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Neural Activation During Visual Attention Differs in Individuals with High versus Low Macular Pigment Density
Author(s) -
Oliver William,
RenziHammond Lisa M.,
Thorne S. Anna,
Clementz Brett,
Miller L. Stephen,
Hammond Billy R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.201801052
Subject(s) - stimulus (psychology) , electroencephalography , neuroscience , audiology , central nervous system , psychology , medicine , cognitive psychology
Scope The neural efficiency hypothesis for lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) suggests that higher levels of L+Z in the central nervous system (CNS) are predictive of stronger stimulus‐specific brain responses. Past research suggests that supplementing L+Z can improve neural processing speed and cognitive function across multiple domains, which supports this hypothesis. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which CNS L+Z levels predict brain responses using an attentionally taxing task. Methods and results Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) is measured at baseline in 85 participants ranging in age from 18–92 years. Brain activation is measured using dense array electroencephalography. Stimuli evoking the signal include a grating array of vertical bars, oscillating at four driving frequencies. Significant stimulus‐specific interactions are detected between attend condition, location, and age ( p < .002) for unattended image locations, and between age and location ( p < .008) for attended locations. Although no differences are found across age by MPOD, this measure is found to be predictive of neural power at parafoveal bar locations (R 2 .080). Conclusion CNS L+Z status is related to differences in brain activation in conditions designed to stress visual attention. These differences are strongest for older subjects.