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Morse H, Jolly AA, Browning H, Clark A, Pomeroy V, Rossit S. Aging effects on extrapersonal (far-space) attention: cancellation and line bisection performance from 179 healthy adults. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2024; 31:605-626. [PMID: 37314105 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2223903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of cognitive impairments is a vital part of clinical practice. Cancellation (visual search) and line bisection are commonly used tasks to assess visuospatial attention. Despite the fact visuospatial attention is engaged in both near (within reach) and far-space (out of reach), most studies have been conducted in near-space alone. Moreover, despite their use in clinical practice, it is unclear whether cancellation and bisection tasks are related. Here, we investigated the impact of aging on cancellation and line bisection performance in far-space in a large healthy sample. We provide preliminary age-graded norms for assessing visuospatial attention in far-space calculated from a sample of 179 healthy adults, between the ages of 18-94 (mean age = 49.29). Cancellation and line bisection were presented on a large screen in far-space and completed using a wireless remote. Aging was accompanied by longer task duration for both tasks, slower search speed and poorer quality of search. However, there was no significant effect of aging on line bisection error. There was a significant correlation between the two tasks in that longer task duration in line bisection was associated with slower search speed and poorer quality of search. Overall, participants presented a leftward bias during cancellation and line bisection akin to pseudoneglect. Moreover, we found that irrespective of age, search speed was faster in males than females. We offer novel evidence that performance on cancellation and line bisection tasks are related to one another in far-space, but are also sensitive to age-related decline, and even sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Morse
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Amy A Jolly
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah Browning
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Allan Clark
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Valerie Pomeroy
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- NIHR Brain Injury MedTech Co-Operative, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Kipp BT, Savage LM. Modulation of the p75NTR during Adolescent Alcohol Exposure Prevents Cholinergic Neuronal Atrophy and Associated Acetylcholine Activity and Behavioral Dysfunction. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5792. [PMID: 38891978 PMCID: PMC11172149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115792] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Binge alcohol consumption during adolescence can produce lasting deficits in learning and memory while also increasing the susceptibility to substance use disorders. The adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) rodent model mimics human adolescent binge drinking and has identified the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NbM) as a key site of pathology. The NbM is a critical regulator of prefrontal cortical (PFC) cholinergic function and attention. The cholinergic phenotype is controlled pro/mature neurotrophin receptor activation. We sought to determine if p75NTR activity contributes to the loss of cholinergic phenotype in AIE by using a p75NTR modulator (LM11A-31) to inhibit prodegenerative signaling during ethanol exposure. Male and female rats underwent 5 g/kg ethanol (AIE) or water (CON) exposure following 2-day-on 2-day-off cycles from postnatal day 25-57. A subset of these groups also received a protective dose of LM11A-31 (50 mg/kg) during adolescence. Rats were trained on a sustained attention task (SAT) and behaviorally relevant acetylcholine (ACh) activity was recorded in the PFC with a fluorescent indicator (AChGRAB 3.0). AIE produced learning deficits on the SAT, which were spared with LM11A-31. In addition, PFC ACh activity was blunted by AIE, which LM11A-31 corrected. Investigation of NbM ChAT+ and TrkA+ neuronal expression found that AIE led to a reduction of ChAT+TrkA+ neurons, which again LM11A-31 protected. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the p75NTR activity during AIE treatment is a key regulator of cholinergic degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa M. Savage
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA;
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Lin YJ, Lai MC, Yang LK, Gau SSF. Sex-differential patterns of neuropsychological functioning in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Compr Psychiatry 2024; 131:152464. [PMID: 38394925 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The sex-differential prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) varies across the lifespan, but little is known about sex differences in executive functions in adults with ADHD. METHODS We assessed 261 adults, aged 18-40 years, diagnosed with ADHD (170 males [assigned at birth], aged 25.81 ± 5.49; 91 females, aged 27.76 ± 5.42) and 308 neurotypical adults (176 males, aged 24.62 ± 5.14; 132 female, aged 25.37 ± 5.42) via psychiatric interviews to confirm ADHD and other psychiatric diagnoses. They were assessed by the Cambridge Neuropsychological Testing Automated Battery (CANTAB) on Reaction Time (arousal/processing speed), Rapid Visual Information Processing (sustained attention), Spatial Span (spatial memory), Spatial Working Memory, Intradimentional/Extradimensional Shift (set-shifting), and Stocking of Cambridge (spatial planning). The primary analyses were adjusted for age, full-scale IQ, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. RESULTS Adults with ADHD had various co-occurring psychiatric conditions without sex differences in ADHD-neurotypical differences. Both adult males and females with ADHD performed poorer in all CANTAB tasks than same-sex neurotypical adults. Significant sex-moderating effects were observed in neuropsychological performance, including greater ADHD-neurotypical differences in arousal for females than males and in location memory for spatial tasks in males than females. CONCLUSION There were no sex-moderating effects in the presence of co-occurring psychiatric conditions in adult ADHD. However, there were sex-moderating effects on how ADHD related to neuropsychological functioning in adulthood. ADHD was associated with more challenges in arousal/processing speed in females and more challenges in strategy use or inhibition in spatial memory in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ju Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry and Child Development Center, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health and Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Li-Kuang Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, Beitou Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Kipp BT, Lisa MS. Modulation of the p75NTR during adolescent alcohol exposure prevents cholinergic neuronal atrophy and associated acetylcholine activity and behavioral dysfunction. