Early reduction of sensory processing within the visual cortex when switching from internal to external attention

The neurocognitive process underlying attention switches between external (perception-based) and internal (memory-based) is poorly characterized. Previous research has found that when participants switch either two perception-based tasks (within-domain switches) or a memory- task (between-domain switches), substantial similar processing cost was observed compared to the repetition of same (Verschooren, Schindler, De Raedt, & Pourtois, 2019). Here, we recorded 64-channel EEG while carried out within- versus between-domain attention. ERP results showed during early sensory processing, marked P1 attenuation associated with both types, suggesting switching an bottleneck information processing. This gating effect stronger from task, tasks, different top-down requirements for them. These findings are in line earlier proposals literature.