Efficiency of Attentional Components in Elderly with Mild Neurocognitive Disorders Shown by the Attention Network Test

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 93-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Lu ◽  
Sandra S.M. Chan ◽  
Ada W.T. Fung ◽  
Linda C.W. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Executive Control ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Ratio Score ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Network Functions ◽  
Complex Attention

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.

Attention Network Test reveals alerting network dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Urbanek ◽  
Nicholetta Weinges-Evers ◽  
Judith Bellmann-Strobl ◽  
Markus Bock ◽  
Jan Dörr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Cognitive Slowing ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Attention is one of the cognitive domains typically affected in multiple sclerosis. The Attention Network Test was developed to measure the function of the three distinct attentional networks, alerting, orienting, and executive control. The Attention Network Test has been performed in various neuropsychiatric conditions, but not in multiple sclerosis. Our objective was to investigate functions of attentional networks in multiple sclerosis by means of the Attention Network Test. Patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis (n = 57) and healthy controls (n = 57) matched for age, sex, and education performed the Attention Network Test. Significant differences between patients and controls were detected in the alerting network (p = 0.003), in contrast to the orienting (p = 0.696) and the conflict (p = 0.114) network of visual attention. Mean reaction time in the Attention Network Test was significantly longer in multiple sclerosis patients than in controls (p = 0.032), Multiple sclerosis patients benefited less from alerting cues for conflict resolution compared with healthy controls. The Attention Network Test revealed specific alterations of the attention network in multiple sclerosis patients which were not explained by an overall cognitive slowing.

scholarly journals Attentional Skills in Soccer: Evaluating the Involvement of Attention in Executing a Goalkeeping Task in Virtual Reality

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 9341
Author(s):  
Andria Shimi ◽  
Vanessa Tsestou ◽  
Marios Hadjiaros ◽  
Kleanthis Neokleous ◽  
Marios Avraamides
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Physical Abilities

Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers in soccer but the involved cognitive abilities for these players have only recently become the focus of extensive research. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a basic goalkeeping task in soccer. One hundred participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive virtual reality (VR) and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. A regression analysis revealed that all three attention network scores contributed to performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports.

Are Individual Differences in Absentmindedness Correlated with Individual Differences in Attention?

2009 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 220-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoko Ishigami ◽  
Raymond M. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Error Rate ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Global Measure ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Warning Tone ◽  
Cognitive Failures ◽  
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire

We administered the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and one of two versions of the Attention Network Test (ANT) to 200 participants. Orthogonal subtraction scores based on performance (reaction time and error rate) from selected conditions of the ANT provided measures of the efficacy of three attention components: alerting, orienting, and executive control, while the total CFQ score provided a global measure of absentmindedness. Executive control was not associated with the CFQ in either experiment. When alertness was generated by a warning tone, greater alerting effects in reaction time were associated with higher CFQ scores (greater absentmindedness). The orienting effects in accuracy obtained from the two versions of the ANT varied with absentmindedness in opposite directions, suggesting that these two tests tap different aspects of orienting.

Functioning of the Attentional Networks at Rest vs. During Acute Bouts of Aerobic Exercise

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 649-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florentino Huertas ◽  
Javier Zahonero ◽  
Daniel Sanabria ◽  
Juan Lupiáñez
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
General State ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Attentional Functioning ◽  
Attentional Networks ◽  
Phasic Alertness ◽  
Rest Condition

The present study explored the effects of three different activity conditions on three attentional functions: alerting, orienting, and executive control. A group of highly experienced cyclists performed the Attention Network Test–Interactions (Callejas, Lupiáñez, & Tudela, 2004) at rest, during moderate aerobic exercise, and during intense aerobic exercise. Results indicated that aerobic exercise accelerated reaction time and reduced the alerting effect compared with the rest condition. However, aerobic exercise did not modulate the functioning of either the orienting or the executive control attentional networks. No differences in reaction time or attentional functioning were observed between the two aerobic exercise workloads. The present results suggest that moderate aerobic exercise modulates the functioning of phasic alertness by increasing the general state of tonic vigilance.

scholarly journals Shimi et al_GKVR1

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andria Shimi ◽  
Vanessa Tsestou ◽  
Marios Hatziaros ◽  
Kleanthis Neokleous ◽  
Marios N Avraamides
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Physical Abilities

Soccer is one of the most popular sports and goalkeepers are central to a team’s winning. Physical abilities are essential to goalkeepers but the involved cognitive abilities for these players are understudied and not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of different aspects of attention in a goalkeeping task in soccer. Participants assumed the role of a goalkeeper in immersive Virtual Reality and carried out a task that entailed blocking balls shot towards their goal. In addition, they carried out two computerized tasks each assessing different attentional abilities: the Attention Network Test provided scores for three well-established networks of attention, namely the alerting, the orienting, and the executive control. The Whack-a-Mole task evaluated inhibitory control, by measuring performance in a classic Go/No-Go task and tapping on response inhibition. Results revealed that all three attention network scores predicted performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Furthermore, performance in the Whack-a-Mole task correlated significantly with performance in the VR goalkeeping task. Overall, findings confirm that cognitive skills relating to attention play a critical role in the efficient execution of soccer-specific tasks. These findings have important implications for the training of cognitive skills in sports.

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

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

Attention network test — The impact of social information on executive control, alerting and orienting

2013 ◽  
Vol 143 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Federico ◽  
Andrea Marotta ◽  
Tiziana Adriani ◽  
Lisa Maccari ◽  
Maria Casagrande
Keyword(s):  
Executive Control ◽  
Social Information ◽  
Attention Network Test ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals A-081 Cognitive Reserve Factors Influence Neuropsychological Performance in Alcohol Use Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 873-873
Author(s):  
Mcnally S ◽  
Syan S ◽  
Hargreaves T ◽  
Sarles Whittlesley H ◽  
McIntyre-Wood C ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Neuropsychological Performance ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Card Sort

Abstract Objective Cognitive reserve (CR) refers to the brain’s capacity to cope with pathology and preserve functioning. We investigated cognitive performance between individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and healthy controls to examine whether CR, operationalized as education and psychosocial functioning, influences neuropsychological functioning. Method We recruited 45 AUD (DSM-V criteria) who reported drinking levels exceeding NIAAA guidelines (&gt;14/7 drinks/week for men/women) and 30 healthy controls who did not. MANCOVAs controlling for CR were used to investigate between-group differences in neuropsychological performance, as measured by the NIH Toolbox. A series of linear regression analyses were also performed to evaluate effects of AUD and CR on neuropsychological performance. Psychosocial functioning, education, and AUD status were simultaneously entered as predictors of Flanker, Dimensional Change Card Sort, Picture Sequence, List Sort, and Processing Speed scores. Results MANCOVAs revealed a significantly slower processing speed in the AUD group compared to controls when controlling for CR (F = 4.30, p = .042). There were no significant group differences on other tests. Linear regressions showed only processing speed to be predicted by AUD (β = −.255, p = .042), while CR measures were not. Education predicted Picture Sequence (β = .245, p = .041) and Card Sort (β = .291, p = .009) performance, and psychosocial functioning predicted Flanker (β = .296, p = .021) and Card Sort (β = .316, p = .010) performance. Conclusions CR appears to contribute to higher-order cognitive functions, regardless of AUD status. Only processing speed, a domain typically susceptible to brain pathology, was significantly related to AUD. Thus, factors linked to CR may serve as important targets for future research and intervention in AUD to promote favorable cognitive outcomes.

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