Eimer Martin, Forster Bettina, Van Velzen José, Prabhu Gita
School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, UK.
Neuropsychologia. 2005;43(6):957-66. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2004.08.011.
The premotor theory of attention claims that the preparation of goal-directed action and shifts of attention are closely linked, because they are controlled by shared sensorymotor mechanisms. Until now, support for this theory has come primarily from studies demonstrating links between saccade programming and attention shifts. The present event-related brain potential (ERP) study demonstrated that attentional orienting processes are also elicited during the covert preparation of unimanual responses. ERPs were recorded in the interval between a visual response-hand selection cue and a subsequent visual Go/Nogo signal when participants prepared to lift their left or right index finger. Lateralised ERP components elicited during response preparation were very similar to components previously observed during instructed endogenous attention shifts, indicating that analogous attentional orienting processes are activated in both cases. Somatosensory ERP components (P90, N140) were enhanced when task-irrelevant tactile probes were delivered during response preparation to the hand involved in an anticipated response, even when probes were presented well in advance of response execution. These results suggest that attentional shifts are triggered during unimanual response preparation, as predicted by the premotor theory. This link between manual response programming and attention is consistent with the hypothesis that common mechanisms are involved in the control of attention and action.
注意力的运动前理论认为，目标导向动作的准备与注意力转移紧密相连，因为它们由共同的感觉运动机制控制。到目前为止，对该理论的支持主要来自于证明扫视编程与注意力转移之间联系的研究。当前的事件相关脑电位（ERP）研究表明，在单手反应的隐蔽准备过程中也会引发注意力定向过程。当参与者准备抬起左手或右手食指时，在视觉反应手选择提示和随后的视觉“执行/不执行”信号之间的间隔内记录ERP。反应准备期间引发的偏侧化ERP成分与之前在指示的内源性注意力转移期间观察到的成分非常相似，表明在这两种情况下都激活了类似的注意力定向过程。当在反应准备期间将与任务无关的触觉探针施加到预期反应所涉及的手上时，体感ERP成分（P90、N140）增强，即使探针在反应执行之前很早就呈现。这些结果表明，如运动前理论所预测的，在单手反应准备期间会触发注意力转移。手动反应编程与注意力之间的这种联系与共同机制参与注意力和动作控制的假设一致。
