The Effect of Eye-Feedback Training on Orienting Attention in Young Adults With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

Impaired orienting function detected through eye movements in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective

Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) often exhibit attention function impairment. The orienting network is the subsystem of the attention network that has not been fully studied. In this study, we used eye-tracking technology with an attention network test (ANT)-based task to assess the orienting function of TLE patients, aiming to characterize their eye movement patterns.

Methods

A total of 37 TLE patients and 29 healthy controls (HCs) completed the ANT task based on eye-tracking technology. Orienting function damage was mainly assessed by the ANT orienting effect. Eye movement metrics, such as mean first goal-directed saccade latency (MGSL), total saccades, and saccade amplitudes, were compared between groups.

Results

The TLE patients had a significantly lower ANT orienting effect (HC, 54.05 ± 34.05; TLE, 32.29 ± 39.54) and lower eye-tracking orienting effect (HC, 116.98 ± 56.59; TLE, 86.72 ± 59.10) than those of the HCs. The larger orienting effects indicate that orienting responses are faster when receiving a spatial cue compared with a center cue. In the spatial cue condition, compared with HCs, the TLE group showed a longer first goal-directed saccade latency (HC, 76.77 ± 58.87 ms; TLE, 115.14 ± 59.15 ms), more total saccades (HC, 28.46 ± 12.30; TLE, 36.69 ± 15.13), and larger saccade amplitudes (HC, 0.75° ± 0.60°; TLE, 1.36° ± 0.89°). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation of the orienting-effect score between the ANT task and eye-tracking metrics (r = 0.58, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

We innovatively developed a new detection method using eye-tracking technology in combination with an ANT-based task to detect the orienting function in TLE patients. The current research demonstrated that TLE patients had a significant orienting dysfunction with a specific saccade pattern characterized by a longer first goal-directed saccade latency, more total saccades, and larger saccade amplitudes. These oculomotor metrics are likely to be a better indicator of orienting function and may potentially be used for behavioral-based interventions and long-term cognition monitoring in TLE patients.

The effect of feedback in virtual attention training on orienting attention in individuals with sluggish cognitive tempo

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of feedback in a virtual attention training program to improve the attentional characteristics of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT).

METHOD

The SCT group (N = 60) and control group (N = 30) were identified, and the attention network test-revised (ANT-R) was performed to measure attention characteristics. Based on this result, a virtual reality (VR) feedback attention training program was developed to improve the efficiency of engagement and disengagement of attention in SCT. Sixty participants with SCT were recruited and grouped into two conditions: VR feedback (n = 30) and no-feedback (n = 30) conditions.

RESULTS

The results show that the VR attention training program with feedback significantly improves the attention-orienting network.

CONCLUSION

This suggests that it is necessary to provide immediate feedback for effective attention training for SCT and continuous intervention may be possible when feedback is provided together.