Lifestyle factors and their impact on the networks of attention

Abstract

In 2002, Fan and his colleagues developed the Attention Network Test (ANT), a cognitive tool that provides a score for each of the attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive functioning). Since publication, this study has been cited over 3 500 times. The authors state one of the indicated uses of this tool is to measure how different interventions, both behavioral and pharmacological, influence the networks of attention. The present review focuses on this premise and investigates how various aspects of lifestyle differently impact the networks of attention.Whether trying to optimize the attentional networks to improve cognitive performance, or to prevent the cognitive decline that occurs with age, this review summarizes what practices promote efficiency within the alerting, orienting, and executive functioning networks. The specific areas of lifestyle this review focuses on are meditation, exercise, drug use, sleep, and environmental or social factors.

Molecular signatures of attention networks

“…This may constrain the strong claim of network‐wide neuromodulation, but does not preclude neuromodulation through other mechanisms, such as more nuanced or dynamic neuromodulatory activity in brain stem or midbrain nuclei. In light of the mixed evidence from pharmacological studies with the ANT (Badgaiyan & Wack, 2011; McCormick, 2022; Reynaud et al, 2019; Thienel et al, 2009); however, it seems reasonable to revise attention network theory regarding the presumed neuromodulation of attention networks. The analysis of subcortical areas similarly failed to establish a clear relationship between ANT activations and molecular measures.…”

“…While the relevance of all three neuromodulators in attention is well established (Noudoost & Moore, 2011; Robbins, 1997), the evidence for the assumed dissociation and specificity in regard to the three attention networks is less conclusive. Experimental work with the ANT (Fan et al, 2002), a behavioral protocol to assess the efficiency of all three attention networks simultaneously, was unable to detect influences of the potent acetylcholine agonist nicotine on any of the three attention networks (see McCormick, 2022, for review). Furthermore, direct manipulations of the noradrenergic system by blocking the norepinephrine reuptake impact orienting attention but not alerting and control (Reynaud et al, 2019), while indirect measure of locus coeruleus activity suggest an involvement of norepinephrine in all three attention networks (Gabay et al, 2011; Geva et al, 2013).…”

Molecular Signatures of Attention Networks

“…This may constrain the strong claim of network-wide neuromodulation, but does not necessarily preclude neuromodulation through other mechanisms, such as more nuanced or dynamic neuromodulatory activity in brain stem or midbrain nuclei. In light of the mixed evidence from pharmacological studies with the ANT (Badgaiyan & Wack, 2011;McCormick, 2022;Reynaud et al, 2019;Thienel et al, 2009), however, it seems reasonable to revise attention network theory regarding the presumed neuromodulation of attention networks.…”

Previewing test items prior to learning and receiving decorative pictures during testing: Impact on listening comprehension for English as a Foreign Language students

“…The phenomenon that adding seductive details hinders rather than enhances learning is termed as the seductive details effect (for meta‐analyses, see Rey, 2012; Sundararajan & Adesope, 2020). Decorative pictures, falling under the category of seductive details, are even less relevant to the learning objective and may sometimes only serve an aesthetic purpose (see, Morita & Fukuya, 2023; Schneider et al, 2018, for examples).…”