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.03.587970. [PMID: 38617368 PMCID: PMC11014512 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.03.587970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Binge alcohol consumption during adolescence produces lasting deficits in learning and memory, while also increasing the susceptibility to substance use disorders. The adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) rodent model mimics human adolescent binge drinking and has identified the Nucleus Basalis Magnocellularis (NbM) as a key site of pathology. The NbM is a critical regulator of prefrontal cortical (PFC) cholinergic function and attention. The cholinergic phenotype is controlled pro/mature neurotrophin receptor activation. We sought to determine if p75NTR activity contributes to the loss of cholinergic phenotype in AIE by using a p75NTR modulator (LM11A-31) to inhibit prodegenerative signaling during ethanol exposure. Male and female rats underwent 5g/kg ethanol (AIE) or water (CON) exposure following 2-day-on 2-day-off cycles from PND 25-57. A subset of these groups also received a protective dose of LM11A-31 (50mg/kg) during adolescence. Rats were trained on a sustained attention task (SAT) while recording activity with a fluorescent acetylcholine indicator (AChGRAB 3.0). AIE produced learning deficits on the SAT, which were spared with LM11A-31. In addition, mPFC ACh activity was blunted by AIE, which LM11A-31 corrected. Investigation of NbM ChAT+ and TrkA+ neuronal expression found that AIE led to a reduction of ChAT+TrkA+ neurons, which again LM11A-31 protected. Taken together these findings demonstrate the p75NTR activity during AIE treatment is a key regulator of cholinergic degeneration.
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5
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Zhang Q. Trait anxiety predicting the developmental trajectories of depression symptoms in children: The mediating role of attentional control. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38439653 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Trait anxiety and attentional control are important factors related to depression symptoms. The study investigated how trait anxiety and attentional control predicted the trajectories of depression symptoms during the transition into early adolescence. The mediating effect of attentional control on the relationship of trait anxiety to the trajectories of depression symptoms was also examined. Children of 9 to 10 years were recruited at Time 1. Trait anxiety, attentional control, and depression symptoms were assessed at Time 1. Depression symptoms were measured at three follow-up assessments across 18 months. Latent class growth modeling revealed high (14.4%) and low (85.6%) trajectories of depression symptoms. Higher trait anxiety and lower attentional control predicted a higher likelihood of showing the trajectory of high depressive symptoms. Attentional control mediated the relationship of trait anxiety to the trajectory membership of depression symptoms. The findings had important implications for the association of trait anxiety with the trajectory membership of depression symptoms and highlighted the importance of attentional control in the development of depression symptoms for children with high trait anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaochu Zhang
- Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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Wooten T, Esterman M, Brunyé TT, Taylor HA, Ward N. The relationship between sustained attention and parasympathetic functioning. Int J Psychophysiol 2024; 197:112298. [PMID: 38199297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2024.112298] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Sustained attention (SA) is an important cognitive ability that plays a crucial role in successful cognitive control. Resting vagally-mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) has emerged as an informative index of parasympathetic nervous system activity and a sensitive correlate of individual differences in cognitive control. However, it is unclear how resting vmHRV is associated with individual differences in sustained attention. The primary aim of the current study was to assess if resting vmHRV was associated with individual differences in performance on a neuropsychological assessment of sustained attention. We further aimed to characterize the relationship between resting vmHRV and dispositional factors related to sustained attention, specifically attentional errors in daily life, self-regulation, mindfulness and media-multitasking. Based on previous work, we hypothesized higher resting vmHRV would be associated with better sustained attention across task-based and self-report measures. We did not find resting vmHRV to be significantly associated with performance measures on a task-based assessment of sustained attention. Further, resting vmHRV was not significantly associated with attention errors, self-regulation, mindfulness, or media-multitasking. This work stands to expand the current understanding between parasympathetic functioning, cognition, and behavior, investigating the unexplored domain of sustained attention and related dispositional factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Wooten
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
| | - Michael Esterman
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tad T Brunyé
- Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; U.S. Army DEVCOM, Natick, MA, USA
| | - Holly A Taylor
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA; Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
| | - Nathan Ward
- Department of Psychology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA
