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Schmidt J, da Silva Senges G, Gonçalves Fernandes Campos R, Lucieri Alonso Costa G, Eliza Moreira Boechat Y, da Cunha Barbosa Leite J, Santos Portela A, Lewandrowski KU, de Corrêa BorgesLacerda G, Schmidt G, Schmidt S. Sustained attention can be measured using a brief computerized attention task. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17001. [PMID: 39043835 PMCID: PMC11266567 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68093-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The Continuous Visual Attention Test (CVAT) is a test that detects visuomotor reaction time (RT, alertness), variability of reaction time (VRT, sustained attention), omission errors (OE, focused attention), and commission errors (CE, response inhibition). The standard test takes 15 min, while the ultrafast version only 90 s. Besides overall task length, the two versions differ by target probability (20% and 80% in the 15-min vs. only 80% in the 90-s test) and stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) (1, 2, and 4 s in the 15-min vs. only 1 s in the 90-s test. We aimed to analyze the effect of target probability, SOA, and time length on the CVAT variables across the 15-min task and to verify correlations and agreements between the 15-min and the 90-s CVATs. 205 healthy participants performed the two CVATs on the same day. Considering the 15-min task, RT and CE were strongly affected by target probability. Conversely, VRT was not affected. When the 15-min task was compared to the 90-s task, we found no significant difference in the VRT variable. Additionally, a significant agreement between the two tasks was found for the VRT variable. We concluded that sustained attention can be measured with the 90-s CVAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Schmidt
- Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel da Silva Senges
- Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Alessandra Santos Portela
- Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski
- Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Center for Advanced Spine Care of Southern Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | | | - Guilherme Schmidt
- Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio Schmidt
- Post-Graduate Program in Neurology, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Judd N, Aristodemou M, Klingberg T, Kievit R. Interindividual Differences in Cognitive Variability Are Ubiquitous and Distinct From Mean Performance in a Battery of Eleven Tasks. J Cogn 2024; 7:45. [PMID: 38799081 PMCID: PMC11122693 DOI: 10.5334/joc.371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Our performance on cognitive tasks fluctuates: the same individual completing the same task will differ in their response's moment-to-moment. For decades cognitive fluctuations have been implicitly ignored - treated as measurement error - with a focus instead on aggregates such as mean performance. Leveraging dense trial-by-trial data and novel time-series methods we explored variability as an intrinsically important phenotype. Across eleven cognitive tasks with over 7 million trials, we found highly reliable interindividual differences in cognitive variability in every task we examined. These differences are both qualitatively and quantitatively distinct from mean performance. Moreover, we found that a single dimension for variability across tasks was inadequate, demonstrating that previously posited global mechanisms for cognitive variability are at least partially incomplete. Our findings indicate that variability is a fundamental part of cognition - with the potential to offer novel insights into developmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Judd
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Aristodemou
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Torkel Klingberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rogier Kievit
- Cognitive Neuroscience Department, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Wiker T, Pedersen ML, Ferschmann L, Beck D, Norbom LB, Dahl A, von Soest T, Agartz I, Andreassen OA, Moberget T, Westlye LT, Huster RJ, Tamnes CK. Assessing the Longitudinal Associations Between Decision-Making Processes and Attention Problems in Early Adolescence. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:803-817. [PMID: 38103132 PMCID: PMC11063004 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-023-01148-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive functions and psychopathology develop in parallel in childhood and adolescence, but the temporal dynamics of their associations are poorly understood. The present study sought to elucidate the intertwined development of decision-making processes and attention problems using longitudinal data from late childhood (9-10 years) to mid-adolescence (11-13 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (n = 8918). We utilised hierarchical drift-diffusion modelling of behavioural data from the stop-signal task, parent-reported attention problems from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and multigroup univariate and bivariate latent change score models. The results showed faster drift rate was associated with lower levels of inattention at baseline, as well as a greater reduction of inattention over time. Moreover, baseline drift rate negatively predicted change in attention problems in females, and baseline attention problems negatively predicted change in drift rate. Neither response caution (decision threshold) nor encoding- and responding processes (non-decision time) were significantly associated with attention problems. There were no significant sex differences in the associations between decision-making processes and attention problems. The study supports previous findings of reduced evidence accumulation in attention problems and additionally shows that development of this aspect of decision-making plays a role in developmental changes in attention problems in youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea Wiker
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Division of Mental health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, PoBox 23 Vinderen, Oslo, 0319, Norway.
