Attention Function Research Articles

Time-on-task-related decrements in performance in the rodent continuous performance test are not caused by physical disengagement from the task.

Attention deficits, a hallmark of many neuropsychiatric disorders, significantly impair quality of life and functional outcome for patients. Continuous Performance Tests (CPTs) are widely used to assess attentional function in clinical settings and have been adapted for mice as the rodent Continuous Performance Test (rCPT). In this study, we combined traditional analyses of rCPT performance with markerless pose estimation using DeepLabCut and visual field analysis (VFA) to objectively measure the orientation of mice toward stimuli during rCPT sessions. Additionally, we extended session lengths to assess performance decrements over time. Our findings show that extending rCPT sessions from 45 to 90 minutes results in a significant decline in performance in male mice, which aligns with performance decrements observed in clinical research. Importantly, physical engagement with the task remained relatively stable throughout the session, even as performance deteriorated. This suggests that the performance decline specifically reflects a time-on-task (TOT)-dependent vigilance decrement rather than physical disengagement. We also investigated the effects of amphetamine, an FDA-approved treatment for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), on rCPT performance. Amphetamine significantly improved rCPT performance in male mice by reducing false alarms without modulating orientation or physical engagement with the task stimuli. Collectively, these findings validate a behavioral tracking platform for objectively measuring physical engagement in the rCPT and a task modification that accentuates TOT-dependent performance decrements, enhancing the translational value of the rCPT for studies related to human neuropsychiatric disorders.

Effects of Supplementation with a Microalgae Extract from Phaeodactylum tricornutum Containing Fucoxanthin on Cognition and Markers of Health in Older Individuals with Perceptions of Cognitive Decline.

Forty-three males and females (64.3 ± 6.0 years, 79.8 ± 16.0 kg, 27.0 ± 4.0 kg/m2) with perceptions of cognitive and memory decline completed the double-blind, randomized, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled intervention clinical trial. Participants were counterbalanced by sex and BMI and randomly allocated to their respective 12-week supplementation interventions, which were either the placebo (PL) or 1100 mg/day of PT containing 8.8 mg of fucoxanthin (FX). Fasting blood samples were collected, and cognitive assessments were performed during the testing session at 0, 4, and 12 weeks of intervention. The data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate general linear model (GLM) analyses with repeated measures, pairwise comparisons, and mean changes from baseline analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the clinical significance of the findings. FX supplementation significantly affected (p < 0.05) or exhibited tendencies toward significance (p > 0.05 to p < 0.10 with effect sizes ranging from medium to large) for word recall, picture recognition reaction time, Stroop color-word test, choice reaction time, and digit vigilance test variables. Additionally, FX supplementation promoted a more consistent clinical improvement from baseline values when examining mean changes with 95% CIs, although most differences were seen over time rather than between groups. The results demonstrate some evidence that FX supplementation can improve working and secondary memory, vigilance, attention, accuracy, and executive function. There was also evidence that FX promoted more positive effects on insulin sensitivity and perceptions about sleep quality with no negative effects on clinical blood panels or perceived side effects. Additional research should investigate how FX may affect cognition in individuals perceiving memory and cognitive decline. Registered clinical trial #NCT05759910.

Sharing Our World: Impact of Group Motor Skill Learning on Joint Attention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Impaired joint attention is a common feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), affecting social interaction and communication. We explored if group basketball learning could enhance joint attention in autistic children, and how this relates to brain changes, particularly white matter development integrity. Forty-nine autistic children, aged 4-12 years, were recruited from special education centers. The experimental group underwent a 12-week basketball motor skill learning, while the control group received standard care. Eye-tracking and brain scans were conducted. The 12-week basketball motor skill learning improved joint attention in the experimental group, evidenced by better eye tracking metrics and enhanced white matter integrity. Moreover, reduced time to first fixation correlated positively with decreased mean diffusivity of the left superior corona radiata and left superior fronto-occipital fasciculus in the experimental group. Basketball-based motor skill intervention effectively improved joint attention in autistic children. Improved white matter fiber integrity related to sensory perception, spatial and early attention function may underlie this effect. These findings highlight the potential of group motor skill learning within clinical rehabilitation for treating ASD.

