Attention Task Performance Research Articles

Sociodemographic factors, cognitive performance and cognitive reserve in brazilian High Performance Older Adults (HPOAs)

Given the increasing aging population, investigating the cognitive functioning of older adults is crucial. Various factors are associated with both cognitive decline and preservation. High Performance Older Adults (HPOAs) are a subset of older individuals demonstrating exceptional cognitive abilities, often exhibiting phenotypic characteristics such as superior cognitive skills. This study aims to investigate the relationship between sociodemographic factors, cognitive reserve and cognitive performance in a sample of brazilian older adults identified as having high cognitive abilities. To examine this phenomenon, data were collected via a sociodemographic questionnaire and cognitive assessments. Of an initial sample of 62 participants, 54 completed the study (38.8% men, 61.1% women). Analysis revealed 12 participants (22.2%) met HPOA criteria, while 42 (77.7%) were classified as Standard Performance Older Adults (SPOAs). HPOAs demonstrated significantly better performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) in trials A1-A5, A6, A7, and Recognition Memory (p < 0.001); on the Rey Complex Figure in Immediate and Delayed Recall (p = 0.006), and on the Trail Making Test A (TMT A) (p = 0.003). Significant differences were also found in the analysis items of the Cognitive Reserve Scale (CRS) (p < 0.001; p = 0.008; p = 0.002). The findings reveal that HPOAs exhibit superior performance in episodic memory, attention and processing speed tasks. The model coefficients in logistic regression revealed a statistically significant association between Total Points in CRS and HPOA (β = 0.0508, standard error = 0.0147, z = 3.45, p < 0.001). These results emphasize the importance of cognitive reserve for preserving cognitive performance in the elderly. New research should aim to elucidate the complex interplay of markers associated with HPOAs, employing rigorous research protocols sensitive to sociocultural context.

Sleep Fragmentation Results in Novel Set-shifting Decrements in GCR-exposed Male and Female Rats.

The prolonged exposure to multiple spaceflight stressors during long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars will be challenging to the physical and mental health of the astronauts. Ground-based studies have reported that attentional set-shifting task (ATSET) performance is impaired after space radiation (SR) exposure. At certain times during deep-space missions, astronauts will likely have to contend with the combined impacts of SR and sleep perturbation. In rats, poor quality, fragmented sleep adversely impacts performance in multiple cognitive tasks, including the ATSET task. While both SR and sleep perturbations independently cause cognitive performance deficits, the incidence, severity and exact nature of those decrements following combined exposure to these flight stressors is largely unknown. This study established the impact that a single night of fragmented sleep has on ATSET performance in both male and female rats exposed to 10 cGy of galactic cosmic ray simulation (GCRsim). The GCRsim beam is a complex beam that mimics the mass and energy spectra of the SR particles that an astronaut will be exposed to within the spacecraft. Rats that had no obvious ATSET performance decrements when normally rested were subjected to fragmented sleep and their ATSET performance reassessed. Sleep fragmentation resulted in significant ATSET performance decrements in GCRsim-exposed rats, with specific performance decrements being observed in stages where attention or cue shifting is extensively used. Performance decrements in these stages are rarely observed after SR exposure. While both male and female rats exhibited latent sleep-related performance decrements, these were sex dependent, with male and female rats exhibiting different types of performance decrements (either reduced processing speed or task completion efficiency) in different stages of the ATSET task. This study suggests that SR-induced cognitive impairment may not be fully evident in normally rested rats, with an underestimation of both the incidence and nature of performance decrements that could occur when multiple space flight stressors are present. These data suggest that that there may be synergistic interactions between multiple space flight stressors that may not be easily predicted from their independent actions.

Dopaminergic modulation of visual attention in the prefrontal cortex

An essential cognitive ability that enables creatures to interpret pertinent information from their surroundings only is visual attention. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is involved in modulating visual attention, and this review focuses on the dopaminergic aspects of this process. The PFC is crucial for top-down attention management, improving visual responses, and coordinating neural activity. This is especially true of the frontal eye field (FEF). Dopamine is an important neuromodulator that directly influences the PFC's visual signal processing by adjusting sensory input and the variability of neuronal response. The substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) send dopaminergic pathways to the prefrontal cortex, where D1 and D2 receptors have different functions in attention regulation. Dopamine receptor modification has been shown in studies involving rodents and primates to have a major effect on visual attention and cognitive task performance. The exact mechanisms underlying dopamine's involvement in executive control are still unknown despite a great deal of research, which calls for more study, especially in rodent models. The present review highlights the significance of dopamine in the domain of high-level cognitive regulation and advocates for more investigation to clarify its mechanisms in visual attention.

Too much of a good thing? A multilevel examination of listening to music at work.