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Li W, Germine LT, Mehr SA, Srinivasan M, Hartshorne J. Developmental psychologists should adopt citizen science to improve generalization and reproducibility. INFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT 2024; 33:e2348. [PMID: 38515737 PMCID: PMC10957098 DOI: 10.1002/icd.2348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Widespread failures of replication and generalization are, ironically, a scientific triumph, in that they confirm the fundamental metascientific theory that underlies our field. Generalizable and replicable findings require testing large numbers of subjects from a wide range of demographics with a large, randomly-sampled stimulus set, and using a variety of experimental parameters. Because few studies accomplish any of this, meta-scientists predict that findings will frequently fail to replicate or generalize. We argue that to be more robust and replicable, developmental psychology needs to find a mechanism for collecting data at greater scale and from more diverse populations. Luckily, this mechanism already exists: Citizen science, in which large numbers of uncompensated volunteers provide data. While best-known for its contributions to astronomy and ecology, citizen science has also produced major findings in neuroscience and psychology, and increasingly in developmental psychology. We provide examples, address practical challenges, discuss limitations, and compare to other methods of obtaining large datasets. Ultimately, we argue that the range of studies where it makes sense *not* to use citizen science is steadily dwindling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Laura Thi Germine
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA
| | - Samuel A. Mehr
- Data Science Initiative, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Joshua Hartshorne
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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Abdel Hadi S, Gharaibeh M, Alghazo E. Impulsiveness among Undergraduates from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan: Role of Socio-demographic Variables. Health Psychol Res 2023; 11:81045. [PMID: 37405311 PMCID: PMC10317514 DOI: 10.52965/001c.81045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some undergraduate students may appear impulsive in their behavior without taking enough time to think, and impulsiveness may vary according to gender, academic specialization, and academic level. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the differences in impulsiveness between undergraduates of different gender, academic specializations, and academic years at three private universities in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. METHOD The research design of the study was a survey in nature. The researchers collected data online using a translated Arabic version of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) as described in Patton et al..1 A sample of 334 undergraduates was selected using the convenient non-probability sample technique. RESULTS To analyze data, the researchers deployed descriptive and inferential statistics and found no significant differences between the students in the subscales of motor impulsiveness, non-planning, attentional impulsiveness, and the total scale score according to gender, academic specializations, and academic years variables. CONCLUSION The researchers concluded that undergraduates have a moderate level of impulsiveness; except for attentional impulsiveness, the results indicated that the average student's score on the subscale was low. Motor impulsiveness, non-planning impulsiveness, and attentional impulsiveness were not significantly different between males and females, academic specialization, academic year variables, and their interaction. The limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Abdel Hadi
- College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Al Ain University
| | - Mahmoud Gharaibeh
- College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Al Ain University
| | - Emad Alghazo
- College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Al Ain University
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Langley C, Masuda N, Godwin S, De Marco G, Smith AD, Jones R, Bruce J, Thai NJ. Dysfunction of basal ganglia functional connectivity associated with subjective and cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1194859. [PMID: 37332875 PMCID: PMC10272433 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1194859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Central fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). It has a profound impact on quality of life and a negative effect on cognition. Despite its widespread impact, fatigue is poorly understood and very difficult to measure. Whilst the basal ganglia has been implicated in fatigue the nature of its role and involvement with fatigue is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to establish the role of the basal ganglia in MS fatigue using functional connectivity measures. Methods The present study examined the functional connectivity (FC) of the basal ganglia in a functional MRI study with 40 female participants with MS (mean age = 49.98 (SD = 9.65) years) and 40 female age-matched (mean age = 49.95 (SD = 9.59) years) healthy controls (HC). To measure fatigue the study employed the subjective self-report Fatigue Severity Scale and a performance measure of cognitive fatigue using an alertness-motor paradigm. To distinguish physical and central fatigue force measurements were also recorded. Results The results suggest that decreased local FC within the basal ganglia plays a key role in cognitive fatigue in MS. Increased global FC between the basal ganglia and the cortex may sub serve a compensatory mechanism to reduce the impact of fatigue in MS. Conclusion The current study is the first to show that basal ganglia functional connectivity is associated with both subjective and objective fatigue in MS. In addition, the local FC of the basal ganglia during fatigue inducing tasks could provide a neurophysiological biomarker of fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Langley
- CRIC Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Naoki Masuda
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Department of Mathematics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Simon Godwin
- Department of Engineering Mathematics, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanni De Marco
- Laboratoire CeRSM (EA-2931), UPL, Université Paris Nanterre, Nanterre, France
| | - Angela Davies Smith
- Bristol and Avon Multiple Sclerosis Centre, The Brain Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary Jones
- Bristol and Avon Multiple Sclerosis Centre, The Brain Centre, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jared Bruce