Exploring cognitive impairments and the efficacy of phosphatidylcholine and computer-assisted cognitive training in post-acute COVID-19 and post-acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of confirmed cases worldwide, resulting in numerous deaths and hospitalizations. Long-term symptoms after infection or vaccination, known as Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) or Post-acute COVID-19 Vaccination Syndrome (PACVS), present a challenge for the healthcare system. Among the various neurological symptoms, cognitive impairments are frequently observed in PACS/PACVS patients. This study aimed to understand cognitive deficits in PACS/PACVS patients and evaluated potential treatment options, including phosphatidylcholine and computer-assisted cognitive training (CCT). The Neuro-COVID Outpatient Clinic at Evangelic Hospital Vienna evaluated n = 29 PACS/PACVS patients from May 2023 to October 2023. Enrolled patients were divided into three therapy schemes: Group A received phosphatidylcholine, B received phosphatidylcholine plus access to a computer-assisted cognitive training program, and C (divided into two subgroups) served as a control group. Cognitive impairments were evaluated in multiple assessments (initial and during therapy) using the COGBAT test. Simultaneously, an assessment of the quality of life was conducted using the WHOQOL-BREF. Primary cognitive impairments, especially attentional deficits were notably evident compared to the general population. While all treatment groups showed cognitive improvement (significant or with a positive trend, but without reaching the level of statistical significance) after therapy, no significant interaction was found between assessment time points and treatment schemes for overall cognitive performance, attention, memory, and executive functions, suggesting consistency across the groups. The WHOQOL-BREF primarily demonstrated deficits in the domains of physical health and psychological well-being. This study examined the impact of PACS/PACVS on cognitive performance and evaluated phosphatidylcholine and CCT as potential treatment options. Patients with PACS/PACVS showed notable cognitive deficits, especially in the domain attention. While the effectiveness of phosphatidylcholine and CCT in treating cognitive deficits was inconclusive, the study indicated the possibility of spontaneous remission of cognitive deficits in PACS/PACVS.

Psychological and Educational Approach in Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages

Schools play a central role in the holistic development of children, providing a structured environment that fosters their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth, and equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for their future through the experiences each child will have at school. These contribute to the cognitive and academic development of children in several ways. First and foremost, the primary objective of school is to provide a pedagogical education to children. In this regard, the school promotes intellectual development through a structured and organized learning environment where children can acquire knowledge, develop cognitive skills, and build their academic journey. Teachers play a crucial role in delivering effective instruction, facilitating learning experiences, and providing individualized support to meet the diverse needs of students. Furthermore, schools provide resources, programs, and assessments that help children progress academically and prepare them for their future studies. Moreover, children are also exposed to several languages from a very young age, which promotes the acquisition and mastery of languages. The learning of multiple languages in a multilingual school will lead children to develop cognitive skills such as attention, memory, and executive functions. These cognitive skills are transferable and can support academic abilities in areas such as reading, comprehension, mathematics, and problem-solving. As the basis of all educational activities, whether they involve listening, speaking, reading or writing, language plays a crucial role in the fulfilment of many important tasks and goals of a school. Language in school is not only a subject to be taught, but a source of study for other subjects as well, as it enables students to gather data and gain knowledge in a variety of subject areas. As a result, primary education provides all students with a basic education as well as access to other languages, such as French or English. This initiative aims to give students an appropriate linguistic approach that enables them to communicate, express themselves and use their language skills in their academic, personal and social activities, as well as direct access to information and knowledge. Foreign language education aims as well as to give learners the ability to communicate, express themselves, and use their language skills in their school work, personal lives, and social interactions. It also helps them have direct access to information and knowledge. From this point of view, we seek through the following scientific paper to discuss the purpose of the need for children to acquire foreign languages and the most appropriate age to start learning them. We will also try to present the scientific opinions of the most important thinkers and researchers on how languages are learnt and taught and the proposed teaching methods in this field.