Music listening has proliferated in the workplace, yet its effects have been overlooked, and classic investigations offer conflicting results. To advance our understanding, we draw from self-regulation and resource allocation theories to suggest that listening to music has curvilinear effects on attentional focus and performance on work tasks and that willpower belief is a key boundary condition. We test these hypotheses across three studies: a pilot study of 108 employees from a software company who took part in a 2-week experience-sampling methodology study and self-rated their music listening and performance, a laboratory study (Study 1) of 252 undergraduate students in which task attentional focus and objective performance on proofreading tasks were captured across repeated trials while listening to music, and a 3-week experience-sampling methodology study (Study 2) of 247 employees that included a within-person manipulation of music listening (little to no music vs. 1 hr longer than usual vs. 3 hr longer than usual), daily self-ratings of task attentional focus and task performance, and weekly coworker ratings of task performance. We find mixed support for our hypotheses. Time spent listening to music exhibited an inverted, U-shaped relationship with self-rated (pilot study) and objective (Study 1) task performance. Individuals with higher willpower belief maintained higher levels of task attentional focus regardless of the amount of music they listened to (Studies 1 and 2), and the curvilinear relationship of reported music listening with self-rated task performance was more pronounced for individuals who believe that willpower is limited (pilot study and Study 2). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

STN-PFC circuit related to attentional fluctuations during non-movement decision-making

Decision-making is a cognitive process, in which participants need to attend to relevant information and ignore the irrelevant information. Previous studies have described a set of cortical areas important for attention. It is unclear whether subcortical areas also serve a role. The subthalamic nucleus (STN), a part of basal ganglia, is traditionally considered a critical node in the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamus-cortico network. Given the location of the STN and its widespread connections with cortical and subcortical brain regions, the STN plays an important role in motor and non-motor cognitive processing. We would like to know if STN is also related to fluctuations in attentional task performance, and how the STN interacts with prefrontal cortical regions during the process. We examined neural activities within STN covaried with lapses of attention (defined as behavior error). We found that decreased neural activities in STN were associated with sustained attention. By examining connectivity across STN and various sub-regions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), we found that decreased connectivity across areas was associated with sustained attention. Our results indicated that decreased STN activities were associated with sustained attention, and the STN-PFC circuit supported this process.

The relationship between changes in functional networks and cognitive changes and PTSD symptoms in maltreated children before and after TF-CBT

Several studies have found that maltreated children show neuropsychological deficits in various cognitive domains such as memory and attention, language, visuospatial skills, emotional regulation, social cognition, and executive functioning. In terms of functional connectivity, abused children show an increased connectivity in the salience network (SN) as opposed to a decreased connectivity within the default (DMN) and executive networks (CEN). Children who suffer maltreatment may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which in turn, can increase psychological and cognitive sequelae. The present study examined the relation between resting state functional connectivity (RSFC), PTSD symptoms and neuropsychological profiles in abused children before and after following a psychological therapy named Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, neuropsychological (attention, memory and executive functions) and clinical evaluations were performed in 13 abused children with PTSD (mean age=8.77 years old, S.D.=1.83) recruited from a non-governmental shelter in Mexico and in a control group of 10 children from the general population (mean age = 9.57 years old, S.D. = 1.91). Both groups were matched according to age and gender. Changes in PTSD symptoms correlated with changes in the left insula node. Additionally, significant correlations were identified between changes in the average connectivity of the DMN, intra-nodal connectivity of lateral parietal and medial prefrontal regions, and performance in attention and memory tasks.

Differences in Electroencephalography Power Levels between Poor and Good Performance in Attentional Tasks.

Decreased attentional function causes problems in daily life. However, a quick and easy evaluation method of attentional function has not yet been developed. Therefore, we are searching for a method to evaluate attentional function easily and quickly. This study aimed to collect basic data on the features of electroencephalography (EEG) during attention tasks to develop a new method for evaluating attentional function using EEG. Twenty healthy young adults participated; we examined cerebral activity during a Clinical Assessment for Attention using portable EEG devices. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to assess differences in power levels of EEG during tasks between the low- and high-attention groups. The findings revealed that the high-attention group showed significantly higher EEG power levels in the δ wave of L-temporal and bilateral parietal lobes, as well as in the β and γ waves of the R-occipital lobe, than did the low-attention group during digit-forward, whereas the high-attention group showed significantly higher EEG power levels in the θ wave of R-frontal and the α wave of bilateral frontal lobes during digit-backward. Notably, lower θ, α, and β bands of the right hemisphere found in the low-attention group may be key elements to detect attentional deficit.

Revisiting Cognitive Deficits in Outpatients with Psychotic Disorders: A Transdiagnostic Comparison of Cognitive Performance While Accounting for Putative Confounding Factors.

