4.5.3. Breathing and attention re-allocationThis final analysis aimed to understand the relation between breathing-induced endogenous attention shifts and probe-induced exogenous attention shifts that require re-alignment of attention (i.e., invalid trials). We assessed this relation under both endogenous and exogenous attentional control settings (i.e., arrow cues and peripheral onset cues, respectively). First, we computed a new factor “breathing congruency” with two levels: congruent (Inhalation – right probe, or Exhalation – left probe) and incongruent (Inhalation – left probe, or Exhalation – right probe). Then we conducted a repeated-measures ANOVA to assess the impact of SOA (150, 300, 500 ms), cue type (endogenous, exogenous) and breathing congruency (congruent, incongruent) on invalid trial RTs only, i.e., those trials where the probe onset forced a rapid re-alignment of spatial attention.Again, no reliable main effect of cue type was found, F(1, 25) = 0.173, p = .681, ηp2 = 0.007. Importantly, a novel main effect of breathing congruency, F(1, 25) = 9.105, p = .006, ηp2 = 0.267, indicated faster RTs for congruent relationships (353 ms) compared to incongruent ones (372 ms) between breathing status and probe location. No interaction between cue type and breathing congruency was reported, F(1, 25) = 2.926, p = .100, ηp2 = 0.105. We obtained two congruency effects that were further analyzed by post-hoc t-tests: With endogenous cues, participants were 21 ms faster when re-allocating attention rightward after inhalations compared to exhalations, t(25) = 2.459, p = .021, d = 0.482. With exogenous cues, participants were 31 ms faster when re-allocating attention leftward after exhalations compared to inhalations, t(25) = −2.890, p = .008, d = −0.567. These results (see Fig. 4) suggest that breathing state substantially affects spatial re-alignment of attention. This result was not modulated by SOA (all p-values >.231).

During covert and pre-saccadic attentional shifts, it is unclear how facilitation and suppression processes interact for target selection. A recent countermanding task pointed to greater suppression at unattended locations during trials with saccades compared to trials without saccades (i.e., fixation and successful stop trials), whereas target facilitation did not differ. It is unknown whether this finding is restricted to countermanding paradigms that involve inhibitory processes. To test this, we adapted Gaspelin and colleagues (2015)’s attention capture task where, within the same block, one location was primed with frequent line discrimination trials, and all locations were occasionally probed using letters report trials. Participants also performed a baseline condition without priming. We tested 15 participants and examined how performance at non-primed locations was affected by covert versus pre-saccadic attention in blocks of four or six items, as well as by position from the primed location and timing from saccade onset. For both attention conditions, letter report at non-primed locations was worse compared to baseline, demonstrating suppression, and letter report at primed location was better, demonstrating facilitation. In saccades trials, letter report was better at primed locations and worse at non-primed locations compared to fixation trials. The timing of this additional pre-saccadic suppression differed from saccadic suppression. In both attention conditions, suppression was greater when primed and non-primed locations were within the same hemifield or in diagonal opposite quadrants. These results confirmed that attention preceding saccade execution suppressed non-primed locations to a larger extent than covert attention, with the same spatial quadrant effect.

Which statement helps the reader understand the meaning of “involuntary attention”?

When checking for breathing, if you hear gasps:

What is the primary function of the prefrontal cortex?Multiple choice question.cognitive reasoningvisionregulation of breathinghearing

It is often claimed that mindful breathing exercises, as opposed to simple relaxation, effectively reduce physiological stress responses. A study on the benefits of mindful breathing exercises for reducing stress was carried out by researchers. A daily 20-minute mindful breathing exercise practice or a 20-minute relaxation period during which participants just sat quietly was assigned at random. All participants experienced a stressful scenario towards the end of the trial, and their reactions were recorded.13Mark for ReviewCross out answer choices you think are wrong.ABCWhich finding, if true, would most strongly support the underlined claim?AParticipants who practiced mindful breathing exercises exhibited a significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure during the stress-inducing situation compared to those who engaged in simple relaxation.BParticipants who practiced mindful breathing exercises reported feeling more relaxed during the practice sessions than those who engaged in simple relaxation.CParticipants who did not engage in mindful breathing exercises but simply relaxed were more likely to have prior experience with stress management techniques compared to those who practiced mindfulness meditation.DParticipants who engaged in mindful breathing exercises had fewer instances of distraction during the stress-inducing situation compared to those who engaged in simple relaxation.