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Gaynor AM, Ahsan A, Jung D, Schofield E, Li Y, Ryan E, Ahles TA, Root JC. Novel computerized neurocognitive test battery is sensitive to cancer-related cognitive deficits in survivors. J Cancer Surviv 2024; 18:466-478. [PMID: 35939254 PMCID: PMC11274167 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-022-01232-w] [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] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is increasing interest in developing new methods to improve sensitivity in detecting subtle cognitive deficits associated with cancer and its treatments. The current study aimed to evaluate the ability of a novel computerized battery of cognitive neuroscience-based tests to discriminate between cognitive performance in breast cancer survivors and controls. METHODS Breast cancer survivors (N = 174) and age-matched non-cancer controls (N = 183) completed the Enformia Cogsuite Battery of cognitive assessments, comprised of 7 computerized tests of multiple cognitive domains. Primary outcome measures included accuracy, reaction times (RT), and coefficients of variation (CV) for each task, as well as global scores of accuracy, RT, and CV aggregated across tests. RESULTS Linear regressions adjusting for age, education, and remote vs. in-office administration showed that compared to non-cancer controls, survivors had significantly lower performance on measures of attention, executive function, working memory, verbal ability, visuospatial ability, and motor function. Survivors had significantly greater CV on measures of attention, working memory, and processing speed, and significantly slower RT on measures of verbal fluency. CONCLUSIONS The Cogsuite battery demonstrates sensitivity to cancer-related cognitive dysfunction across multiple domains, and is capable of identifying specific cognitive processes that may be affected in survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS The sensitivity of these tasks to subtle cognitive deficits has advantages for initial diagnosis of cancer-related cognitive dysfunction, as well as detecting changes in survivors' cognitive function over time. The remote delivery of the battery may help overcome barriers associated with in-office administration and increase access to neurocognitive evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Gaynor
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA.
- Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Anam Ahsan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth Schofield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - Yuelin Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ryan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - Tim A Ahles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
| | - James C Root
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Neurocognitive Research Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Ave., 7thFloor, New York, NY, 10022, USA
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Conover L. The direction of attention in second language phonological contrast learning. THE JOURNAL OF THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 153:3390. [PMID: 37350624 DOI: 10.1121/10.0019714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
This study attempted to describe why some individuals are more successful when learning to perceive the sounds of a second language by analyzing the role attention plays in perceptual learning. Fifty-seven monolingual English-speaking adults completed the study. The participants underwent a perceptual learning paradigm presenting the novel contrast, the voicing contrast between Thai /b/ and /p/. The experiment consisted of a 40-item pretest, 480-trial learning phase, and 40-item posttest. Approximately half of the participants (n = 30) were given explicit instruction to listen for the specific contrast prior to the learning phase; other participants were not told the nature of the contrast. The Attention Network Test (ANT) from Fan, McCandliss, Sommer, Raz, and Posner [(2002). J. Cogn. Neurosci. 14(3), 340-347] was used to assess attentional networks. Generalized linear models and linear mixed effect models (LME) were fit to predict the participants' post-test scores based on ANT subscores, experimental group, and learning block (LME only). The results showed a correlation between attentional control and the ability to learn non-native phoneme contrasts regardless of instruction. In addition, there was a positive interaction between attentional control and the provision of explicit instructions during the learning process, such that individuals with high attentional control learned better when they received explicit instruction prior to training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Conover
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33610, USA
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Attention neuroenhancement through tDCS or neurofeedback: a randomized, single-blind, controlled trial. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17613. [PMID: 36266396 PMCID: PMC9584934 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22245-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurofeedback and transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) are promising techniques for neuroenhancement of attentional performance. As far as we know no study compared both techniques on attentional performance in healthy participants. We compared tDCS and neurofeedback in a randomized, single-blind, controlled experiment assessing both behavioral (accuracy and time reaction) and electrophysiological (N1, P1, and P3 components) data of participants responding to the Attention Network Task (ANT). Eighty volunteers volunteered for this study. We adopted standard protocols for both techniques, i.e., a Sensorimotor Rhythm (SMR) protocol for neurofeedback and the right DLPFC anodal stimulation for tDCS, applied over nine sessions (two weeks). We did not find significant differences between treatment groups on ANT, neither at the behavioral nor at the electrophysiological levels. However, we found that participants from both neuromodulation groups, irrespective of if active or sham, reported attentional improvements in response to the treatment on a subjective scale. Our study adds another null result to the neuromodulation literature, showing that neurofeedback and tDCS effects are more complex than previously suggested and associated with placebo effect. More studies in neuroenhancement literature are necessary to fully comprehend neuromodulation mechanisms.