Developing the Attentive Brain: Contribution of Cognitive Neuroscience to a Theory of Attentional Development

Attention is a fundamental cognitive mechanism whose primary function is to regulate and organize the flow of perceptions and actions shaping our mental life. Early cognitive models have highlighted aspects of sustained, selective, and executive control as essential components of attention. These three broad aspects can be further subdivided into subordinate operations, depending on whether the particular function is mostly driven by external stimulation (bottom-up attention) or relies on endogenous processes such as voluntary intentions or expectations (top-down attention). After several decades of cognitive neuroscience research, these different functions have been associated with specific circuits of brain regions. Based on the cognitive neuroscience framework, this paper presents a theory of attention development and discusses behavioral and brain evidence regarding the development of attention function during the first years of life.

Cognitive subgroups of affective and non-affective psychosis show differences in medication and cortico-subcortical brain networks

Cognitive deficits are prevalent in individuals with psychosis and are associated with neurobiological changes, potentially serving as an endophenotype for psychosis. Using the HCP-Early-Psychosis-dataset (n = 226), we aimed to investigate cognitive subtypes (deficit/intermediate/spared) through data-driven clustering in affective (AP) and non-affective psychosis patients (NAP) and controls (HC). We explored differences between three clusters in symptoms, cognition, medication, and grey matter volume. Applying principal component analysis, we selected features for clustering. Features that explained most variance were scores for intelligence, verbal recognition and comprehension, auditory attention, working memory, reasoning and executive functioning. Fuzzy K-Means clustering on those features revealed that the subgroups significantly varied in cognitive impairment, clinical symptoms, and, importantly, also in medication and grey matter volume in fronto-parietal and subcortical networks. The spared cluster (86%HC, 37%AP, 17%NAP) exhibited unimpaired cognition, lowest symptoms/medication, and grey matter comparable to controls. The deficit cluster (4%HC, 10%AP, 47%NAP) had impairments across all domains, highest symptoms scores/medication dosage, and pronounced grey matter alterations. The intermediate deficit cluster (11%HC, 54%AP, 36%NAP) showed fewer deficits than the second cluster, but similar symptoms/medication/grey matter to the spared cluster. Controlling for medication, cognitive scores correlated with grey matter changes and negative symptoms across all patients. Our findings generally emphasize the interplay between cognition, brain structure, symptoms, and medication in AP and NAP, and specifically suggest a possible mediating role of cognition, highlighting the potential of screening cognitive changes to aid tailoring treatments and interventions.

Cognitive functioning in adults with chronic insomnia disorder- A cross-sectional study.

Chronic insomnia, affecting 15.9% of the population, is characterized by sustained hyperarousal and heightened somatic, cognitive, and cortical activity. Despite its prevalence, the precise impact of chronic insomnia on cognitive domains, particularly attention, working memory, and executive function, remains inadequately understood. This study aims to systematically investigate the cognitive functioning of adults with chronic insomnia. A meticulously matched cohort of 80 participants, comprising 40 with chronic insomnia and 40 controls, participated in this cross-sectional study. The diagnosis followed strict criteria outlined in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders-3. Neuropsychological assessments, including the Digit Span Test, Stroop Test, and Trail Making Test, were employed to scrutinize attention, working memory, and executive function. Robust metrics, such as the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), supported the investigative approach. Analysis revealed notable deficits in backward digit span, digit symbol substitution test, and Stroop Test (cards B and C) among chronic insomnia subjects compared to non-insomniac counterparts. Trail Making Test B indicated prolonged completion times in the chronic insomnia cohort. Despite comparable levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms, the chronic insomnia group exhibited higher ISI and PSQI scores, indicating the severity of their sleep disturbances. This cross-sectional analysis reveals cognitive deficits associated with chronic insomnia, specifically impacting attention, working memory, and executive function. Even with meticulous demographic controls, chronic insomnia leaves a discernible impact on cognitive functions. The study underscores the need for precise cognitive evaluations to reveal the latent impact of chronic insomnia, offering insights for targeted interventions.

