Measure Of Sustained Attention Research Articles

Prenatal tobacco and tobacco-cannabis co-exposure: Relationship with attention and memory in middle childhood

We examined associations between prenatal tobacco exposure (with and without cannabis exposure) and children's performance on laboratory measures of sustained attention, attentional set shifting, and working memory in middle childhood (9–12 years of child age). Participants were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy and oversampled for prenatal tobacco exposure; with a smaller sample (n = 133; n = 34 non-substance exposed, n = 37 exposed to tobacco only, n = 62 co-exposed) invited (oversampled for co-exposure) to participate in the middle-childhood assessment (M age = 10.6, SD = 0.77; 68% Black, 20% Hispanic). Results for sustained attention indicated lower attention (percent hits) at the first epoch for tobacco only exposed compared to non-exposed and co-exposed; a trend (p = .07) towards increases in impulsive responding across time (a total of 8 epochs) for tobacco exposed (with and without cannabis) compared to non-exposed children; and a significant association between higher number of cigarettes in the first trimester and greater increases in impulsive responding across epochs. However, children prenatally exposed to tobacco (with and without cannabis) demonstrated greater short-term memory compared to children not prenatally exposed, and this difference was driven by higher scores for children prenatally co-exposed to tobacco and cannabis compared to those who were non-exposed. Overall, results suggest that prenatal tobacco exposure, especially in the first trimester, may increase risk for impulsive responding on tasks requiring sustained attention, and that co-use of cannabis did not exacerbate these associations. The higher short-term memory scores among children who were co-exposed compared to non-exposed are perplexing and need replication, particularly in studies with larger sample sizes and samples exposed only to cannabis to examine this more closely.

Task-based default mode network connectivity predicts cognitive impairment and negative symptoms in first-episode schizophrenia.

Individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ) demonstrate difficulty distinguishing between internally and externally generated stimuli. These aberrations in "source monitoring" have been theorized as contributing to symptoms of the disorder, including hallucinations and delusions. Altered connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) of the brain has been proposed as a mechanism through which discrimination between self-generated and externally generated events is disrupted. Source monitoring abnormalities in SZ have additionally been linked to impairments in selective attention and inhibitory processing, which are reliably observed via the N100 component of the event-related brain potential elicited during an auditory paired-stimulus paradigm. Given overlapping constructs associated with DMN connectivity and N100 in SZ, the present investigation evaluated relationships between these measures of disorder-related dysfunction and sought to clarify the nature of task-based DMN function in SZ. DMN connectivity and N100 measures were assessed using EEG recorded from SZ during their first episode of illness (N = 52) and demographically matched healthy comparison participants (N = 25). SZ demonstrated less evoked theta-band connectivity within DMN following presentation of pairs of identical auditory stimuli than HC. Greater DMN connectivity among SZ was associated with better performance on measures of sustained attention (p = .03) and working memory (p = .09), as well as lower severity of negative symptoms, though it was not predictive of N100 measures. Together, present findings provide EEG evidence of lower task-based connectivity among first-episode SZ, reflecting disruptions of DMN functions that support cognitive processes. Attentional processes captured by N100 appear to be supported by different neural mechanisms.

