Modeling inhibition of return as short-term depression of early sensory input to the superior colliculus

Inhibition of return (IOR) is an orienting phenomenon characterized by slower behavioral responses to spatially cued, relative to uncued targets, when the cue-target onset asynchronies (CTOAs) are long enough that cue-elicited attentional capture has dispersed. Here, we implement a short-term depression (STD) account of IOR within a neuroscientifically based dynamic neural field model (DNF) of the superior colliculus (SC). In addition to the prototypical findings in the cue-target paradigm (i.e., the biphasic pattern of behavioral enhancement at short CTOAs and behavioral costs at long CTOAs), a variety of findings in the literature are generated with this model, including IOR in averaging saccades and the co-existence of IOR and endogenous orienting at the same location. Many findings that cannot be accommodated by this model could be accounted for by incorporating cortical contributions.

Research highlights► In this study, we simulate IOR using a DNF model of the superior colliculus. ► The model incorporates short-term depression of target-elicited sensory inputs. ► Prototypical findings in the cue-target experimental paradigm are replicated. ► Paradigms examining IOR in averaging and with predictive cueing are also simulated.