Neurofunctional Symmetries and Asymmetries during Voluntary out-of- and within-Body Vivid Imagery Concurrent with Orienting Attention and Visuospatial Detection

Abstract

We explored whether two visual mental imagery experiences may be differentiated by electroencephalographic (EEG) and performance interactions with concurrent orienting external attention (OEA) to stimulus location and subsequent visuospatial detection. We measured within-subject (N = 10) event-related potential (ERP) changes during out-of-body imagery (OBI)—vivid imagery of a vertical line outside of the head/body—and within-body imagery (WBI)—vivid imagery of the line within one’s own head. Furthermore, we measured ERP changes and line offset Vernier acuity (hyperacuity) performance concurrent with those imagery, compared to baseline detection without imagery. Relative to OEA baseline, OBI yielded larger N200 and P300, whereas WBI yielded larger P50, P100, N400, and P800. Additionally, hyperacuity dropped significantly when concurrent with both imagery types. Partial least squares analysis combined behavioural performance, ERPs, and/or event-related EEG band power (ERBP). For both imagery types, hyperacuity reduction correlated with opposite frontal and occipital ERP amplitude and polarity changes. Furthermore, ERP modulation and ERBP synchronizations for all EEG frequencies correlated inversely with hyperacuity. Dipole Source Localization Analysis revealed unique generators in the left middle temporal gyrus (WBI) and in the right frontal middle gyrus (OBI), whereas the common generators were in the left precuneus and middle occipital cortex (cuneus). Imagery experiences, we conclude, can be identified by symmetric and asymmetric combined neurophysiological-behavioural patterns in interactions with the width of attentional focus.

Promise for Personalized Diagnosis? Assessing the Precision of Wireless Consumer-Grade Electroencephalography across Mental States

“…However, most recently, hybrid approaches have also been devised in which time and frequency domain EEG features are examined as covariates (for example see [43][44][45][46]), particularly, to investigate spectral changes associated with stimulus or task time-course, as opposed to resting brain activity. In line with these approaches, in the present study we focused on two EEG event-locked or task-related features: Event-related band frequency amplitude and power.…”

Multidisciplinary Intersections on Artificial-Human Vividness: Phenomenology, Representation, and the Brain

“… Vivid imagery experienced outside and within the body shows both similar and distinct loci of activation in the brain. Figure taken from D’Angiulli et al [ 77 ]. Red points indicate the estimated anatomical graphic location of the generating source of EEG activity on the structural MRI template slices (i.e., sagittal, coronal, axial); the formal label, Talairach coordinates, and millisecond detection time intervals are given below the template according to Broadman Areas (BA).…”

Frontal P300 asymmetry and congruence judgment: Retroactive switching is impaired during school day mornings in female adolescents

“…For example, frontal N2 and frontal P300 effects are reliable ERP markers of inhibitory control in children ( Linnavalli et al, 2022 , Pietto et al, 2018 ), and intervention can beneficially influence this marker ( Pietto et al, 2018 ). Furthermore, frontal asymmetry (an uneven hemispheric activation) has been shown to correlate with numerous cognitive domains involving effortful control including attention ( Longarzo et al, 2020 ), mental imagery ( D'Angiulli et al, 2021 ), decision making ( Neal and Gable, 2019 ), and auditory executive functions ( Byczynski et al, 2022 ).…”

“…The misalignment between school start times and adolescent circadian rhythms is already cause for concern, as sleep deprivation increases risk of mental health disorders, substance abuse, and academic performance ( Wahlstrom, 2020 ), female adolescent students are disproportionately more at risk as compared to male counterparts ( Agathão et al, 2020 ). Using a Stroop-like paradigm, in our previous study ( D’Angiulli et al, 2021 ), we analyzed correlations between RTs, accuracy, time of day, day of week, EEG data, and sleep log data to explore relationships between these variables in a sample of female adolescent students. We found converging evidence that a 2-h social jet lag (SJL) during the week end as well as mental fatigue associated with sleep homeostatic pressure during the afternoon of midweek school days were correlated with cognitive declines in performance and changes in midline P300.…”

“…However, for pairs of “switch” sequences that did not feature the same type of trials (cI or iC), we hypothesized an increase in interference effect and a drop to less optimal accuracy performance in afternoon and, crucially, a significant impairment of performance in the morning because of sleep misalignment induced by school start times ( D’Angiulli et al, 2021 ). These other types of interference effects are generally known as Item-specific congruency probability (ISCP) effects.…”