Biopsychosocial factors intersecting with weekly sleep difficulties in the menopause transition

ObjectivesSleep difficulties are common in the menopause transition and increase risk for a variety of physical and psychological problems. The current study investigated potential interactions between psychosocial variables and within-person changes in ovarian hormones in predicting perimenopausal sleep problems as well as the potential interactions between poor sleep and psychosocial factors in predicting worsened mood, affect, and attention. Study designThe sample included 101 perimenopausal individuals. Participants completed 12 weekly assessments of self-reported sleep outcomes, depressive mood and affect, and attention function, and of estrone glucuronide (E1G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) levels (urinary metabolites of estradiol and progesterone, respectively); they also had 24-h tracking of vasomotor symptoms. Other psychosocial variables such as trauma history and stressful life events were assessed at baseline. ResultsA history of depression, baseline depressive symptoms, trait anxiety, and more severe and bothersome vasomotor symptoms predicted worsened sleep outcomes. Recent stressful life events, trauma history, and person-centred E1G and PdG changes did not predict sleep outcomes. However, there was an interaction whereby person-centred E1G decreases predicted lower sleep efficiency in those with higher baseline depressive symptoms. Higher baseline depression and trauma history also amplified the effect of vasomotor symptoms on sleep outcomes. In evaluating the effect of poor sleep on psychological and cognitive outcomes, stressful life events emerged as a moderating factor. Finally, trauma history and poor sleep interacted to predict worsened attention function. ConclusionsThe current study suggests that certain individuals may be at greater risk of perimenopausal sleep problems and the resulting negative effects on mood and cognition.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment: updates to treatment, the need for more evidence, and impact on quality of life-a narrative review.

Due to advances in early detection and treatment options, non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cancer survivors are living longer, even those with metastatic disease. Many of these survivors will experience enduring symptoms of breast cancer, such as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Although CRCI is bothersome and, in some cases, potentially debilitating, little research has been done to address this symptom. Thus, the overarching goal of this narrative review is to provide both an overview of the problem of CRCI and its impact and focus on the latest research aimed at addressing CRCI in non-CNS cancer survivors. A MEDLINE database (PubMed) search was conducted for terms related to non-CNS cancer, cognition, impacts of CRCI, and interventions. The English-language articles published until April 8th, 2024, were included in the search. CRCI includes self-reported cognitive complaints and/or impaired performance in multiple cognitive domains, including memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function. CRCI, in turn, can have a significant impact on everyday functioning, work ability, work engagement and productivity, and overall quality of life (QoL) of cancer survivors. While some researchers have examined pharmacological approaches, the vast majority of the interventional studies to date to address CRCI has focused on non-pharmacological approaches. Three of the most common non-pharmacological approaches are physical activity or exercise, mind-body approaches [e.g., mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)], and cognitive rehabilitative approaches [e.g., cognitive training (CT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)]. Addressing the cognitive health of cancer survivors is imperative but has only recently been the focus of interventional research. More research in larger and more diverse samples of non-CNS cancer survivors is needed to identify effective ways to manage CRCI for all cancer survivors. Overall, maintaining cognitive health, especially in cancer survivors who are at increased risk for deficits, is a national health care priority that should not be ignored.

Innovative integration of maturity detection and robotic technology for enhanced litchi harvesting

Abstract An integrated approach marries an optimized YOLOv7 deep learning model with a 6-axis robotic arm, featuring a novel end-effector design, to elevate automated litchi harvesting. The model, refined with ACmix attention and Focal-EIoU loss functions, adeptly identifies litchi maturity across diverse orchard settings, overcoming challenges like variable lighting and occlusions. Rigorous field validations and real-world applications demonstrate the system’s efficacy, with an 85.7% success rate in precisely harvesting mature litchis. This fusion of cutting-edge image recognition with strategic mechanical innovation effectively mitigates labor shortages and enhances productivity, marking a significant leap forward in orchard automation.