Evaluating the Efficacy of Chronic Galantamine on Sustained Attention and Cholinergic Neurotransmission in A Pre-Clinical Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Cholinergic disruptions underlie attentional deficits following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, drugs specifically targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition have yielded mixed outcomes. Therefore, we hypothesized that galantamine (GAL), a dual-action competitive AChE inhibitor and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) positive allosteric modulator, provided chronically after injury, will attenuate TBI-induced deficits of sustained attention and enhance ACh efflux in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as assessed by invivo microdialysis. In Experiment 1, adult male rats (n = 10-15/group) trained in the 3-choice serial reaction time (3-CSRT) test were randomly assigned to controlled cortical impact (CCI) or sham surgery and administered GAL (0.5, 2.0, or 5.0 mg/kg; i.p.) or saline vehicle (VEH; 1 mL/kg; i.p) beginning 24-h post-surgery and once daily thereafter for 27 days. Measures of sustained attention and distractibility were assessed on post-operative days 21-25 in the 3-CSRT, following which cortical lesion volume and basal forebrain cholinergic cells were quantified on day 27. In Experiment 2, adult male rats (n = 3-4/group) received a CCI and 24 h later administered (i.p.) one of the three doses of GAL or VEH for 21 days to quantify the dose-dependent effect of GAL on invivo ACh efflux in the mPFC. Two weeks after the CCI, a guide cannula was implanted in the right mPFC. On post-surgery day 21, baseline and post-injection dialysate samples were collected in a temporally matched manner with the cohort undergoing behavior. ACh levels were analyzed using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to an electrochemical detector. Cortical lesion volume was quantified on day 22. The data were subjected to ANOVA, with repeated measures where appropriate, followed by Newman-Keuls post hoc analyses. All TBI groups displayed impaired sustained attention versus the pooled SHAM controls (p's < 0.05). Moreover, the highest dose of GAL (5.0 mg/kg) exacerbated attentional deficits relative to VEH and the two lower doses of GAL (p's < 0.05). TBI significantly reduced cholinergic cells in the right basal forebrain, regardless of treatment condition, versus SHAM (p < 0.05). In vivo microdialysis revealed no differences in basal ACh in the mPFC; however, GAL (5.0 mg/kg) significantly increased ACh efflux 30 min following injection compared to the VEH and the other GAL (0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg) treated groups (p's < 0.05). In both experiments, there were no differences in cortical lesion volume across treatment groups (p's > 0.05). In summary, albeit the higher dose of GAL increased ACh release, it did not improve measures of sustained attention or histopathological markers, thereby partially supporting the hypothesis and providing the impetus for further investigations into alternative cholinergic pharmacotherapies such as nAChR positive allosteric modulators.

Infant sustained attention differs by context and social content in the first 2 years of life.

Sustained attention (SA) is an endogenous form of attention that emerges in infancy and reflects cognitive engagement and processing. SA is critical for learning and has been measured using different methods during screen-based and interactive contexts involving social and nonsocial stimuli. How SA differs by measurement method, context, and stimuli across development in infancy is not fully understood. This 2-year longitudinal study examines attention using one measure of overall looking behavior and three measures of SA-mean look duration, percent time in heart rate-defined SA, and heart rate change during SA-in N=53 infants from 1 to 24 months across four unique task conditions: social videos, nonsocial videos, social interactions (face-to-face play), and nonsocial interactions (toy engagement). Results suggest that developmental changes in attention differ by measurement method, task context (screen or interaction), and task stimulus (social or nonsocial). During social interactions, overall looking and look durations declined after age 3-4 months, whereas heart rate-defined attention measures remained stable. All SA measures were greater for videos than for live interaction conditions throughout the first 6 months, but SA to social and nonsocial stimuli within each task context were equivalent. In the second year of life, SA measured with look durations was greater for social videos compared to other conditions, heart rate-defined SA was greater for social videos compared to nonsocial interactions, and heart rate change during SA was similar across conditions. Together, these results suggest that different measures of attention to social and nonsocial stimuli may reflect unique developmental processes and are important to compare and consider together, particularly when using infant attention as a marker of typical or atypical development. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Attention measure, context, and social content uniquely differentiate developmental trajectories of attention in the first 2 years of life. Overall looking to caregivers during dyadic social interactions declines significantly from 4 to 6 months of age while sustained attention (SA) to caregivers remains stable. Heart rate-defined SA generally differentiates stimulus context where infants show greater SA while watching videos than while engaging with toys.

Consuming Caffeinated or Non-Caffeinated Energy Shots has No Effect on Mood or Performance

Introduction: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of two different energy drinks on mood as well as mental and physical performance. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, subjects (n=60, 22 male, 38 female) were assigned to a caffeinated energy shot (Alpha Brain), a non-caffeinated energy shot (Ginger Rescue), or a placebo with no caffeine. Subjects were pre-tested on the psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), which is a measure of sustained attention, Profile of Mood States, and handgrip strength. Consequently, they consumed either the Alpha Brain shot, Ginger Rescue shot, or the placebo. One hour post-consumption, the assessments were repeated. Results: There were no between-group differences (p&gt;0.05) for any of the assessments regarding the change score (M±SD): PVT – Alpha Brain -3±15 msec, Ginger Rescue -21±60 msec, Placebo 1±21 msec; Total mood disturbance score – Alpha Brain -7.0±14.5, Ginger Rescue -4.1±11.1, Placebo -0.7±8.5; Peak handgrip – Alpha Brain 0.3±3.5 kg, Ginger Rescue 0.3±4.5 kg, Placebo -0.6±3.1 kg. Conclusions: The acute consumption of an energy shot, regardless of whether it is caffeinated, did not affect mood, handgrip strength, or sustained attention.