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Lema A, Carvalho S, Fregni F, Gonçalves ÓF, Leite J. The effects of direct current stimulation and random noise stimulation on attention networks. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6201. [PMID: 33737661 PMCID: PMC7973424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85749-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Attention is a complex cognitive process that selects specific stimuli for further processing. Previous research suggested the existence of three attentional networks: alerting, orienting and executive. However, one important topic is how to enhance the efficiency of attentional networks. In this context, understanding how this system behaves under two different modulatory conditions, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial Random Noise Stimulation (tRNS), will provide important insights towards the understanding of the attention network system. Twenty-seven healthy students took part on a randomized single-blinded crossover study, testing the effects that involved three modalities of unilateral stimulation (tRNS, anodal tDCS, and sham) over the DLPFC, during the performance of the attention network test (ANT) in three different conditions: standard, speed and accuracy. Results showed that tRNS was able to increase attention during more complex situations, namely by increasing alerting and decreasing conflict effect in the executive network. Under the Speed condition, tRNS increased efficiency of the alerting network, as well as under the more demanding conflict network, tRNS overall increased the performance when comparing to sham. No statistical significant effects of tDCS were observed. These results are compatible with the attention requiring the synchronization of pre-existing networks, rather the reinforcement or creation of new pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Lema
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Psychological Neuroscience Laboratory, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital & Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Óscar F Gonçalves
- Proaction Laboratory, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- I2P-Portucalense Institute for Psychology, Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal.
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Ossola P, Antonucci C, Meehan KB, Cain NM, Ferrari M, Soliani A, Marchesi C, Clarkin JF, Sambataro F, De Panfilis C. Effortful control is associated with executive attention: A computational study. J Pers 2020; 89:774-785. [PMID: 33341948 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Effortful control (EC) is the self-regulatory aspect of temperament that is thought to reflect the efficiency of executive attention (EA). Findings on relationship between EC and performance on EA tasks among adults are still contradictory. This study used a computational approach to clarify whether greater self-reported EC reflects better EA. METHODS Four hundred twenty-seven healthy subjects completed the Adult Temperament Questionnaires and the Attention Network Task-revised, a conflict resolution task that gauges EA as the flanker effect (FE), that is, the difference in performances between incongruent and congruent trials. Here we also employed a drift-diffusion model in which parameters reflecting the actual decisional process (drift rate) and the extra-decisional time are extracted for congruent and incongruent trials. RESULTS EC was not correlated with the FE computed with the classic approach, but correlated positively with drift rate for the incongruent trials, even when controlling for the drift rate in the congruent condition and the extra-decisional time in the incongruent condition. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates an association between self-reported EC and EA among adults. Specifically, EC is not associated with overall response facilitation but specifically with a greater ability to make goal-oriented decisions when facing conflicting information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ossola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Kevin B Meehan
- Department of Psychology, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Nicole M Cain
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Martina Ferrari
- Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency, Parma, Italy
| | - John F Clarkin
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara De Panfilis
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Local Health Agency, Parma, Italy
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Impact of Chronic Stress on Attention Control: Evidence from Behavioral and Event-Related Potential Analyses. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:1395-1410. [PMID: 32929635 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00549-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress affects brain function, so assessing its hazards is important for mental health. To overcome the limitations of behavioral data, we combined behavioral and event-related potentials (ERPs) in an attention network task. This task allowed us to differentiate between three specific aspects of attention: alerting, orienting, and execution. Forty-one participants under chronic stress and 31 non-stressed participants were enrolled. On the performance level, the chronically stressed group showed a significantly slower task response and lower accuracy. Concerning ERP measures, smaller cue-N1, cue-N2, and larger cue-P3 amplitudes were found in the stressed group, indicating that this group was less able to assign attention to effective information, i.e., they made inefficient use of cues and had difficulty in maintaining alerting. In addition, the stressed group showed larger target-N2 amplitudes, indicating that this group needed to allocate more cognitive resources to deal with the conflict targets task. Subgroup analysis revealed lower target-P3 amplitudes in the stressed than in the non-stressed group. Group differences associated with the attention networks were found at the ERP level. In the stressed group, excessive depletion of resources led to changes in attention control. In this study, we examined the effects of chronic stress on individual executive function from a neurological perspective. The results may benefit the development of interventions to improve executive function in chronically stressed individuals.