Effect of Gender on Students’ Attention and Academic Performance in Analytical Chemistry Using Collaborative-Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain (CPEOE)

This research investigated the possibility of enhancing senior secondary school students’ academic performance irrespective of gender in analytical chemistry concept using Collaborative-Predict-Explain-Observe-Explain (CPEOE). The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. Analytical Chemistry Attention Inventory (ACAI) and Analytical Chemistry Performance Test (ACPT) were the instruments used for data collection. Cronbach Alpha was used to ascertain the reliability index of ACAI which gave reliability value of 0.87. The internal consistency of ACPT was tested using Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula which yielded a reliability value of 0.96. The population was 7,152 SS2 students offering chemistry in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 157 students drawn from 3 schools in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation scores while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using results from Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study revealed among others, that there was no significant difference between the mean attention rating of male and female students taught analytical chemistry {F1, 78 = 1.020, P&gt;0.05}. It was also revealed that that there is no significant difference between the mean academic performance of male and female students taught analytical chemistry using CPEOE {F1, 78 = 4.890, P&gt;0.05}. It was recommended among others that since CPEOE is not gender sensitive. Hence, both male and female students should be involved in CPEOE classroom to enhance their attention and academic performance in analytical chemistry. Serving teachers should be encouraged to use CPEOE in teaching analytical chemistry concepts.

Is There Any Possibility of Improving Upper Basic Students’ Self-Confidence and Academic Performance in Social Studies Using PEDDA and IEPT Instructional Strategies? — A Field Report

This research investigated the possibility of improving upper basic students’ attention and academic performance in social studies in Benue State, Nigeria using Prior-Conception, Exploration, Discussion, Dissatisfaction and Application (PEDDA) and Invitation, Exploration, Proposing-Explanation and Taking action (IEPT). The study adopted a pretest, posttest, control group, quasi-experimental research design. The instruments used for data collection were Social Studies Self-Confidence Scale (SSSCS) and Social Studies Performance Test (SSPT). Cronbach Alpha was used to ascertain the reliability index of SSSCS which gave reliability values of 0.86. Kuder-Richardson (KR-21) formula was used to test internal consistency of SSPT which yielded a reliability value of 0.92. The population was 11,656 Upper Basic Two students offering social studies in Benue State, Nigeria. A sample of 288 students (Male=158 and female=130) drawn from 9 schools within the 9 Local Government Areas (LGA) out of 23 LGA in the Benue State, Nigeria was selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The research questions were answered using Mean and Standard Deviation scores while the null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using results from Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean self-confidence ratings of students taught social studies using PEDDA, IEPT strategy and discussion method [F2, 287=2146.076, P&lt;0.05]. The study revealed that there was significant difference in the mean academic performance scores of students taught social studies using PEDDA strategy, IEPT strategy and discussion method [F2, 287=374.360, P&lt;0.05]. It was recommended among others that to maximize self-confidence in social studies class, teachers’ trainee should be train on the application of PEDDA strategy and IEPT strategy and serving teachers should employ the use of PEDDA and IEPT strategies in teaching social studies. Social studies teachers are also encouraged to use PEDDA strategy in teaching to enhance students’ self-confidence and academic performance in social studies.

SSAGCN: Social Soft Attention Graph Convolution Network for Pedestrian Trajectory Prediction.