Late positive potential component and cognitive functioning in occipital area of Mild Cognitive Impairment

AbstractBackgroundMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (Langa &amp; Levine, 2014). It has been suggested that a late event‐related potential (ERP) called the late positive potential (LPP) is related to cognitive functioning including sustained attention and reaction time in people with MCI (Waninger et al., 2018). The LPP in the occipital area was also suggested to be a biomarker of MCI (Liu et al., 2022). However, it remains unclear whether LPP in the occipital area is related to cognitive functioning.MethodWe collected EEG of 50 people with MCI (mean age 72.44±7.96; education: 5.52±1.07) by using a 20‐channel EEG recording system while participants performed the simple vigilance task (SVT). Their reaction time (ms) was taken as a measure of sustained attention. Vienna Reaction Time Task (VRTT) (Schuhfried GmbH, Moedling, Austria) was used to measure processing speed and inhibition while separating motor action (measured as a motor time) and cognitive processing (measured as a reaction time). Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to measure the severity of cognitive impairment (mean score: 26.20±2.44). Correlation analysis was used to analyze the liner relationship between the average LPP amplitude in the occipital areas (Oz, O1, and O2; time window: 400 to 800 ms after stimulus presentation), reaction time on the three versions of the VRTT, and reaction time on the SVT.ResultWe found significant correlations between reaction time on the SVT and motor time on VRTT (S1: p = 0.015; S2: p = 0.075; S3: p = 0.021;), but we found no significant correlations between reaction time on the SVT and VRTT (ps &gt; 0.193), no significant correlations between LPP amplitude in the occipital areas and reaction time on any of the tasks (SVT: p &gt; 0.056, VRTT: ps &gt; 0.288) or between LPP amplitude and motor time on any version of the VRTT (ps &gt; 0.500).ConclusionOur preliminary results indicate that LPP amplitude measured over the occipital area was not significantly associated with sustained attention or inhibition.

32 Pediatric traumatic brain injury and the interruption of premorbid hallucinations: a case study

Objective:Research has shown that a small, yet significant minority of individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) experience psychotic symptoms post-TBI. TBI has also been associated with earlier onset schizophrenia in individuals with a genetic risk for psychosis.The current case presents a 15-year-old female with pre-existing psychotic symptoms (auditory and visual hallucinations [AVH] and delusions) who stopped experiencing AVH a few weeks post-injury. The, at least temporary, cessation of her hallucinations raises several important questions about the neuroanatomy of pediatric psychosis and the impact of TBI on a potentially divergently developing brain.Participants and Methods:Patient is a 15-year-old female who identifies as Hispanic (adopted, of Central American origin). Prior to her injury her developmental history was notable probable neglect prior to adoption, and her psychiatric history was notable for major depressive disorder, anxiety, chronic insomnia, and AVH. AVH were religious in nature and involved command hallucinations. AVH had been attributed to her chronic insomnia, per medical records. Participant was in a motorcycle accident with her caregiver and sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (GCS=3-8). Medical workup, including MRI, indicated a right basal ganglia hemorrhage, right thalamic hemorrhage, as well as injury of the brain stem at the pons, resulting in left-sided hemiparesis. She was ultimately diagnosed with traumatic right-sided intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic subdural hematoma, traumatic hemorrhage of basal ganglia, traumatic encephalopathy, and a left homonymous hemianopia (left visual field cut) from her right temporal parietal injury. She received a neuropsychological evaluation 10 months post-TBI. Testing included: subtests of the WISC-V, measures of sustained attention and executive functioning, tasks of orientation and memory, and questionnaire measures assessing social-emotional, executive, and adaptive functioning. Parent and adolescent clinical interviews were conducted.Results:Results indicated appropriate orientation, broadly intact intelligence presumed consistent with premorbid functioning, average sustained attention, and deficits in aspects executive functioning, visual-motor processing speed, and fine motor skills. Although she performed well on objective measures of memory, she reported significant long term social memory loss (e.g., difficulties remembering friends and memories of emotional connectedness) during the clinical interview. Interview and questionnaire measures also indicated continued challenges with depression and anxiety, as well as post-traumatic personality changes, tics, and symptoms of trauma. Patient reported that her hallucinations, both visual and auditory, stopped early in her recovery post-TBI; patient’s premorbid delusions were still present post-TBI.Conclusions:This case raises questions related to the impact of structural or axonal injury to regions or networks in the brain that may be associated with psychosis. It also adds to a minimal literature examining AVH in pediatric TBI. Using the current literature as a framework we will explore 1) the injury to this patient’s thalamus as it relates to both her emotional memory deficits as well as the interruption of her AVH hallucinations, and 2) the relationship between her visual field cut and the interruption of her visual hallucinations. Overall, this case study highlights the unique nature of the developing brain both in terms of the TBI and psychosis.