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Gonçalves ÓF, Carvalho S, Mendes AJ, Leite J, Boggio PS. Neuromodulating Attention and Mind-Wandering Processes with a Single Session Real Time EEG. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 2019; 43:143-151. [PMID: 29797155 DOI: 10.1007/s10484-018-9394-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Our minds are continuously alternating between external attention (EA) and mind wandering (MW). An appropriate balance between EA and MW is important for promoting efficient perceptual processing, executive functioning, decision-making, auto-biographical memory, and creativity. There is evidence that EA processes are associated with increased activity in high-frequency EEG bands (e.g., SMR), contrasting with the dominance of low-frequency bands during MW (e.g., Theta). The aim of the present study was to test the effects of two distinct single session real-time EEG (rtEEG) protocols (SMR up-training/Theta down-training-SMR⇑Theta⇓; Theta up-training/SMR down-training-Theta⇑SMR⇓) on EA and MW processes. Thirty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two rtEEG training protocols (SMR⇑Theta⇓; Theta⇑SMR⇓). Before and after the rtEEG training, participants completed the attention network task (ANT) along with several MW measures. Both training protocols were effective in increasing SMR (SMR⇑Theta⇓) and theta (Theta⇑SMR⇓) amplitudes but not in decreasing the amplitude of down-trained bands. There were no significant effects of the rtEEG training in either EA or MW measures. However, there was a significant positive correlation between post-training SMR increases and the use of deliberate MW (rather than spontaneous) strategies. Additionally, for the Theta⇑SMR⇓ protocol, increase in post-training Theta amplitude was significantly associated with a decreased efficiency in the orientation network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Óscar F Gonçalves
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. .,Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA. .,Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Augusto J Mendes
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.,Portucalense Institute for Human Development (INPP), Universidade Portucalense, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo S Boggio
- Psychological Neuroscience Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
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8
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Competition among the attentional networks due to resource reduction in Tibetan indigenous residents: evidence from event-related potentials. Sci Rep 2018; 8:610. [PMID: 29330442 PMCID: PMC5766594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18886-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
This study used the attention network test (ANT) to evaluate the alerting, orienting, and executive network efficiencies of attention related to indigenous residents who were born and raised until early adulthood in different high-altitude areas (2900-m, 3700-m, and 4200-m) at the same location (3700-m) where these residents had been living for approximately 2 years in Tibet. We further applied the event-related potential (ERP) method to identify the underlying neurophysiological basis. Based on the ANT, we found that, in the 4200-m residents, executive function was increased but the orienting function was decreased, and the executive and orienting network scores were oppositely correlated. The behavioral findings were supported by the ERP data, showing that the P3 amplitude changes indicated that the executive function was over-active under conflict conditions and that the N1 amplitude change indicated a decreased orienting function in the 4200-m residents. In addition, the changed P3 amplitudes were significantly correlated with intelligence performance across the residents only in the 4200-m group. The present study provided evidence for competition among the attentional networks due to high-altitude exposure in indigenous residents, and showed the existence of a threshold of the influence of high altitudes on attentional function in the brain.
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Chan JSY, Wang Y, Yan JH, Chen H. Developmental implications of children's brain networks and learning. Rev Neurosci 2018; 27:713-727. [PMID: 27362958 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2016-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The human brain works as a synergistic system where information exchanges between functional neuronal networks. Rudimentary networks are observed in the brain during infancy. In recent years, the question of how functional networks develop and mature in children has been a hotly discussed topic. In this review, we examined the developmental characteristics of functional networks and the impacts of skill training on children's brains. We first focused on the general rules of brain network development and on the typical and atypical development of children's brain networks. After that, we highlighted the essentials of neural plasticity and the effects of learning on brain network development. We also discussed two important theoretical and practical concerns in brain network training. Finally, we concluded by presenting the significance of network training in typically and atypically developed brains.