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Ngoc Jade Thai
- CRIC Bristol, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Mental Health Research for Innovation Centre, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, Hollins Park House, Warrington, United Kingdom
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Jin P, Zhao ZQ, Zhu XF. The relationship between sport types, sex and visual attention as assessed in a multiple object tracking task. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1099254. [PMID: 36910748 PMCID: PMC9996032 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1099254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to examine differences in visual attention according to sports type and sex. In total, 132 participants [open-skill sport athletes (basketball players), closed-skill sport athletes (swimmers), and non-athletes; n = 22 men and 22 women each] aged 19-24 years performed a multiple object tracking (MOT) task, which is a well-established paradigm for the assessment of visual attention. Visual tracking accuracy was affected by the sport type (p < 0.001), being superior among basketball players than among swimmers and non-athletes, with no significant difference between the latter groups. It also varied by sex (p < 0.001), being superior among males than among females. Significant interaction between the sport type and sex was observed (p < 0.001), with male and female basketball players showing similar tracking accuracy. Our results demonstrate that open-skill sport activities strongly related to visual attention, as estimated by MOT task performance, and that sex plays a role in this performance. They also indicate that females might gain a greater visual attention advantage from open than from closed-skill sports participation, as long-term open-skill sports training appeared to minimize the sex difference in visual attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Southeast University Research Institute of Sports Science, Nanjing, China
| | - Zi-Qi Zhao
- Department of Physical Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Zhu
- School of Elite Sport, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
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DeGutis J, Yosef B, Lee EA, Saad E, Arizpe J, Song JS, Wilmer J, Germine L, Esterman M. The rise and fall of face recognition awareness across the life span. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 2023; 49:22-33. [PMID: 36395052 PMCID: PMC10363396 DOI: 10.1037/xhp0001069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A core component of metacognition is cognitive awareness, insight into how one's cognitive abilities compare with others. Previous studies of cognitive awareness have focused on basic aspects of perception, memory, and learning. Further, studies of the awareness of one's social-cognitive abilities have been limited to examining awareness of others' thinking (i.e., theory of mind). The current study characterizes awareness of one's own social-cognitive abilities, specifically face recognition awareness, and examines its change across the life span. We used a large, web-based sample (N = 4,143) with a broad age range (ages 10-70), administering well-validated measures of objective (Cambridge Face Memory Test 3) and self-reported (Cambridge Face Memory Questionnaire) face recognition. We found a robust overall association between objective and self-reported face recognition (r = .42 in females, r = .36 in males). While we found that face recognition ability peaked in the early- to mid-30s, face recognition awareness peaked in the early- to mid-20s, was relatively stable throughout the 20s-40s, and declined in the 50s-60s. Relative subjective versus objective face recognition bias measures demonstrated that 10- to 18- and 51- to 70-year-olds overestimated their self-reported face recognition abilities in comparison with 19- to 50-year-olds. Finally, compared with males, females had greater face recognition awareness and a bias to relatively underestimate their face recognition abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph DeGutis
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
| | - Bar Yosef
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System
| | | | - Elyana Saad
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
| | - Joseph Arizpe
- Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Laura Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital
| | - Michael Esterman
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine
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Vilca LW. The moderating role of sex in the relationship between executive functions and academic procrastination in undergraduate students. Front Psychol 2022; 13:928425. [PMID: 36072020 PMCID: PMC9444057 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.928425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine if sex plays a moderating role in the relationship between executive functions and academic procrastination in 106 university students of both genders (28.3% male and 71.7% female) between the ages of 18 and 30 years (M = 19.7; SD = 2.7). The Academic Procrastination Scale and the Neuropsychological Battery of Executive Functions and Frontal Lobes (BANFE-2) were used to measure the variables. The results of the study showed that the degree of prediction of the tasks linked to the orbitomedial cortex (involves the orbitofrontal cortex [OFC] and the medial prefrontal cortex [mPFC]) on academic procrastination is significantly moderated by the sex of the university students (β3 = 0.53; p < 0.01). For men, the estimated effect of the tasks linked to the orbitomedial cortex on the degree of academic procrastination is −0.81. For women, the estimated effect of the tasks linked to the orbitomedial cortex on the degree of academic procrastination is −0.28. In addition, it was shown that sex does not play a moderating role in the relationship between the tasks linked to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and academic procrastination (β3 = 0.12; p > 0.05). It was also determined that sex does not play a moderating role in the relationship between the tasks linked to the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) and academic procrastination (β3 = 0.05; p > 0.05). It is concluded that only the executive functions associated with the orbitomedial cortex are moderated by the sex of the university students, where the impact of the tasks linked to the orbitomedial cortex on academic procrastination in men is significantly greater than in women.