| | - Mads L Pedersen
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lia Ferschmann
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dani Beck
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, PoBox 23 Vinderen, Oslo, 0319, Norway
| | - Linn B Norbom
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, NORMENT, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tilmann von Soest
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, PoBox 23 Vinderen, Oslo, 0319, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm Region, Sweden
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, NORMENT, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, NORMENT, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Institute of Clinical Medicine, NORMENT, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rene J Huster
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Multimodal Imaging and Cognitive Control Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience Cluster, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- PROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, PoBox 23 Vinderen, Oslo, 0319, Norway
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Yang S, Dong H, Albitos PJ, Wang Y, Fang Y, Cao L, Wang J, Sun L, Zhang H. Low-frequency variability in theta activity modulates the attention-fluctuation across task and resting states. Neuropsychologia 2024; 193:108757. [PMID: 38103680 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Sustained attention is not constant but fluctuates influencing our task performance. Albeit intensive investigations, it remains unclear whether the attention-fluctuation during tasks is derived from its spontaneous fluctuation in the resting state. Here, we addressed this issue by investigating the attention-fluctuation in both task and resting states, through the EEG measurement of theta-variability. We found significant rest-task modulation of theta-variability, i.e., reduced theta-variability in the task state compared to the resting state. This task and rest modulation was manifested in the low-frequency of theta-variability (<0.1 Hz). Furthermore, the low-frequency theta-variability exhibited a significant rest-task correlation, however, only the low-frequency theta-variability in the task state but not in the resting state was correlated with the behavioral performance. These findings shed light on the low-frequency feature of attention-fluctuation, and advanced our understanding of sustained attention by suggesting that the theta-variability in low-frequencies was relevant to attention level in task state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyou Yang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Huimei Dong
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Princess Jane Albitos
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yaoyao Wang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yantong Fang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Longfei Cao
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinghua Wang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Neurology the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Sun
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, China
| | - Hang Zhang
- Centre for Cognition and Brain Disorders, The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Psychological Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairment, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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5
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Wiker T, Norbom LB, Beck D, Agartz I, Andreassen OA, Alnæs D, Dahl A, Eilertsen EM, Moberget T, Ystrøm E, Westlye LT, Lebel C, Huster RJ, Tamnes CK. Reaction Time Variability in Children Is Specifically Associated With Attention Problems and Regional White Matter Microstructure. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2023; 8:832-840. [PMID: 37003411 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased intraindividual variability (IIV) in reaction times (RTs) has been suggested as a key cognitive and behavioral marker of attention problems, but findings for other dimensions of psychopathology are less consistent. Moreover, while studies have linked IIV to brain white matter microstructure, large studies testing the robustness of these associations are needed. METHODS We used data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study baseline assessment to test the associations between IIV and psychopathology (n = 8622, age = 8.9-11.1 years) and IIV and white matter microstructure (n = 7958, age = 8.9-11.1 years). IIV was investigated using an ex-Gaussian distribution analysis of RTs in correct response go trials in the stop signal task. Psychopathology was measured by the Child Behavior Checklist and a bifactor structural equation model was performed to extract a general p factor and specific factors reflecting internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems. To investigate white matter microstructure, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity were examined in 23 atlas-based tracts. RESULTS Increased IIV in both short and long RTs was positively associated with the specific attention problems factor (Cohen's d = 0.13 and d = 0.15, respectively). Increased IIV in long RTs was also positively associated with radial diffusivity in the left and right corticospinal tract (both tracts, d = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS Using a large sample and a data-driven dimensional approach to psychopathology, the results provide novel evidence for a small but specific association between IIV and attention problems in children and support previous findings on the relevance of white matter microstructure for IIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea Wiker
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Linn B Norbom
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dani Beck
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Agartz
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm Region, Sweden
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dag Alnæs
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, Pedagogy and Law, School of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreas Dahl
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen M Eilertsen
- Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Torgeir Moberget
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Eivind Ystrøm
- Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Heath, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lars T Westlye
- KG Jebsen Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital & Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Catherine Lebel
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rene J Huster
- Multimodal Imaging and Cognitive Control Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience Cluster, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Norway; Sleep Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian K Tamnes
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Research Center for Developmental Processes and Gradients in Mental Health, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychiatric Research, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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