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Gonçalves ÓF, Rêgo G, Oliveira-Silva P, Leite J, Carvalho S, Fregni F, Amaro E, Boggio PS. Mind wandering and the attention network system. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2017; 172:49-54. [PMID: 27886519 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention and mind wandering are often seen as anticorrelated. However, both attention and mind wandering are multi-component processes, and their relationship may be more complex than previously thought. In this study, we tested the interference of different types of thoughts as measured by a Thought Identification Task - TIT (on task thoughts, task related interference thoughts, external distractions, stimulus independent and task unrelated thoughts) on different components of the attention network system - ANT (alerting, orienting, executive). Results show that, during the ANT, individuals were predominantly involved in task related interference thoughts which, along with external distractors, significantly impaired their performance accuracy. However, mind wandering (i.e., stimulus independent and task unrelated thoughts) did not significantly interfere with accuracy in the ANT. No significant relationship was found between type of thoughts and alerting, orienting, or executive effects in the ANT. While task related interference thoughts and external distractions seemed to impair performance on the attention task, mind wandering was still compatible with satisfactory performance in the ANT. The present results confirmed the importance of differentiating type of "out of task" thoughts in studying the relationship between though distractors and attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Óscar F Gonçalves
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA; Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel Rêgo
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Oliveira-Silva
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory, Centre for Studies in Human Development (CEDH), Faculdade de Educação e Psicologia - Universidade Católica Portuguesa (FEP-UCP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Leite
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Sandra Carvalho
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab - CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Edson Amaro
- Department of Radiology, Clinical Hospital, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo S Boggio
- Social and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Health and Biological Sciences, Mackenzie Presbyterian University, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lu H, Chan SSM, Fung AWT, Lam LCW. Efficiency of Attentional Components in Elderly with Mild Neurocognitive Disorders Shown by the Attention Network Test. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2016; 41:93-8. [PMID: 26741695 DOI: 10.1159/000441350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Complex attention, serving as a main diagnostic item of mild neurocognitive disorders (NCD), has been reported to be susceptible to pathological ageing. This study aimed to evaluate the attention network functions in older adults with subtypes of NCD. METHODS 36 adults with NCD due to Alzheimer's disease (NCD-AD), 31 adults with NCD due to vascular disease (NCD-vascular) and 137 healthy controls were recruited. Attention Network Test (ANT) was conducted to assess the efficiency of alerting, orienting and executive control. RESULTS Significant between-group differences were found in executive control (conventional score: F = 11.472, p < 0.001; ratio score: F = 8.430, p < 0.001) and processing speed (F = 4.958, p = 0.008). NCD subgroups demonstrated poorer performance on the ANT, particularly on executive control (healthy 59.9 ± 45.9, NCD-vascular 88.9 ± 44.8, NCD-AD 97.0 ± 53.9). Moreover, the NCD-AD group showed both less efficient executive control and prominent slowing processing speed (reaction time: healthy 687.5 ± 106.0 ms, NCD-vascular 685.3 ± 97.1 ms, NCD-AD 750.6 ± 132.6 ms). CONCLUSIONS The NCD-vascular group appeared to be less efficient in executive control, while the NCD-AD group demonstrated less effective executive control and also slower processing speed. These results suggest that the characterized performance of ANT, processing speed and executive control in particular, might help differentiate adults at risk of different forms of cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, G/F, Multi-Centre, Tai Po Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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12
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Disturbance of attention network functions in Chinese healthy older adults: an intra-individual perspective. Int Psychogeriatr 2016; 28:291-301. [PMID: 26412555 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610215001556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intra-individual variability (IIV) and the change of attentional functions have been reported to be susceptible to both healthy ageing and pathological ageing. The current study aimed to evaluate the IIV of attention and the age-related effect on alerting, orienting, and executive control in cognitively healthy older adults. METHOD We evaluated 145 Chinese older adults (age range of 65-80 years, mean age of 72.41 years) with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and the Attention network test (ANT). A two-step strategy of analytical methods was used: Firstly, the IIV of older adults was evaluated by the intraindividual coefficient of variation of reaction time (ICV-RT). The correlation between ICV-RT and age was used to evaluate the necessity of subgrouping. Further, the comparisons of ANT performance among three age groups were performed with processing speed adjusted. RESULTS Person's correlation revealed significant positive correlations between age and IIV (r = 0.185, p = 0.032), age and executive control (r = 0.253, p = 0.003). Furthermore, one-way ANOVA comparisons among three age groups revealed a significant age-related disturbance on executive control (F = 4.55, p = 0.01), in which oldest group (group with age >75 years) showed less efficient executive control than young-old (group with age 65-70 years) (Conventional score, p = 0.012; Ratio score, p = 0.020). CONCLUSION Advancing age has an effect on both IIV and executive attention in cognitively healthy older adults, suggesting that the disturbance of executive attention is a sensitive indicator to reflect healthy ageing. Its significance to predict further deterioration should be carefully evaluated with prospective studies.