89 A Pilot Study of a Parent-Delivered Game-Based Cognitive Intervention in Children Born Preterm

Objective:Preterm birth (gestational age &lt; 37 weeks) is associated with delays in the development of executive functions and their precursors, including controlling attention and retaining task-relevant information. In the current study, we aim to examine the potential therapeutic effects of a novel cognitive tablet game, Dino Island (DI), and its implementation through a parent-delivered intervention program on cognitive development in preterm children.Participants and Methods:In total, 34 participants (M = 4.99 years old) were recruited from a perinatal follow-up clinic or through the community in Calgary, AB. Participants were randomly assigned to either the DI intervention (n = 20) or tablet-based educational control games (C; n = 14). Parents completed a 2-hour training program that included information about how to support their child through the intervention using behavioural supports and metacognitive strategies. Neuropsychological assessment was done prior to beginning the intervention and after 12 weeks of intervention. Various tests were used to assess near transfer measures of sustained attention, shifting attention, executive function, verbal working memory and inhibition, and to assess far transfer measures of language skills and early numeracy. Families tracked weekly progress using journals, with the goal of 3-4 30-minute sessions per week. Multiple ANCOVA analyses were run to analyze quantitative data using the pre-test score as a covariate.Results:A total of 21 participants completed the 12 weeks of intervention (DI: n = 11 and C: n = 10). Those who did not complete the intervention withdrew from the study or were unable to make a follow-up assessment due to COVID-19 restrictions. Groups did not significantly differ in age (DI: M = 4.92, C: M = 4.61), sex (DI: Female = 6, C: Female = 6), or in weeks preterm (DI: M = 29.49 weeks, C: M = 32.7 weeks).Multiple ANCOVAs were run to determine the effect of either the DI or Control intervention on the cognitive measures after controlling for the pre-intervention score of participants. As compared to the Control group, the DI intervention group showed near transfer gains in sustained attention (F(1,7) = 5.1, p = 0.043), and executive functions (F(2,18) = 5.41, p = 0.014), as well as far transfer gains in phonetic awareness (F(2,16) = 11.63, p = 0.001), vocabulary and oral language skills (F(2,7) = 5.54, p = 0.014), and number identification fluency (F(2,17) = 11.37, p = 0.001). Detailed analyses will be discussed in the poster.Conclusions:This study provides preliminary support for the potential efficacy of the DI intervention when delivered by parents to children born preterm. Pre-post testing after 12 weeks of intervention indicated both near and far transfer gains. These results highlight the benefits of utilizing a tablet game format to facilitate collaborative parent-child interactions in cognitive intervention. This intervention provides a potential affordable and engaging alternative to existing cognitive interventions. Further investigation with a larger and more diverse sample is required.