Pedestrian trajectory prediction is an important technique of autonomous driving. In order to accurately predict the reasonable future trajectory of pedestrians, it is inevitable to consider social interactions among pedestrians and the influence of surrounding scene simultaneously, which can fully represent the complex behavior information and ensure the rationality of predicted trajectories obeyed realistic rules. In this article, we propose one new prediction model named social soft attention graph convolution network (SSAGCN), which aims to simultaneously handle social interactions among pedestrians and scene interactions between pedestrians and environments. In detail, when modeling social interaction, we propose a new social soft attention function, which fully considers various interaction factors among pedestrians. Also, it can distinguish the influence of pedestrians around the agent based on different factors under various situations. For the scene interaction, we propose one new sequential scene sharing mechanism. The influence of the scene on one agent at each moment can be shared with other neighbors through social soft attention; therefore, the influence of the scene is expanded both in spatial and temporal dimensions. With the help of these improvements, we successfully obtain socially and physically acceptable predicted trajectories. The experiments on public available datasets prove the effectiveness of SSAGCN and have achieved state-of-the-art results. The project code is available at https://github.com/WW-Tong/ssagcn_for_path_prediction.

Behavioral Problems and Self-Feeding Independence Among Patients With Acute Stroke: A Single-Center Study.

Self-feeding independence is often the first goal in acute stroke rehabilitation. Attention deficits appear frequently after stroke, but neuropsychological tests may be difficult to perform in the acute phase, and the effect on self-feeding activities may be difficult to detect. Therefore, we aimed to clarify behavioral problems with self-feeding using the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS), a behavioral observational rating scale of attentional function, for a better understanding of the effects of self-feeding. To identify behavioral problems caused by attention deficits among patients with acute stroke who need assistance in self-feeding, using the MARS. Cross-sectional single-center study. St. Marianna University Yokohama Seibu Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan. A total of 96 patients (42 women and 54 men) were admitted to the hospital for stroke treatment. Patients' median age was 75.0 yr. The date of evaluation was a median of 3.0 days from admission. The primary outcome was the FIM® eating subscore. The secondary outcome was the MARS score. Significant differences were noted in the total raw MARS, logit, and three-factor scores for self-feeding independence (p < .01). The effect size of the consistent or sustained factor on independence was large (r = .83). Behavioral problems related to self-feeding dependence include the inability for sustained attention. Our results suggest that sustained concentration during self-feeding is necessary for eating independence. Rehabilitation focused on sustained attention is important for independent self-feeding. Plain-Language Summary: A patient's self-feeding independence is often the first goal in acute stroke rehabilitation. Patients frequently experience attention deficits after a stroke, but neuropsychological tests may be difficult to perform in the acute phase of rehabilitation, and the effect of attention deficits on self-feeding may be difficult to identify. To have a better understanding of the effects on self-feeding, this study aimed to identify behavioral problems using the Moss Attention Rating Scale (MARS). The study found that the MARS can be used to identify behavioral problems related to self-feeding independence, which can help occupational therapists to develop rehabilitation programs for their clients who have experienced a stroke.

USE OF TECHNOLOGIES OF HIGHER NERVOUS ACTIVITY AND PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL HUMAN FUNCTIONS STUDYING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS

Applied techniques and some results of studies the higher nervous activity (HNA) of the people, their psychophysiological functions (PFF) by Ukrainian scientists and doctors were described, as well as influences of extreme conditions on HNA. Aim. Results of the influence of extreme mountain conditions at high altitudes (hypoxia, etc.) demonstration and further research of changes in the psychophysiological functions of the brain under these conditions; description of the developed methods of professional selection. Methods. Comparative analysis of a large number of the data from experiments and observations. Physical, mathematical, program modeling. Methods of HNA, brain research: electroencephalography, diagnosis of personal neurodynamic features, etc. Three methods of PFF research: parameters of the neurodynamic level, parameters of the neuropsychological level, and personal specifics. The adapted questionnaire scheme (QS) based on Cattell's 16-factor personality tests was applied. Results. The influence of hypoxia and other factors of mountain conditions on HNA were studied deeply. The results were presented. Also, there were presented results of registered changes of EEG in such extreme conditions. The influence of a number of stress factors in extreme conditions (hypoxia, etc.) has been demonstrated. Some basic methods of HNA researches used in such conditions were described as well as results of investigations of individual typological features of the nervous systems were presented. Methods for human psychophysiological functions studying were described. Studies of human personal characteristics were described in details. Data recorded by the PNN-3 device were taken for the diagnosis of personal neurodynamic features. The parameters of the neuropsychological level were determined using the following methods: "triangles" (the level of development of short-term visual memory), "instrument scales" (working memory, attention functions, etc.), and "red and black tables" (allocation and switching of attention). Personality structures, features, and types of behavior of operators in stressful situations were estimated basing on adapted QS by Cattell. Mathematical models of the reliability of human nervous system functioning under extreme conditions were developed. Conclusions. The obtained results were taken as the basis for the developed professional selection methods for special contingents, pilots, operators, etc. Physical, mathematical, and program models of the reliability of the human nervous system functioning in these conditions were proposed.

