Gender differences in visual-spatial attention: an EEG study

• Main Authors: Da-Sih Chuang, 莊大賜
• Other Authors: Li-Fen Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/6235px

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 腦科學研究所 === 102 === Background: Attention plays an important role in our daily life. In the cognitive processing, attention can help us to select concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. Recent studies in attention had distinguished visual attention into three functions of alerting, orienting, executive. However, previous studies in gender difference were not classical ERP component to clearly distinguish between genders. In addition, a few studies have looked at gender differences in attention shifting. The current study aimed to investigate effect of gender on the ERP components related attention processing during attention network test and whether the cues trigger shifts of attention will influence performance on gender differences. We hypothesized that gender differences in the ERP component of related attention processing during attention test, and cueing effect will influence performance on gender difference Material and methods: We studied forty right-handed healthy adults (20 males, and 20 age-matched female) with 32-channel-electroencephalogram (EEG) and T1 image recorded. Males and females were matched for age. These participants were asked to perform an attention network task. Participants underwent evaluation using Chinese version of the adult ADHD Self-report Scale (ASRS) for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) screening (Kessler et al., 2005). Event-related potential (ERP) data were compared between female and male for each time point in each condition using Mann-Whitney U test. We were selected three components associate with attention function (Cue-N100, Target-N100, Target-P300). Image data were analyzed with flexible factorial design in SPM8. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relation between reaction time, ASRS scale, and brain activity index. Results: Females were affected by orienting effect that cause the reaction time (RT) being faster than males. Female were significant higher amplitude than male in the Cue-N100 component at P3 electrode and the brain region were significant gender difference in precentral (nearby frontal eye field). Males were significant higher than females in the Target-P300 at P3 electrode and the brain region were significant gender difference in anterior cingulate cortex. Male had a trend of positive correlation between precentral (Cue-N100) and ACC (Target-P300). Discussion: Females have larger cueing effect in the spatial cue condition, maybe they need to use more attention resources to complete the task. Male have a larger Target-P300 in the spatial cue condition, it have demonstrated males decreased the attentional resources consumed to perform the task than females. Conclusion: Gender difference in cueing effect may modulate or contribute to gender differences in other cognitive tasks. Future studies of cognitive ability and cognitive processes should pay more attention to the possible effects of gender.