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The Effect of Mental Fatigue and Gender on Working Memory Performance during Repeated Practice by Young and Older Adults. Neural Plast 2021; 2021:6612805. [PMID: 34646318 PMCID: PMC8505107 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6612805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Working memory (WM) is one of the most investigated cognitive functions albeit the extent to which individual characteristics impact on performance is still unclear, especially when older adults are involved. The present study considers repeated practice of a visual N-Back task with three difficulty levels (1-, 2-, and 3-Back) in healthy young and older individuals. Our results reveal that, for both age groups, the expected mental fatigue was countered by a learning effect, in terms of accuracies and reaction times, which turned out to benefit females more than males, for all three N-Back levels. We conclude that future WM studies, in particular when relying on repeated N-Back sessions, should account for learning effects in relation to mental fatigue and gender, in both young and older adults.
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Temporal Deployment of Attention by Mental Training: an fMRI Study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 20:669-683. [PMID: 32458391 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-020-00795-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we employed a visuo-motor imagery task of alertness as a mental training to examine temporal processing of motor responses within healthy young adults. Participants were divided into two groups (group 1; n = 20 who performed the mental training before the real physical task and a control group who performed the physical task without mental training). We vary the time interval between the imperative stimulus and the preceding one (fore-period) in which temporal preparation and arousal increase briefly. Our behavioural results provide clear evidence that mental training reinforces both temporal preparation and arousal, by shortening reaction time (RT), especially for the shortest fore-periods (FP) within exogenous "FP 250 ms" (p = 0.008) and endogenous alertness "FP 650 ms" (p = 0.001). We investigated how the brain controls such small temporal changes. We focus our neural hypothesis on three brain regions: anterior insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex and three putative circuits: one top-down (from dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to anterior cingulate cortex) and two bottom-up (from anterior insula to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex). In fMRI, effective connectivity is strengthened during exogenous alertness between anterior insula and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (p = 0.001), between anterior insula and cingulate cortex (p = 0.01), and during endogenous alertness between dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex (p = 0.05). We suggest that attentional reinforcement induced by an intensive and short session of mental training induces a temporal deployment of attention and allow optimizing the time pressure by maintaining a high state of arousal and ameliorating temporal preparation.
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15
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Abdullah MNS, Karpudewan M, Tanimale BM. Executive function of the brain and its influences on understanding of physics concept. Trends Neurosci Educ 2021; 24:100159. [PMID: 34412861 DOI: 10.1016/j.tine.2021.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Advances in neuroscience studies have brought new insights into the development of Executive Functions (EFs) of the brain and its influence on understanding science concepts. This study was conducted to examine the relationships between three main components of EF: working memory, inhibition, set-shifting and understanding of Force concepts among adolescents. This study also investigated how gender mediates the relationships between the components of EF and understanding. Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery was used to assess students' level of working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting. The Force Concept Test measured students understanding. Smart-PLS analysis was employed to examine the relationships between the three components of EF and understanding; and how gender mediates the relationships. The result reveals that working memory significantly relates to students' understanding of Force concepts in a positive direction. On the contrary, both set-shifting and inhibition exhibit non-significant relationships. The findings also demonstrate that gender does not significantly mediate the relationships. The findings are useful for Physics teachers to guide them through designing the curriculum and opting for an appropriate pedagogical strategy considering the role of the components of EF for teaching the lessons on Force.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Nor Syahrir Abdullah
- Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
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16
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Gender and Cool·Hot Executive Function as Moderators of Parenting and Attention Problems in Preschoolers: A Moderated Moderation Model. ADONGHAKOEJI 2021. [DOI: 10.5723/kjcs.2021.42.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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17
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Vogel SC, Esterman M, DeGutis J, Wilmer JB, Ressler KJ, Germine LT. Childhood Adversity and Dimensional Variations in Adult Sustained Attention. Front Psychol 2020; 11:691. [PMID: 32362858 PMCID: PMC7180319 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objective Sustained attention is a transdiagnostic phenotype linked with most forms of psychopathology. We sought to understand factors that influence the development of sustained attention, by looking at the relationship between childhood adversity and adult sustained attention. Participants, Setting, and Methods Participants were 5,973 TestMyBrain.org visitors from English-speaking countries who completed a continuous performance task (gradCPT) of sustained attention and a childhood adversity questionnaire. We analyzed gradCPT performance using a signal detection approach. Results Discrimination ability (the main metric of performance on the gradCPT) was associated with total childhood adversity load, even when controlling for covariates related to age, gender, parental education, race, country of origin, and relative socioeconomic status (β = −0.079, b = −0.032). Conclusion Our results demonstrate that attention differences related to childhood adversity exposure can (1) be measured using brief, performance-based measures of sustained attention, (2) persist into adulthood, and (3) be detected at the population level. These results, paired with the well-documented associations between sustained attention and psychopathology, indicate that sustained attention may be an important mechanism for understanding early influences on mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Vogel
- Department of Applied Psychology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael Esterman
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States.,Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Joseph DeGutis
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeremy B Wilmer
- Department of Psychology, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, United States
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States.,Division of Depression and Anxiety Disorders, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