Cognitive performance during exposure to moderate normobaric hypoxia after sleep restriction: Relationship to physiological and stress biomarkers

IntroductionExposure to moderate levels of simulated hypoxia has subtle cognitive effects relative to ground level, in healthy individuals. However, there are few data on the cognitive consequences of the combination of hypoxia and partial sleep deprivation, which is a classic military or civilian operational context. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to moderate hypoxia while sleep-restricted impairs several domains of cognition, and we also assessed physiological parameters and salivary concentrations of cortisol and alpha-amylase. MethodSeventeen healthy males completed two sessions of cognitive tests (sustained attention using the PVT psychomotor vigilance task and executive functions using the Go-NoGo inhibition task and N-Back working memory task) after 30 min (T + 30′) and 4 h (T + 240′) of exposure in a normobaric hypoxic tent (FIO2 = 13.6 %, ≃ 3,500 m) (HY). This was completed after one night of sleep restriction (3 a.m. to 6 a.m. bedtime, SRHY) and one night of habitual sleep (10 p.m. to 6 a.m. bedtime, HSHY) (with cross-over randomization). The two nights sleep architecture and physiological parameters (oxygen saturation (SpO2) and heart rate (HR) during T + 30′ and T + 240′sessions were analyzed. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) concentrations were analyzed before hypoxia, after the T + 30′ and T + 240′ cognitive sessions, and after leaving the hypoxic tent. ResultsSustained attention (RT and number of lapses in the PVT) and executive functions (Go-NoGo and 1-Back and 2-Back parameters, as inhibition and working memory signatures) were impaired in the SRHY condition compared to HSHY. SpO2 and HR were higher after 4 h compared with 30 min of hypoxia in the HSHY condition, while only HR was statistically higher in the SRHY condition. In SRHY, salivary AA concentration was lower and cortisol was higher than in HSHY. A significant increase in sAA concentration is observed after the cognitive session at 4 h of hypoxia exposure compared to that at 30 min, only in the SRHY condition. There are significant positive correlations between reaction time and the corresponding heart rate (a non-invasive marker of physiological stress) for the executive tasks in the two sleep conditions. This was not observed for salivary levels of sAA and cortisol, respective reliable indicators of the sympathoadrenomedullary system and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical system. ConclusionExposure to moderate normobaric hypoxia (≃ 3500 m / ≃ 11,500 ft simulated) after a single night of 3-hour sleep impairs cognitive performance after 30 min and 4 h of exposure. The key determinants and/or mechanism(s) responsible for cognitive impairment when exposed to moderate hypoxia with sleep restriction, particularly on the executive function, have yet to be elucidated.

Benefits of postural sway to succeed in goal-directed visual tasks

When individuals stand, they sway and so have to maintain their balance. It is generally expected that task performance is worse when standing and swaying than when sitting and therefore not swaying. In contrast, we hypothesized that greater sway is associated with better task performance in the absence of external perturbations of posture. Twenty-four healthy, young adults performed two goal-directed, modified Stroop tasks (incongruent and reversed incongruent) in four body position conditions (standing against a vertical surface, and standing freely with a wide, standard or narrow stance). Centre of pressure (COP) sway, head sway, eye movements, visual attention, and task performance were recorded. Partial correlation analyses showed significant positive associations between task performance and some COP and head sway variables, after controlling for the level of visual attention. Analyses of variance with three factors (body position, task difficulty, target distance) also showed significant interaction effects between body position (and therefore postural sway) and the number of accurate target findings. The presence of these interactions showed that narrow stance was both the best body position for performing the incongruent task and the worst body position for performing the reversed incongruent task. Overall, COP sway and head sway can increase task performance. Hence, healthy, young adults in quiet stance appear to use sway to explore their environment more effectively. However, it should be borne in mind that our hypothesis was formulated solely with regard to healthy, young adults standing in quiet stance.