88 Light and Vigorous Bouts of Acute Aerobic Exercise Positively Impact Sustained Attention and Inhibition but not Pattern Separation in Young Adults

Objective:The current study had two primary objectives: 1) To assess the dose-response relationship between acute bouts of aerobic exercise intensity and performance in multiple cognitive domains (episodic memory, attention, and executive function) and 2) To replicate and extend the literature by examining the dose-response relationship between aerobic exercise intensity and pattern separation.Participants and Methods:18 young adults (mean age = 21.6, sd = 2.6; mean education = 13.9, sd = 3.4; 50% female) were recruited from The Ohio State University and surrounding area (Columbus, OH). Participants completed control (no exercise), light intensity, and vigorous intensity exercise conditions across three counterbalanced appointments. For each participant, all three appointments occurred at approximately the same time of day with at least 2 days between appointments. Following the rest or exercise conditions and after an approximately 7 minute delay, participants completed a Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST; Stark et al., 2019) to assess pattern separation. This task was always administered first as we attempted to replicate previous studies and further clarify the relationship between acute bouts of aerobic exercise and pattern separation by implementing an exercise stimulus that varied in intensity. After the MST, three brief cognitive tasks (roughly 5 min each) were administered in a counterbalanced order: a gradual-onset continuous performance task (gradCPT; Esterman et al., 2013), the flanker task from the NIH toolbox, and a face-name episodic memory task. Here we report results from the gradCPT, which assesses sustained attention and inhibitory control. Heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion were collected to validate the rest and exercise conditions. Repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to assess the relationship between exercise condition and dependent measures of sustained attention and inhibitory control and pattern separation.Results:One-way repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed a main effect of exercise condition on gradCPT task performance for task discrimination ability (d') and commission error rate (p’s &lt; .05). Pairwise comparisons revealed task discrimination ability was significantly higher following the light intensity exercise condition versus the control condition. Commission error rate was significantly lower for both the light and vigorous exercise conditions compared to the control condition. For the MST, two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed an expected significant main effect of lure similarity on task performance; however, there was not a significant main effect of exercise intensity on task performance (or a significant interaction).Conclusions:The current study indicated that acute bouts of exercise improve both sustained attention and inhibitory control as measured with the gradCPT. We did not replicate previous work reporting that acute bouts of exercise improve pattern separation in young adults. Our results further indicate that vigorous exercise did not detrimentally impact or improve pattern separation performance. Our results indicate that light intensity exercise is sufficient to enhance sustained attention and inhibitory control, as there were no significant differences in performance following light versus vigorous exercise.

Interpersonal Trauma Effects on Adolescent Depression: The Moderating Role of Neurophysiological Responses to Positive Interpersonal Images.

Trauma exposure is associated with a heightened risk for depression and such risk is thought to vary based on the type of traumatic events (e.g., interpersonal, including abuse and domestic violence, or non-interpersonal, including accidents or natural disasters). Depression is often accompanied by altered emotional reactivity, and the late positive potential (LPP) serves as a reliable neurophysiological measure of sustained attention towards emotional stimuli, raising questions regarding the role of the LPP in moderating trauma effects on depression. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 201 adolescents aged 14-17years (61.2% female) who were oversampled for current depression and elevated risk of depression based on maternal history. Clinical interviews were conducted to assess diagnoses and lifetime trauma exposure, and participants reported on current depressive symptoms. Electroencephalogram (EEG) was continuously recorded while participants completed a previously validated interpersonal emotional images task. Cumulative trauma (CT) and interpersonal trauma (IPT) were both associated with greater depressive symptoms, but non-interpersonal trauma (NIPT) was not significantly related to depressive symptoms. The association between IPT and depressive symptoms was moderated by the LPP to positive interpersonal images, such that IPT-exposed adolescents with blunted neural responses to such images showed the greatest symptoms. This result was specific to IPT, and the LPP to threatening interpersonal images did not significantly moderate the effects of IPT on depressive symptoms. These findings highlight the unique effects of interpersonal trauma on depressive symptoms and elucidate a potential vulnerability linking trauma exposure to depression risk among adolescents.

The sustained attention to response task: Validation of a non-numerical parallel form

Many activities in daily life rely on the ability to continuously keep attention on task requirements. Patients with acquired brain injury often suffer from deficits in sustained attention that impact quality of life and complicate rehabilitation. The sustained attention to response task (SART) is a commonly used go/no-go task in the assessment of sustained attention. However, its feasibility for patients with acquired brain injury could be questioned considering deficits in alphanumerical processing following brain damage. We investigated whether a SART with sinusoidal gratings instead of digits can be used to assess sustained attention. The Gratings SART and Digits SART were administered in a random and fixed sequence to 48 cognitively healthy participants. Performance of the neurotypical individuals on the random and fixed Gratings SART was only moderately different from and correlated with performance on the random and fixed Digits SART. As a proof of concept, the SARTs were also administered to 11 cases with acquired brain injury. Performance in the random and fixed variants of both the Gratings SART and Digits SART was sensitive to cognitive impairments of cases with acquired brain injury. In conclusion, the SART with sinusoidal gratings holds promise as a tool to (re-)assess sustained attention in clinical practice. Further research is critical to investigate whether its performance accurately predicts sustained attention in daily life since we failed to find a significant correlation between performance on any of the SARTs and a self-reported measure of sustained attention.