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18
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Slobodin O, Davidovitch M. Gender Differences in Objective and Subjective Measures of ADHD Among Clinic-Referred Children. Front Hum Neurosci 2019; 13:441. [PMID: 31920599 PMCID: PMC6923191 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2019.00441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most prevalent childhood disorders today, is generally more likely to be diagnosed and treated in boys than in girls. However, gender differences in ADHD are currently poorly understood, partly because previous research included only a limited proportion of girls and relied mainly on subjective measures of ADHD, which are highly vulnerable to reporter's bias. To further examine gender differences in ADHD and to address some of the shortcomings of previous studies, this study examined gender differences in subjective and objective measures of ADHD among clinic-referred children with ADHD. Participants were 204 children aged 6-17 years-old with ADHD (129 boys, 75 girls). A retrospective analysis was conducted using records of a clinical database. Obtained data included parent and teacher forms of the Conners ADHD rating scales, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Teacher's Report Form (TRF), and child's continuous performance test (CPT) scores. Results showed that according to parents' and teachers' reports of ADHD-related symptoms (Conners ADHD rating scales), girls had more inattention problems than boys, but no differences were identified in the level of hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms. CPT data, however, revealed higher impulsivity among boys. We did not find gender differences in the level of distractibility during CPT performance. Specifically, the effects of distractors type (visual environmental stimuli, auditory stimuli, or a combination of them) and distractors load (one or two distracting stimuli at a time) on CPT performance did not differ between boys and girls with ADHD. These findings suggest that gender effects on ADHD symptoms may differ between subjective and objective measures. Understanding gender differences in ADHD may lead to improved identification of girls with the disorder, helping to reduce the gender gap in diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ortal Slobodin
- Department of Education, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Michael Davidovitch
- Medical Department and Research Institute, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Gender Differences in Familiar Face Recognition and the Influence of Sociocultural Gender Inequality. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17884. [PMID: 31784547 PMCID: PMC6884510 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-54074-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Are gender differences in face recognition influenced by familiarity and socio-cultural factors? Previous studies have reported gender differences in processing unfamiliar faces, consistently finding a female advantage and a female own-gender bias. However, researchers have recently highlighted that unfamiliar faces are processed less efficiently than familiar faces, which have more robust, invariant representations. To-date, no study has examined whether gender differences exist for familiar face recognition. The current study addressed this by using a famous faces task in a large, web-based sample of > 2000 participants across different countries. We also sought to examine if differences varied by socio-cultural gender equality within countries. When examining raw accuracy as well when controlling for fame, the results demonstrated that there were no participant gender differences in overall famous face accuracy, in contrast to studies of unfamiliar faces. There was also a consistent own-gender bias in male but not female participants. In countries with low gender equality, including the USA, females showed significantly better recognition of famous female faces compared to male participants, whereas this difference was abolished in high gender equality countries. Together, this suggests that gender differences in recognizing unfamiliar faces can be attenuated when there is enough face learning and that sociocultural gender equality can drive gender differences in familiar face recognition.
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20
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A thousand studies for the price of one: Accelerating psychological science with Pushkin. Behav Res Methods 2019; 51:1782-1803. [PMID: 30746644 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-018-1155-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Half of the world's population has internet access. In principle, researchers are no longer limited to subjects they can recruit into the laboratory. Any study that can be run on a computer or mobile device can be run with nearly any demographic anywhere in the world, and in large numbers. This has allowed scientists to effectively run hundreds of experiments at once. Despite their transformative power, such studies remain rare for practical reasons: the need for sophisticated software, the difficulty of recruiting so many subjects, and a lack of research paradigms that make effective use of their large amounts of data, due to such realities as that they require sophisticated software in order to run effectively. We present Pushkin: an open-source platform for designing and conducting massive experiments over the internet. Pushkin allows for a wide range of behavioral paradigms, through integration with the intuitive and flexible jsPsych experiment engine. It also addresses the basic technical challenges associated with massive, worldwide studies, including auto-scaling, extensibility, machine-assisted experimental design, multisession studies, and data security.
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21
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Gentilin A, Skroce K, Schena F, Tarperi C. Prolonged visual reaction time after strenuous endurance exercise: higher increment in male compared to female recreational runners. SPORT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11332-019-00593-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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22
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Let's call the whole thing off: evaluating gender and sex differences in executive function. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:86-96. [PMID: 30143781 PMCID: PMC6235899 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0179-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The executive functions allow for purposeful, deliberate, and intentional interactions with the world-attention and focus, impulse control, decision making, and working memory. These measures have been correlated with academic outcomes and quality of life, and are impacted by deleterious environmental events throughout the life span, including gestational and early life insults. This review will address the topic of sex differences in executive function including a discussion of differences arising in response to developmental programming. Work on gender differences in human studies and sex differences in animal research will be reviewed. Overall, we find little support for significant gender or sex differences in executive function. An important variable that factors into the interpretation of potential sex differences include differing developmental trajectories. We conclude by discussing future directions for the field and a brief discussion of biological mechanisms.