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13
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van Hemel-Ruiter ME, Wiers RW, Brook FG, de Jong PJ. Attentional bias and executive control in treatment-seeking substance-dependent adolescents: A cross-sectional and follow-up study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2016; 159:133-41. [PMID: 26747417 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research in adults shows that substance dependent individuals demonstrate attentional bias (AB) for substance-related stimuli. This study investigated the role of AB in adolescents diagnosed with alcohol, cannabis, amphetamine or GHB dependency on entering therapy and six months later, and the role of executive control (EC) as a moderator of the relationship between problem severity and AB. METHODS Seventy-eight young substance-dependent (SD) patients (mean age=19.5), and 64 healthy controls (HC; mean age=19.0) were tested. Thirty-eight SD patients took part at 6-month follow-up (FU). AB was indexed by a visual probe task, EC by the attention network task, problem severity by the short alcohol (or drug) use disorder identification test and the severity of dependence questionnaire. RESULTS SD patients demonstrated an AB for substance stimuli presented for 500 ms and 1250 ms, with the latter related to severity of dependence. There was a nonsignificant tendency indicating that EC was higher in HC than SD participants, but EC did not moderate the relationship between AB and dependency. Substance use, dependency, EC and AB remained unchanged in the 6 month FU period. CONCLUSIONS Young SD patients showed a stronger relatively early as well as maintained AB toward substance cues. A stronger maintained attention was related to higher severity of dependence. Further, there were some indications that EC might play a role in adolescent substance use. The finding that at FU AB and problem severity were not decreased, and EC was not increased underlines the persistent character of addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madelon E van Hemel-Ruiter
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 72, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands; Verslavingszorg Noord-Nederland, Addiction Treatment, P.O. Box 8003, 9702 KA Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Reinout W Wiers
- Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 19268, 1000 GG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank G Brook
- Verslavingszorg Noord-Nederland, Addiction Treatment, P.O. Box 8003, 9702 KA Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J de Jong
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 72, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
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14
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Age Differences in Reaction Times and a Neurophysiological Marker of Cholinergic Activity. Can J Aging 2015; 34:471-480. [PMID: 26522145 DOI: 10.1017/s0714980815000409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
RÉSUMÉ La détérioration du système cholinergique lors du vieillissement normal semble contribuer au déclin de l'attention avec l'âge. Nous avons examiné l'effet potentiel de l'âge sur la performance au « Attention Network Test » (ANT) ainsi que sur la variabilité intra-individuelle dans la vitesse des réponses à une tâche go/no-go et à une tâche de temps de réaction (TR) à choix multiples chez un groupe de jeunes adultes et de personnes âgées en santé. Nous avons ensuite examiné si un marqueur neurophysiologique de l'activité cholinergique dérivé de la stimulation magnétique transcrânienne (i.e., inhibition afférente à courte latence; IACL) était associé à la performance. Les personnes âgées montraient un ralentissement au ANT ainsi qu'une plus grande variabilité intra-individuelle que les jeunes adultes à la tâche de TR à choix multiples, mais il n'y avait pas de différence liée à l'âge dans les scores reflétant les réseaux attentionnels du ANT (vigilance, orientation aux stimuli et contrôle exécutif). Les niveaux de IACL étaient diminués chez les personnes âgées, mais ils n'étaient pas associés à la performance. Il est possible que des relations entre le marqueur de l'activité cholinergique et l'attention émergent seulement en cas de déficits de neurotransmission sévères. D'autres mécanismes corticaux pourraient aussi être plus fortement associés aux fonctions liées à l'attention.