Post-Concussion Symptoms, Cognition and Brain Connectivity in an Australian Undergraduate Population: A Quantitative Electroencephalography Study

An estimated 99 in 100,000 people experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI), with 85% being mild (mTBI) in nature. The Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS), is a reliable and valid measure of post-mTBI symptoms; however, diagnostic specificity is challenging due to high symptom rates in the general population. Understanding the neurobiological characteristics that distinguish high and low PCSS raters may provide further clarification on this phenomenon. To explore the neurobiological characteristics of post-concussion symptoms through the association between PCSS scores, brain network connectivity (using quantitative electroencephalography; qEEG) and cognition in undergraduates. high PCSS scorers will have (1) more network dysregulation and (2) more cognitive dysfunction compared to the low PCSS scorers. A sample of 40 undergraduates were divided into high and low PCSS scorers. Brain connectivity was measured using qEEG, and cognition was measured via neuropsychological measures of sustained attention, inhibition, immediate attention, working memory, processing speed and inhibition/switching. Contrary to expectations, greater frontoparietal network dysregulation was seen in the low PCSS score group (p = 0.003). No significant difference in cognitive dysfunction was detected between high and low PCSS scorers. Post-hoc analysis in participants who had experienced mTBI revealed greater network dysregulation in those reporting a more recent mTBI. Measuring post-concussion symptoms alone is not necessarily informative about changes in underlying neural mechanisms. In an exploratory subset analysis, brain network dysregulation appears to be greater in the early post-injury phase compared to later. Further analysis of underlying PCSS constructs and how to measure these in a non-athlete population and clinical samples is warranted.

Neurophysiology of sustained attention in early infancy: Investigating longitudinal relations with recognition memory outcomes

The ability to sustain attention is a critical cognitive domain that emerges in infancy and is predictive of a multitude of cognitive processes. Here, we used a heart rate (HR) defined measure of sustained attention to assess corresponding changes in frontal electroencephalography (EEG) power at 3 months of age. Second, we examined how the neural underpinnings of HR-defined sustained attention were associated with sustained attention engagement. Third, we evaluated if neural or behavioral sustained attention measures at 3-months predicted subsequent recognition memory scores at 9 months of age. Seventy-five infants were included at 3 months of age and provided usable attention and EEG data and 25 infants returned to the lab at 9 months and provided usable recognition memory data. The current study focuses on oscillatory power in the theta (4–6 Hz) frequency band during phases of HR-defined sustained attention and inattention phases. Results revealed that theta power was significantly higher during phases of sustained attention. Second, higher theta power during sustained attention was positively associated with proportion of time in sustained attention. Third, longitudinal analyses indicated a significant positive association between theta power during sustained attention on 9-month visual paired comparison scores such that higher theta power predicted higher visual paired comparison scores at 9-months. These results highlight the interrelation of the attention and arousal systems which have longitudinal implications for subsequent recognition memory processes.

The neuropsychological correlates of (sluggish) cognitive tempo scales in school-aged children

ABSTRACT Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) is a neuropsychiatric construct including lethargy, behavioral sluggishness, and confusion. A growing number of studies in the literature suggest that this set of symptoms refers to neuropsychological constructs such as sustained attention. However, studies focusing on SCT and its neuropsychological correlates in developmental age are scarce. The present study aims to fill this gap. The Child and Adolescent Behavior Inventory (CABI – Teacher and Parent versions, also including the school functioning scale, and the Child Concentration Inventory (CCI-2) were administered to a sample of 128 Italian primary-school children (57.6% F, mean age 8.81, SD 1.07); the neuropsychological constructs involved in the study were sustained attention and reaction times to two computerized tasks. Bivariate non-parametric correlation analyses yielded significant negative associations between teacher-referred SCT and measures of sustained attention (e.g., the Attentional Network Test and the Hearts and Flowers task) as well as CABI-T school-functioning scale; a small-to-moderate positive correlation was found between CABI-T SCT scores and mean reaction times, as a measure of the slowness of behavioral responses on the Attentional Network Test: this result would appear to represent a fine operationalization of the SCT-characteristic of behavioral sluggishness. Implications of these results for operationalizing the SCT construct in developmental age are discussed.