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23
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Alavi M, Seng JH, Mustaffa MS, Ninggal MT, Amini M, Latif AA. Attention, Impulsiveness, and Gender in Academic Achievement Among Typically Developing Children. Percept Mot Skills 2018; 126:5-24. [DOI: 10.1177/0031512518809163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although several studies have examined the relationships among attention, impulse control, gender, and academic achievement, most have focused on clinical samples and have considered only one or two academic subjects. This study investigated these relationships among typically developing children using general achievement measures (academic scores and grades). Our participants were 270 typically developing primary school students (142 boys and 128 girls) of different nationalities living in Malaysia, recruited with purposive sampling with a mean age of 9.75 years. We found that both attention and impulse control significantly predicted academic achievement. Girls had a higher level of attention and impulse control than boys, but gender was not a significant moderator between either attention or impulse control and academic achievement. We discuss the implications of these findings and the need for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Alavi
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia
- Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Jyi H. Seng
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohamed S. Mustaffa
- Faculty of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Mohd T. Ninggal
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia
| | - Mansour Amini
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Adibah A. Latif
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Malaysia
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Yan C, Zhou H, Wei W, Wang YJ, Cui L, Chan RC, Deng CP. Developmental Trajectories of Attention in Typically Developing Chinese Children: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Study. Dev Neuropsychol 2018; 43:479-496. [DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2018.1487442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-ji Wang
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lixian Cui
- NYU-ECNU Institute for Social Development at NYU Shanghai, New York University Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Raymond C.K. Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ci-ping Deng
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE & STCSM), East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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25
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Sensitivity to stimulus similarity is associated with greater sustained attention ability. Atten Percept Psychophys 2018; 80:1390-1408. [DOI: 10.3758/s13414-018-1504-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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26
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Fortenbaugh FC, Rothlein D, McGlinchey R, DeGutis J, Esterman M. Tracking behavioral and neural fluctuations during sustained attention: A robust replication and extension. Neuroimage 2018; 171:148-164. [PMID: 29307606 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel paradigms have allowed for more precise measurements of sustained attention ability and fluctuations in sustained attention over time, as well as the neural basis of fluctuations and lapses in performance. However, in recent years, concerns have arisen over the replicability of neuroimaging studies and psychology more broadly, particularly given the typically small sample sizes. One recently developed paradigm, the gradual-onset continuous performance task (gradCPT) has been validated behaviorally in large samples of participants. Yet neuroimaging studies investigating the neural basis of performance on this task have only been collected in small samples. The present study completed both a robust replication of the original neuroimaging findings and extended previous results from the gradCPT task using a large sample of 140 Veteran participants. Results replicate findings that fluctuations in attentional stability are tracked over time by BOLD activity in task positive (e.g., dorsal and ventral attention networks) and task negative (e.g., default network) regions. Extending prior results, we relate this coupling between attentional stability and on-going brain activity to overall sustained attention ability and demonstrate that this coupling strength, along with across-network coupling, could be used to predict individual differences in performance. Additionally, the results extend previous findings by demonstrating that temporal dynamics across the default and dorsal attention networks are associated with lapse-likelihood on subsequent trials. This study demonstrates the reliability of the gradCPT, and underscores the utility of this paradigm in understanding attentional fluctuations, as well as individual variation and deficits in sustained attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca C Fortenbaugh
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Boston Attention & Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
| | - David Rothlein
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Boston Attention & Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, United States
| | - Regina McGlinchey
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Joseph DeGutis
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Boston Attention & Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Michael Esterman
- Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Boston Attention & Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, & Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, United States
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Hoonakker M, Doignon-Camus N, Bonnefond A. Sustaining attention to simple visual tasks: a central deficit in schizophrenia? A systematic review. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2017; 1408:32-45. [PMID: 29090832 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Impairments in sustained attention, that is, the ability to achieve and maintain the focus of cognitive activity on a given stimulation source or task, have been described as central to schizophrenia. Today, sustained attention deficit is still considered as a hallmark of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, current findings on this topic are not consistent. To clarify these findings, we attempt to put these results into perspective according to the type of assessment (i.e., overall and over time assessment), the participants' characteristics (i.e., clinical and demographic characteristics), and the paradigms (i.e., traditionally formatted tasks, go/no-go tasks, and the sustained attention task) and measures used. Two types of assessment lead to opposite findings; they do not evaluate sustained attention the same way. Studies using overall assessments of sustained attention ability tend to reveal a deficit, whereas studies using over time assessments do not. Therefore, further research is needed to investigate the underlying cognitive control mechanisms of changes in sustained attention in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Hoonakker