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15
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Wang YF, Long Z, Cui Q, Liu F, Jing XJ, Chen H, Guo XN, Yan JH, Chen HF. Low frequency steady-state brain responses modulate large scale functional networks in a frequency-specific means. Hum Brain Mapp 2015; 37:381-94. [PMID: 26512872 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural oscillations are essential for brain functions. Research has suggested that the frequency of neural oscillations is lower for more integrative and remote communications. In this vein, some resting-state studies have suggested that large scale networks function in the very low frequency range (<1 Hz). However, it is difficult to determine the frequency characteristics of brain networks because both resting-state studies and conventional frequency tagging approaches cannot simultaneously capture multiple large scale networks in controllable cognitive activities. In this preliminary study, we aimed to examine whether large scale networks can be modulated by task-induced low frequency steady-state brain responses (lfSSBRs) in a frequency-specific pattern. In a revised attention network test, the lfSSBRs were evoked in the triple network system and sensory-motor system, indicating that large scale networks can be modulated in a frequency tagging way. Furthermore, the inter- and intranetwork synchronizations as well as coherence were increased at the fundamental frequency and the first harmonic rather than at other frequency bands, indicating a frequency-specific modulation of information communication. However, there was no difference among attention conditions, indicating that lfSSBRs modulate the general attention state much stronger than distinguishing attention conditions. This study provides insights into the advantage and mechanism of lfSSBRs. More importantly, it paves a new way to investigate frequency-specific large scale brain activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Zhiliang Long
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Qian Cui
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.,Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Xiu-Juan Jing
- Tianfu College, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 610052, China
| | - Heng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Xiao-Nan Guo
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Jin H Yan
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Neuroscience, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Hua-Fu Chen
- Key Laboratory for Neuroinformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in Biomedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
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16
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Wang YF, Jing XJ, Liu F, Li ML, Long ZL, Yan JH, Chen HF. Reliable Attention Network Scores and Mutually Inhibited Inter-network Relationships Revealed by Mixed Design and Non-orthogonal Method. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10251. [PMID: 25997025 PMCID: PMC4440527 DOI: 10.1038/srep10251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The attention system can be divided into alerting, orienting, and executive control networks. The efficiency and independence of attention networks have been widely tested with the attention network test (ANT) and its revised versions. However, many studies have failed to find effects of attention network scores (ANSs) and inter-network relationships (INRs). Moreover, the low reliability of ANSs can not meet the demands of theoretical and empirical investigations. Two methodological factors (the inter-trial influence in the event-related design and the inter-network interference in orthogonal contrast) may be responsible for the unreliability of ANT. In this study, we combined the mixed design and non-orthogonal method to explore ANSs and directional INRs. With a small number of trials, we obtained reliable and independent ANSs (split-half reliability of alerting: 0.684; orienting: 0.588; and executive control: 0.616), suggesting an individual and specific attention system. Furthermore, mutual inhibition was observed when two networks were operated simultaneously, indicating a differentiated but integrated attention system. Overall, the reliable and individual specific ANSs and mutually inhibited INRs provide novel insight into the understanding of the developmental, physiological and pathological mechanisms of attention networks, and can benefit future experimental and clinical investigations of attention using ANT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Feng Wang
- Key laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Xiu-Juan Jing
- Tianfu College, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, 610052, China
| | - Feng Liu
- 1] Key laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China [2] Department of Radiology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Functional Imaging, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, 300052, China
| | - Mei-Ling Li
- Key laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Long
- Key laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Jin H Yan
- Center for Brain Disorders and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Hua-Fu Chen
- Key laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology and Center for Information in BioMedicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
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17
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Chen XM, Huang DH, Chen ZR, Ye W, Lv ZX, Zheng JO. Temporal lobe epilepsy: decreased thalamic resting-state functional connectivity and their relationships with alertness performance. Epilepsy Behav 2015; 44:47-54. [PMID: 25622022 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies have provided evidence regarding the pathology of the thalamus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The thalamus, particularly the right thalamus, is one of the subcortical structures that are most uniformly accepted as being significantly involved in alertness. Moreover, alertness impairment in epilepsy has been reported. This study aimed to investigate alterations in thalamic resting-state functional connectivity (FC) and their relationships with alertness performance in patients with TLE; an issue that has not yet been addressed. METHODS A total of 15 patients with right TLE (rTLE) and 16 healthy controls were recruited for the present study. All of the participants underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan and the attention network test (ANT). Whole-brain voxel-wise FC analyses were applied to extract the thalamic resting-state functional networks in the patients with rTLE and healthy controls, and the differences between the two groups were evaluated. Correlation analyses were employed to examine the relationships between alterations in thalamic FC and alertness performance in patients with rTLE. RESULTS Compared to the healthy controls, the FC within and between the bilateral thalamus was decreased in the patients with rTLE. Moreover, in the patient group, the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and subcortical regions, including the bilateral brainstem, cerebellum, putamen, right caudate nucleus, and amygdala, exhibited decreased FC with the ipsilateral thalamus (p<0.05, AlphaSim corrected, cluster size>44) but not with the contralateral thalamus (p<0.05, AlphaSim corrected, cluster size>43). The intrinsic and phasic alertness performances of the patients were impaired (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) but not correlated with decreased thalamic FC. Meanwhile, the alertness performance was not altered in right TLE but was negatively correlated with decreased thalamic FC with ACC (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the functional importance of the thalamus in TLE pathology and suggest that damage to the thalamic resting-state functional networks, particularly ipsilateral to the epileptogenic focus, is present in patients with TLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Mei Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Dong-Hong Huang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zi-Rong Chen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Ye
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Zong-Xia Lv
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jin-Ou Zheng
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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