Switching auditory attention using spatial and non-spatial features recruits different cortical networks

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 84; pp. 681 - 687
• Main Authors: Larson, Eric, Lee, Adrian K.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.01.2014; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Attention - physiology; Auditory attention; Auditory Pathways - physiology; Auditory Perception - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Electroencephalography; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hypotheses; Inferior parietal supramarginal part; Letters; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetoencephalography; Male; Medical imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Pitch processing; Spatial attention; Studies; Temporoparietal junction; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Visual task performance; Young Adult; LIPSP; STS; Inferior parietal supramarginal part; M-EEG; Magnetoencephalography; Spatial attention; Auditory attention; Pitch processing; RTPJ; Electroencephalography; Temporoparietal junction; Electrophysiology; Magneto- and electroencephalography; superior temporal sulcus; left inferior parietal supramarginal part; Right temporoparietal junction
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2013.09.061

Switching attention between different stimuli of interest based on particular task demands is important in many everyday settings. In audition in particular, switching attention between different speakers of interest that are talking concurrently is often necessary for effective communication. Recently, it has been shown by multiple studies that auditory selective attention suppresses the representation of unwanted streams in auditory cortical areas in favor of the target stream of interest. However, the neural processing that guides this selective attention process is not well understood. Here we investigated the cortical mechanisms involved in switching attention based on two different types of auditory features. By combining magneto- and electro-encephalography (M-EEG) with an anatomical MRI constraint, we examined the cortical dynamics involved in switching auditory attention based on either spatial or pitch features. We designed a paradigm where listeners were cued in the beginning of each trial to switch or maintain attention halfway through the presentation of concurrent target and masker streams. By allowing listeners time to switch during a gap in the continuous target and masker stimuli, we were able to isolate the mechanisms involved in endogenous, top–down attention switching. Our results show a double dissociation between the involvement of right temporoparietal junction (RTPJ) and the left inferior parietal supramarginal part (LIPSP) in tasks requiring listeners to switch attention based on space and pitch features, respectively, suggesting that switching attention based on these features involves at least partially separate processes or behavioral strategies. •Tested attention switching in audition based on spatial location and pitch•Right temporoparietal junction is involved only in switching based on location.•Left inferior parietal supramarginal part is engaged only when subjects use pitch.•Double dissociation and neural timing suggest distinct mechanisms and/or strategies.