Department of Psychology Neuroscience Seminar (Brown Bag)
10/25/2007
12:00 pm
- 1:00 pm
Contact:
Location:
Wilson Hall 316
Paul Dux, PhD
Vanderbilt University/Department of Psychology/ Marois Lab
“Efficiency of Information Processing in Human Prefrontal Cortex Limits Multitasking Performance”
A severe ‘bottleneck’ of information processing is revealed when individuals attempt to perform two tasks at once. Under such conditions, performance of one or both tasks is impaired relative to single task controls (Pashler, 1994). It has previously been shown that these multitasking (MT) costs can be virtually eliminated after extensive training (e.g. Schumacher at al., 2001). To isolate the neural mechanisms underlying these MT limitations, we took advantage of this training effect as it provides a means to look at neural changes in the brain in the absence of any changes in sensory input, motor output or task instructions. Using a combination of functional neuroimaging experimental approaches and analytical techniques, we were able to distinguish between several putative neural mechanisms underlying MT limitations. The results of these analyses converge on a primary mechanism to account for such costs, namely the poor processing efficiency of sensory-motor information in the posterior Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (pLPFC). These results not only converge with recent ones (Dux et al., 2006) in implicating this brain region as a central neural bottleneck of information processing, they also provide a mechanistic account for MT limitations.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
12:00 p.m. (noon)
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract: To be announced
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley at carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu
Vanderbilt University/Department of Psychology/ Marois Lab
“Efficiency of Information Processing in Human Prefrontal Cortex Limits Multitasking Performance”
A severe ‘bottleneck’ of information processing is revealed when individuals attempt to perform two tasks at once. Under such conditions, performance of one or both tasks is impaired relative to single task controls (Pashler, 1994). It has previously been shown that these multitasking (MT) costs can be virtually eliminated after extensive training (e.g. Schumacher at al., 2001). To isolate the neural mechanisms underlying these MT limitations, we took advantage of this training effect as it provides a means to look at neural changes in the brain in the absence of any changes in sensory input, motor output or task instructions. Using a combination of functional neuroimaging experimental approaches and analytical techniques, we were able to distinguish between several putative neural mechanisms underlying MT limitations. The results of these analyses converge on a primary mechanism to account for such costs, namely the poor processing efficiency of sensory-motor information in the posterior Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (pLPFC). These results not only converge with recent ones (Dux et al., 2006) in implicating this brain region as a central neural bottleneck of information processing, they also provide a mechanistic account for MT limitations.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
12:00 p.m. (noon)
316 Wilson Hall
Abstract: To be announced
Department of Psychology NEUROSCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES
For additional information, contact Carol Wiley at carol.wiley@vanderbilt.edu