3.43 More Severe Executive Function Impairments Are Associated With Increases in Frontal Theta and Decreases in Beta and Gamma EEG Power in Young Children With ASD

3.43 More Severe Executive Function Impairments Are Associated With Increases in Frontal Theta and Decreases in Beta and Gamma EEG Power in Young Children With ASD

Signal in the noise: Dimensions of predictability in the home auditory environment are associated with neurobehavioral measures of early infant sustained attention.

The home auditory environment influences the development of early language abilities, and excessive noise exposure is increasingly linked with deficits in language and reading scores in children. However, fewer studies have considered the role of noise exposure in shaping the development of attentional processing in early infancy, a foundational neurocognitive skill relevant for learning. Here, we used passive at-home auditory recording to investigate how multiple dimensions of infants' home auditory environments, including both the quantity and the predictability of auditory input, impacts neural and behavioral measures of sustained attention in a sociodemographically diverse sample of 3-month-old infants (N= 98 infants, 62 males; age M=3.48 months, SD=0.39; 52% Hispanic/Latino). Results indicated that infants who were exposed to more predictable patterns of auditory input in the home demonstrated longer overall time in sustained attention during laboratory assessments. In addition, infants' who experienced more predictable auditory input also demonstrated greater relative increases in electroencephalography frontal theta power during periods of sustained attention, a neural marker relevant to information processing and attentional control. These findings provide novel evidence into the importance of the predictability of early environmental inputs in shaping developing cortical circuitry and attentional systems from the first months of postnatal life.

A FEASIBILITY STUDY EXPLORING THE EFFICACY OF COGNITIVE REHABILITATION THERAPY FOR PAEDIATRIC HIV IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA: A FOCUS ON SUSTAINED ATTENTION

Despite advances in combination antiretroviral therapy (cARTs), children in Sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience neurocognitive deficits due to the virus crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Based on the principles of neuroplasticity, our study sought to investigate the feasibility of introducing a pencil and paper cognitive rehabilitation tool called Brainwave-R, to ameliorate the effects of HIV neurocognition amongst children from a low socioeconomic background in rural South Africa. Five HIV positive and six HIV negative children were assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group underwent two months of cognitive rehabilitation therapy to remediate sustained attention, using Brainwave-R, whereas the noncontact control group took part in placebo activities. Sustained attention measures were taken before and after the intervention training sessions, using a sustained attention subtest. The control group later received cognitive intervention three months following the conclusion of the research study. A Mann Whitney U Test revealed that the experimental group (Mdn=38.50) did not differ significantly from the control group (Mdn=37.00) after the cognitive rehabilitation intervention, U= 12.00, z= -.55, p= 0.66, r= -0.17. A Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test found that there was a significant improvement from pretest scores (Mdn=31.00) to post test scores (Mdn=38.00) following the rehabilitation for HIV positive participants in the sample, T=15.00, z = -2.02, p= 0.04, r= -0.90. The findings of our study raise the feasibility of a pencil and paper cognitive rehabilitation method to supplement antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in paediatric HIV.

278-OR: ADA Presidents' Select Abstract: Impact of Overnight Blood Glucose on Next-Day Functioning in T1D