Behavioral and Electrophysiological Markers of Attention Fluctuations in Children with Hypersomnolence.

Background. No device is yet available to effectively capture the attentional repercussions of hypersomnolence (HYP). The present study aimed to compare attentional performance of children with HYP, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and controls using behavioral and electrophysiological (EEG) markers, and to assess their relationship with conventional sleepiness measurements. Methods. Children with HYP underwent a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and completed the adapted Epworth sleepiness scale (AESS). Along with age-matched children with ADHD, they were submitted to a resting EEG followed by the Bron-Lyon Attention Stability Test (BLAST). The control group only performed the BLAST. Multivariate models compared reaction time (RT), error percentage, BLAST-Intensity, BLAST-Stability, theta activity, and theta/beta ratio between groups. Correlations between these measures and conventional sleepiness measurements were conducted in children with HYP. Results. Children with HYP had lower RT and BLAST-Stability than controls but showed no significant difference in BLAST/EEG markers compared to children with ADHD. The AESS was positively correlated with the percentage of errors and negatively with BLAST-Intensity. Conclusions. Children with HYP showed impulsivity and attention fluctuations, without difference from children with ADHD for BLAST/EEG markers. The BLAST-EEG protocol could be relevant for the objective assessment of attentional fluctuations related to hypersomnolence.

Executive and attentional functioning interventions in preterm children: a systematic review.

This systematic review, performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, seeks to summarize the interventions that have been developed in order to improve executive functioning and attention in children born prematurely. The PICOS framework helped guide the structure and relevant terms selected for the study. Electronic systematic searches of the databases PubMed (NLM), Ovid Medline, Ovid All EBM Reviews, Ovid Embase, and Ovid PsycINFO were completed in March 2022. This review focuses on interventions that target attention and executive functioning in prematurely born children between birth and 12 years old, with outcome measures assessed between 3 and 12 years old, even if the age range in the study can exceed our own parameters. Data extraction included sample characteristics, country of recruitment, type of intervention, description of the intervention group and control group, outcome measures, and overall results. An assessment of the quality of methodology of studies was performed through an adaptation of the Downs and Black checklist for both randomized and nonrandomized studies in healthcare interventions. An assessment of the risk of bias was also presented using the Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials 2.0. A total of 517 premature children received an intervention at some point between birth and early adolescence. Eleven different interventions were assessed in 17 studies, with rating of the quality of methodology and outcomes ranging from lower quality studies (44% quality rating) to robust studies (96% quality rating) in terms of reporting standards, external and internal validity, and power. Five of those studies focused on interventions administered in the neonatal intensive care unit or shortly postdischarge (e.g., the Mother-Infant Transaction Program and the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program, documented in two articles each [11%] or the Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program assessed in one study [about 5%]), while 12 articles reported on interventions administered between the ages of 1.5-12 years old [mostly computerized cognitive training programs such as Cogmed (23%) and BrainGame Brian (17%)]. Of the 17 articles examined, 12 (70%) showed positive short-term outcomes postintervention and 3 (17%) demonstrated positive long-term results with small to large effect sizes (0.23-2.3). Among included studies, 50% showed an overall high risk of bias, 21.4% showed some concerns, and 28.6% were low risk of bias. Due to the heterogeneity of the programs reviewed, the presented findings should be interpreted as descriptive results. A careful and individualized selection from the various available interventions should be made based on the target population (i.e., age at intervention administration and outcome testing) before implementing these program protocols in clinical settings.