- INSERM U1114, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nadège Doignon-Camus
- University of Strasbourg, University of Haute-Alsace, University of Lorraine, LISEC EA 2310, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne Bonnefond
- INSERM U1114, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Ahmad S, Bashir S. A pilot study investigating the association between sleep and cognitive function among adolescents. Asian J Psychiatr 2017; 28:34-37. [PMID: 28784392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between sleep and cognitive function among adolescent subjects in Riyadh. METHODS The sample consisted of 98 (44% female) subjects aged 10-16 years. Each participant filled in a well-structured pre-coded questionnaire regarding demographic data, including a sleep questionnaire; cognitive function was assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Battery (CANTAB). The cognitive function outcome variables were response times in the attention-switching task (AST) and the percentage of correct answers in the pattern recognition memory (PRM) task. RESULTS There were significant differences in measures of AST-latency (p=0.005), AST-congruent (p=0.012), and AST-incongruent (p=0.009), while no significant difference was found in the PRM task score (p=0.336) within gender groups. There was a significant correlation between sleep and AST switching cost (0.277, p=0.006) and sleep and AST latency (0.188, p=0.063) across the group. CONCLUSION This study showed that gender differences in cognitive function were significant in the group of adolescents. Additionally, this study shows that insufficient sleep can impair attention and accuracy in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafiq Ahmad
- Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Abstract
Sustained attention is a fundamental cognitive function underlying many activities in daily life including workplace safety, but its natural variation throughout the day is incompletely characterized. To examine time-of-day variation, we collected a large online data set (N = 6,363) with participation throughout the day and around the world on the gradual-onset continuous performance task, a sensitive measure of sustained attention. This allowed us to examine accuracy, attentional stability, and strategy. Results show that both accuracy and attentional stability peak between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and progressively decline throughout the day, whereas strategy is more stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Riley
- a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center , Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,d Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Michael Esterman
- a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center , Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,c Department of Psychiatry , Boston University , Boston , MA , USA.,d Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Francesca C Fortenbaugh
- a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center , Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,d Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Joseph DeGutis
- a Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center , Department of Veterans Affairs, Boston Healthcare System , Boston , MA , USA.,b Department of Psychiatry , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,d Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory , Boston , MA , USA
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Gutiérrez-Ruiz K, Mejía Pérez K, López Murillo A, Cuadros Aristizabal U, Suarez Morelo D. Influencia del sexo y la dificultad de la tarea en el cambio atencional. ANUARIO DE PSICOLOGÍA 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpsic.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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31
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Fortenbaugh FC, Corbo V, Poole V, McGlinchey R, Milberg W, Salat D, DeGutis J, Esterman M. Interpersonal early-life trauma alters amygdala connectivity and sustained attention performance. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00684. [PMID: 28523226 PMCID: PMC5434189 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interpersonal early life trauma (I-ELT) is associated with a myriad of functional impairments in adulthood, increased risk of drug addiction, and neuropsychiatric disorders. While deficits in emotional regulation and amygdala functioning are well characterized, deficits in general cognitive functioning have also been documented. However, the neural underpinnings of cognitive dysfunction in adults with a history of I-ELT and the potential relationship between amygdala-based functional connectivity and behavioral performance are currently poorly understood. This study examined how I-ELT affects the cognitive and neural mechanisms supporting sustained attention. METHODS A total of 66 Veterans (18 with and 48 without a history of I-ELT) completed a nonemotional sustained attention task during functional MRI. RESULTS The individuals with I-ELT showed significant impairments in sustained attention (i.e., higher error rates, greater response variability). This cohort exhibited increased amygdala functional connectivity with the prefrontal cortex and decreased functional connectivity with the parahippocampal gyrus when compared to those without I-ELT. These connections were significantly correlated with individual differences in sustained attention performance. Notably, classification analyses revealed that the pattern of amygdala connectivity across the whole brain was able to classify I-ELT status with 70% accuracy. CONCLUSION These results provide evidence of a lasting negative impact for those with a history of I-ELT on sustained attention ability. They also highlight a critical role for amygdala functioning in cognitive control and sustained attention for those with a history of I-ELT, which may underlie the observed attention deficits in clinical assessments and cognitive tests involving both emotional and nonemotional stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca C Fortenbaugh
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - Vincent Corbo
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Psychology School of Arts and Science Southern New Hampshire University Manchester NH USA
| | - Victoria Poole
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Institute of Aging Research Hebrew SeniorLife Boston MA USA
| | - Regina McGlinchey
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - William Milberg
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - David Salat
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Charlestown MA USA
| | - Joseph DeGutis
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Medicine Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - Michael Esterman
- Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center VA Boston Healthcare System Boston MA USA.,Department of Psychiatry Boston University School of Medicine Boston MA USA
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Correction: Gender Differences in Sustained Attentional Control Relate to Gender Inequality across Countries. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170876. [PMID: 28107487 PMCID: PMC5249116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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