Age differences in the Attention Network Test: Evidence from behavior and event-related potentials

The attentional system is comprised of three networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control, all of which are associated with unique neural systems. Research examining motivationcognition interactions implicate the dopaminergic and locus-coeruleus norepinephrine systems in attentional and motivational processes, both of which show age differences. The current study was conducted to explore the mechanisms through which gain and loss motivation affect attention across the lifespan, using behavioural and electrophysiological markers of attentional networks. Younger adults (18-33 years) and older adults (65-80 years) completed an incentivized version of the Attention Network Test. Our behavioural results showed age differences in incentive sensitivity, such that responses were modulated as a function of incentives. We also examined cue-N1, target-N1, and target-P3, which showed transient incentive-based modulation, and depended on incentive valence. Overall, our study provides evidence for age-related differences in the modulation of attentional networks, and contributes new insights into the mechanisms behind motivation-cognition interactions. Keywords: Attention Network Test, Motivation, Incentives, Cognitive Aging, Alerting, Executive Control

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Age Differences in Reaction Times and a Neurophysiological Marker of Cholinergic Activity

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980815000409 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 471-480 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marielle Young-Bernier ◽

Annick N. Tanguay ◽

François Tremblay ◽

Patrick S. R. Davidson

Keyword(s):

Nous Avons ◽

Age Differences ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Personnes Âgées ◽

Attention Network Test ◽

Jeunes Adultes ◽

Cholinergic Activity ◽

Attention Network

RÉSUMÉLa 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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Study of Acupuncture at Zusanli Point on Event-Related Potentials N2 and P300 in the Regulation of Cognitive Attention Network

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

10.12677/tcm.2019.84047 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 08 (04) ◽

pp. 279-286

Author(s):

刚柳

Keyword(s):

Event Related Potentials ◽

Attention Network ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Cognitive Attention

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Alterations in the Ventral Attention Network During the Stop-Signal Task in Children With ADHD: An Event-Related Potential Source Imaging Study

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054715580847 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 639-650 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tieme W. P. Janssen ◽

Dirk J. Heslenfeld ◽

Rosa van Mourik ◽

Katleen Geladé ◽

Athanasios Maras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Response Inhibition ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Stop Signal ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

Anterior Cingulate ◽

Stop Signal Task ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Attention Network ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Related Potentials

Objective: Deficits in response inhibition figure prominently in models of ADHD; however, attentional deficiencies may better explain previous findings of impaired response inhibition in ADHD. We tested this hypothesis at the neurophysiological level. Method: Dense array ERPs (event-related potentials) were obtained for 46 children with ADHD and 51 controls using the stop-signal task (SST). Early and late components were compared between groups. N2 and P3 components were localized with LAURA distributed linear inverse solution. Results: A success-related N1 modulation was only apparent in the ADHD group. N2 and P3 amplitudes were reduced in ADHD. During the successful inhibition N2, the ADHD group showed reduced activation in right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), supplementary motor area (SMA), and right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), and during failed inhibition in the rIFG. During the successful inhibition P3, reduced activation was found in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and SMA. Conclusion: Impairments in the ventral attention network contribute to the psychopathology of ADHD and challenge the dominant view that ADHD is underpinned by impaired inhibitory control.

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Age differences in reward-motivation attention: behavioural and ERP evidence

10.32920/ryerson.14644701 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Farrah Kudus

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Executive Control ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Neural Systems ◽

Attention Network Test ◽

Attention Network ◽

Systems Research ◽

Attentional Networks ◽

Age Related ◽

Reward Motivation

The attentional system is comprised of three networks: alerting, orienting, and executive control, all of which are associated with unique neural systems. Research examining motivationcognition interactions implicate the dopaminergic and locus-coeruleus norepinephrine systems in attentional and motivational processes, both of which show age differences. The current study was conducted to explore the mechanisms through which gain and loss motivation affect attention across the lifespan, using behavioural and electrophysiological markers of attentional networks. Younger adults (18-33 years) and older adults (65-80 years) completed an incentivized version of the Attention Network Test. Our behavioural results showed age differences in incentive sensitivity, such that responses were modulated as a function of incentives. We also examined cue-N1, target-N1, and target-P3, which showed transient incentive-based modulation, and depended on incentive valence. Overall, our study provides evidence for age-related differences in the modulation of attentional networks, and contributes new insights into the mechanisms behind motivation-cognition interactions. Keywords: Attention Network Test, Motivation, Incentives, Cognitive Aging, Alerting, Executive Control

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Event-related Potentials Reveal Age Differences in the Encoding and Recognition of Scenes

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.2007.19.7.1089 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 19 (7) ◽

pp. 1089-1103 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Angela H. Gutchess ◽

Yoko Ieuji ◽

Kara D. Federmeier

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Memory Effect ◽

Age Differences ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

False Alarms ◽

Elderly Adults ◽

High Confidence ◽

Recognition Phase ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Subsequent Memory Effect

The present study used event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate how the encoding and recognition of complex scenes change with normal aging. Although functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have identified more drastic age impairments at encoding than at recognition, ERP studies accumulate more evidence for age differences at retrieval. However, stimulus type and paradigm differences across the two literatures have made direct comparisons difficult. Here, we collected young and elderly adults' encoding- and recognition-phase ERPs using the same materials and paradigm as a previous fMRI study [Gutchess, A. H., Welsh, R. C., Hedden, T., Bangert, A., Minear, M., Liu, L., et al. Aging and the neural correlates of successful picture encoding: Frontal activations compensate for decreased medial temporal activity. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 17, 84–96, 2005]. Twenty young and 20 elderly adults incidentally encoded and then recognized photographs of outdoor scenes. During encoding, young adults showed a frontocentral subsequent memory effect, with high-confidence hits exhibiting greater positivity than misses. Elderly adults showed a similar subsequent memory effect, which, however, did not differ as a function of confidence. During recognition, young adults elicited a widespread old/new effect, and high-confidence hits were distinct from both low-confidence hits and false alarms. Elderly adults elicited a smaller and later old/new effect, which was unaffected by confidence, and hits and false alarms were indistinguishable in the waveforms. Consistent with prior ERP work, these results point to important age-related changes in recognition-phase brain activity, even when behavioral measures of memory and confidence pattern similarly across groups. We speculate that memory processes with different time signatures contribute to the apparent differences across encoding and retrieval stages, and across methods.

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