- (2013). Brain systems mediating top-down and bottom-up attentional control networks in action video-game players. CNS, USA, San Francisco, April 13th-16th
Föcker, J., Cole, D., & Bavelier, D.
- (2013). Brain systems mediating top-down and bottom-up attentional control networks in action video-game players. ESCoNS2, USA, Los Angeles, March 15th-17th
Föcker, J., Cole, D., & Bavelier, D.
- (2013). Cross-modal preparatory attention is reduced in th amblyopes: An ERP Study. Poster presented at VSS, USA, Napels, May 10th-15th
Gambacorta, C., Nahum, M., Föcker, J., & Levi, D
- (2013). The Interaction between top-down and stimulus-driven control networks in action-video game players. Pre SFN Workshop; Learning to Attend, Attending to Learn: Neurological, Behavioral, and Computational Perspectives, San Diego, CA, Nov. 6-7
Föcker, J., Cole, D., Bavelier, B.
