The visual attention at the hand-movement goal independent of the top-down attention

Abstract

[Introduction] Enhancement of visual perception near the goal of hand movements has suggested that there is a vision attention related to hand movements (hand-movement-goal, HMG attention). However, it is still an open question whether the HMG attention is a variation of the top-down attentional system. It is likely that the top-down attention is oriented to the goal of hand movement in everyday life conditions. To examine whether there is a specific attention process for HMG attention, we investigate the relationship with the top-down attention. [Method] In order to examine whether the HMG attention is a different process from the top-down attention, we conducted experiments to control the HMG attention and the top-down attention separately and also to estimate spatial distributions of the two types of attention using the Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential (SSVEP) of electroencephalogram. There were two attention-location conditions: in the same condition, a visual task was required at the location indicated as the HMG by a cue, and the visual task was required on the other side of the HMG around the fixation point in the opposite condition. There were also two hand-movement conditions: the hand-movement and hand-stationary conditions for each of the same and opposite conditions. The effect of hand movement can be obtained from the difference between the hand-movement and hand-stationary conditions for each of the same and opposite conditions. [Results] The SSVEP results confirmed the presence of facilitation in visual processing around the HMG during the preparation period of hand movement even when the top-down attention was directed to a different location. Estimated spatial distribution showed that the attention around the HMG was much narrower than that around the focus of the top-down attention spreading into locations. [Conclusion] We revealed that there is the HMG attention process that is independent of the top-down attention.