Introduction: While people with T1D report that blood glucose (BG) fluctuations affect their day-to-day functioning, these relationships are poorly understood. Using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) , accelerometry, and momentary surveys and cognitive tasks, we sought to understand how various BG metrics during sleeping hours impact functioning the following day. Methods: Participants wore a blinded CGM and accelerometer for 10-14 days, during which they completed surveys and cognitive tasks 5-6 times per day. Using dynamic structural equation modeling, we evaluated the within-person impact of overnight BG on the following day’s functioning, while controlling for the prior day’s functioning. BG variables included % time &amp;lt;70 mg/dL, % time &amp;gt;250 mg/dL, and coefficient of variation (CV) . Functioning variables included cognitive measures of sustained attention and perceptual speed; daily step count; and self-reported fatigue, task performance, and net activity demand. Results: Among 127 adults with T1D (41±15 yrs, 46% male, 39% Latinx, 35% White, 10% Black, 4% Asian, 12% multiethnic/other) , all three BG variables predicted changes in next day functioning. More time &amp;lt;70 predicted poorer sustained attention (standardized b= -0.06) , while more time &amp;gt;250 predicted more fatigue (0.09) and lower step count (-0.12) (all p&amp;lt;0.05) . Higher CV had the broadest impact, predicting poorer sustained attention (-0.06) , more fatigue (0.05) , and less engagement in demanding activities (-0.05) (all p&amp;lt;0.05) . Conclusion: Our findings indicate that overnight BG impacts cognition, physical activity, fatigue, and activity engagement the following day. While effect sizes are small, the cumulative impact of these decrements in function should be considered in the context of a life-long disorder. The consistent findings among diverse outcomes, including both objective and self-report measures, strengthen confidence in the overall conclusion that overnight BG has wide-ranging implications for functioning in adults with T1D. Disclosure E. Pyatak: Research Support; Abbott Diabetes. D. Spruijt-Metz: None. S. Schneider: None. J.P. Crandall: Research Support; Abbott Diabetes. A.L. Peters: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Shouti, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S. Research Support; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Stock/Shareholder; Teladoc Health. Other Relationship; Omada Health, Inc. H. Jin: None. S. Agarwal: Advisory Panel; Medtronic. Consultant; Beta Bionics, Inc. L.T. Pham: None. A. Ali: None. C.J. Hoogendoorn: None. G. Crespo-Ramos: None. R. Basile: None. J.S. Gonzalez: Consultant; Virta Health Corp. Funding National Institutes of Health (1R01DK121298-01)

Attentional problems occur across multiple psychiatric disorders and are not specific for ADHD.

Attentional problems are common and have been associated with multiple psychiatric disorders. This study examined problems of sustained attention across a range of psychiatric disorders using a validated computerized trans-diagnostic attentional paradigm (a continuous performance task). We hypothesized that multiple psychiatric disorders, particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), would be associated with pronounced attentional problems. Totally, 576 non-treatment seeking participants (aged 18-29years) were enrolled from general community settings, provided demographic variables, and underwent clinical assessments to detect mental health disorders. Each participant underwent the rapid visual information processing task, a validated computerized test measuring sustained attention. The two measures of sustained attention were the sensitivity index and target detection (proportion of targets detected). The profile of attentional deficits was examined across different disorders using z-scores relative to controls. Participants with social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bulimia nervosa, and intermittent explosive disorder showed the greater impairment in target sensitivity, all with effect sizes of at least 0.8. Target detection was impaired across multiple disorders, with OCD and binge eating disorder exhibiting the most pronounced impairment. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and compulsive sexual behavior were associated with particularly spared performance on both measures. These data indicate that impaired attention is non-specific for ADHD and in fact several other disorders are associated with markedly larger deficits. Instead of clinicians assuming sustained attention problems are due to ADHD, a variety of disorders should be screened for when people report attentional problems. Future work should examine the contribution of comorbidities and psychoactive substances (prescribed or illicit) to the profiles identified.

Which Measures From a Sustained Attention Task Best Predict ADHD Group Membership?

Difficulty with sustaining attention to a task is a hallmark of ADHD. It would be useful to know which measures of sustained attention best predict a diagnosis of ADHD. Participants were 129 children with a diagnosis of ADHD and 129 matched controls who completed the fixed Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART). The number of commission and omission errors, standard deviation of response time (SDRT), tau, fast and slow frequency variability, d-prime, and mu were able to successfully classify children with and without ADHD. The mean response time, criterion, and sigma were not able to classify participants. The best classifiers were d-prime (0.75 Area Under the Receiver Operated Characteristic), tau (.74), SDRT (0.74), omission errors (0.72), commission errors (0.71), and SFAUS (0.70). This list of the best classifier measures derived from the SART may prove useful for the planning of future studies.