Event Related Potential Study of Visual Selective Attention and Working Memory in Children

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dc.contributorSabariego, Marta
dc.contributorMulder, Kenneth
dc.contributor.advisorCouperus, Jane
dc.contributor.authorWallsinger, Grace
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-06T19:42:31Z
dc.date.available2023-06-06T19:42:31Z
dc.date.gradyear2023en_US
dc.date.issued2023-06-06
dc.description.abstractOne current model of visual selective attention proposes two mechanisms that work together to achieve processing of important information: facilitation – which controls the processing of relevant target stimuli – and suppression – which works to filter out irrelevant distracting stimuli. While facilitation is seen in all ages, previous research indicates suppression develops later in childhood (Plebanek & Sloutsky 2017; 2019; Wong-Kee-You et al., 2019). One theory regarding the development of selective attention is that it is linked to the development of working memory – given the functional and neural overlap between the two processes (Downing, 2000; LaBar et al., 2019). This study investigated the developmental timeline of suppression using electrophysiological methods to create a quantitative physiological measure of facilitation and suppression during visual selective attention using the P1/N1 event related potential (ERP) components for 24 adults and 12 children (8-12 years-old). Our results reveal a suppression effect of the N1 component for adults, but not for children; suggesting that suppression may not develop before the age of 12. Additionally, we discovered children reach adult levels for visual working memory capacity between the ages of 10-12 years-old; and that for children only, visual working memory capacity has a significant interaction with attention ability. This indicates that working memory capacity develops earlier and may influence later development of selective attention skills – including suppression. Understanding the development of attention and working memory will provide useful information in creating effective classroom management strategies and enhancing the focus of task-related information to foster childhood learning.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNeuroscience and Behavioren_US
dc.description.sponsorshipPsychology & Educationen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10166/6425
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights.restrictedrestricteden_US
dc.subjectAttentionen_US
dc.subjectWorking Memoryen_US
dc.subjectEEGen_US
dc.subjectERPen_US
dc.subjectP1/N1en_US
dc.subjectChildrenen_US
dc.subjectDevelopmental Psychologyen_US
dc.titleEvent Related Potential Study of Visual Selective Attention and Working Memory in Childrenen_US
dc.typeThesis
mhc.degreeUndergraduateen_US
mhc.institutionMount Holyoke College

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