Recent theoretical, neural, and clinical advances in sustained attention research

Abstract

Models of attention often distinguish between attention subtypes, with classic models separating orienting, switching, and sustaining functions. Compared to other forms of attention, the neurophysiological basis of sustaining attention has received far less attention yet it is known that momentary failures of sustained attention can have far ranging negative impacts in healthy individuals and lasting sustained attention deficits are pervasive in clinical populations. In recent years, however, there has been increased interest in characterizing moment-to-moment fluctuations in sustained attention in addition to the overall vigilance decrement and understanding how these neurocognitive systems change over the lifespan and across various clinical populations. The use of novel neuroimaging paradigms and statistical approaches has allowed for better characterization of the neural networks supporting sustained attention, and highlighted dynamic interactions within and across multiple distributed networks that predict behavioral performance. These advances have also provided potential biomarkers to identify individuals with sustained attention deficits. These findings have led to new theoretical models of why sustaining focused attention is a challenge for individuals and form the basis for the next generation of sustained attention research, which seeks to accurately diagnose and develop theoretically-driven treatments for sustained attention deficits that affect a variety of clinical populations.

Selective microstructural integrity impairments of the anterior corpus callosum are associated with cognitive deficits in obstructive sleep apnea

“…This cognitive function implicates a complex neural network including the prefrontal cortex (Cona et al, 2015;Gonneaud et al, 2014) and premotor and supplementary motor cortex (Cona et al, 2015;Hashimoto, Umeda, & Kojima, 2011). Similarly, sustained attention is a multicomponent mental process involving distributed brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and premotor and supplementary motor cortex (Fortenbaugh, DeGutis, & Esterman, 2017;Langner & Eickhoff, 2013). Based on these prior findings, one may speculate that aberrant interhemispheric communications between bilateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral premotor and supplementary motor cortex, resulting from abnormal fiber connections, may contribute to the dysfunctions of prospective memory and sustained attention in OSA patients.…”

Aberrant patterns of default‐mode network functional connectivity associated with metabolic syndrome: A resting‐state study

“…Several studies have linked vascular diseases to disruption in DMN (Damoiseaux & Greicius, 2009;Mayda, Westphal, Carter, & DeCarli, 2011;Papma et al, 2013). While greater DMN activity is commonly associated with being off-task or resting, recent studies have shown associations between DMN activity and cognition (Spreng, 2012;Vatansever, Menon, Manktelow, Sahakian, & Stamatakis, 2015), including the ability to maintain sustained attention over time (Esterman, Noonan, Rosenberg, & DeGutis, 2012;Fortenbaugh, DeGutis, & Esterman, 2017;Kucyi, Esterman, Riley, & Valera, 2016). Studies have also observed reduced cerebrovascular function (i.e., Cerebral Blood Flow) in DMN regions in AD (Alsop, Detre, & Grossman, 2000;Jagust & D'Esposito, 2009;Johnson et al, 2005), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (Duschek & Schandry, 2007;Johnson et al, 2005), and in older adults without cognitive impairment (Claus et al, 1998;Jagust & D'Esposito, 2009;Wu et al, 2008).…”

Network-targeted cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation improves attentional control

“…As attention underlies many other higher-level cognitive functions, attentional impairments can result in deficits of diverse cognitive functions (Fortenbaugh et al, in press). Thus, improvement of attentional control has widespread clinical appeal.…”

“…Converging evidence directly implicates a set of frontal and parietal regions, termed the dorsal attention network (DAN), in attentional control (i.e., preparing, initiating, and maintaining goal-directed attentional control; e.g., Corbetta et al, 2000; Kastner, Pinsk, De Weerd, Desimone, & Ungerleider, 1999; Langner & Eickhoff, 2013; Fortenbaugh et al in press). Recently, the DAN has been shown to include both cortical and cerebellar nodes (Brissenden, Levin, Osher, Halko, & Somers, 2016).…”