Recent research suggests that cognitive deficits in individuals with psychotic disorders could be overestimated because poor cognitive test performance is partly attributable to non-cognitive factors. To further test this, we included non-hospitalized individuals with psychotic disorders (PSY, n = 38), individuals with attenuated psychotic symptoms (n = 40), individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorders (n = 39), and healthy controls (n = 38). Relevant cognitive domains were assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. Putative confounding non-cognitive factors-heart rate, self-reported stress, negative affect, performance-related beliefs, and actigraphy-derived sleep-were assessed before cognitive testing. A multivariate analysis of covariance was calculated to examine group differences in cognitive performance while controlling for non-cognitive factors. PSY showed decreased test performance in graphomotor speed, attention, and verbal tasks compared to the other groups, whereas non-verbal/visual-spatial tasks were unimpaired. After accounting for non-cognitive factors, group differences diminished in verbal learning, whereas differences in the other domains remained significant. Against our hypotheses, the present findings indicate that some cognitive deficits in PSY cannot be attributed to momentary confounding factors.

An exploratory, randomised, crossover study to investigate the effect of nicotine on cognitive function in healthy adult smokers who use an electronic cigarette after a period of smoking abstinence

BackgroundAs well as being associated with serious negative health outcomes, smoking has been reported to have an array of physiological and psychological effects, including effects on mood and cognitive function. Post-cessation, loss of such effects (including temporary deficits in cognitive function) have been cited as reasons for resumption of smoking. The effects of e-cigarettes and nicotine delivered by e-cigarettes on these functions have not been widely researched but may play a role in the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a satisfactory alternative to combustible cigarettes for people who smoke, and in encouraging individuals who would otherwise continue to smoke, to transition to e-cigarettes.MethodsThe study was an exploratory, randomised, partially-blinded, single-centre, five-arm crossover trial that recruited 40 healthy male and female people who smoke. At 5 study sessions, following a 12-h period of nicotine abstinence, participants were randomly assigned to use either a combustible cigarette, an e-cigarette of three varying nicotine strengths (18 mg/mL, 12 mg/mL or 0 mg/mL respectively) or observe a no product usage session. Participants completed pre- and post-product usage assessments to examine the product usage effect on cognitive performance (using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB)), subjective mood and smoking urges.ResultsA significant improvement in sustained attention task performance was observed following use of both the nicotine containing e-cigarettes and combustible cigarette compared to no product use. Additionally, there were no significant differences between the nicotine containing products, indicating that nicotine use enhanced sustained attention regardless of delivery format. Nicotine containing e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use also significantly improved overall mood of participants compared to no product use, with no significant differences observed between the nicotine containing products. Nicotine containing e-cigarette and combustible cigarette use significantly reduced smoking urges compared to no product use, though combustible cigarette use elicited the greatest reduction in smoking urges.ConclusionsOverall, the nicotine containing products improved sustained attention and mood while reducing smoking urges, with the studied e-cigarettes having comparable effects to combustible cigarettes across the assessed cognitive parameters and mood measures. These results demonstrate the potential role of e-cigarettes to provide an acceptable alternative for combustible cigarettes among people who would otherwise continue to smoke.Trial registration ISRCTN (identifier: ISRCTN35376793).

Association Between EEG Microarousal During Nocturnal Sleep and Next-Day Selective Attention in Mild Sleep-Restricted Healthy Undergraduates.

To explore whether sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) microarousals of different standard durations predict daytime mood and attention performance in healthy individuals after mild sleep restriction. Sixteen (nine female) healthy college students were recruited to examine the correlations between nocturnal EEG microarousals of different standard durations (≥3 s, ≥5 s, ≥7 s, ≥9 s) under mild sleep restriction (1.5 h) and the following morning's subjective alertness, mood, sustained attention, and selective attention task performance. Results revealed that mild sleep restriction significantly reduced subjective alertness and positive mood, while having no significant effect on negative mood, sustained attention and selective attention performance. The number of microarousals (≥5 s) was negatively associated with positive mood at 6:30. The number of microarousals was significantly and positively correlated with the response time difference value of disengagement component of the selective attention task at around 7:30 (≥5 s and ≥7 s) and 9:00 (≥5 s). The number of microarousals (≥7 s) was significantly and positively correlated with the inaccuracy difference value of orientation component of the selective attention task at around 9:00. The number of EEG microarousals during sleep in healthy adults with mild sleep restriction was significantly and negatively related to their daytime positive affect while positively associated with the deterioration of disengagement and orientation of selective attention performance, but this link is dependent on the standard duration of microarousals, test time and the type of task.

The Complexity of Reading Revealed by a Study with Healthy Older Adults.

Aging, even when healthy, involves changes in cognitive functioning that can gradually affect the everyday activities and well-being of older people. Reading, which requires the integrity of several functions and their integration, is important to maintaining high cognitive and emotional stimulation over time. Our study aimed to investigate whether reading ability declines with aging. To explore also why reading would decline, we explored the changes in the performance of visual and attention tasks. A group of 58 neurologically healthy older people aged from 65 to 75 underwent neuropsychological assessment to investigate their global cognitive functioning, reading skills, crowding, and attention components. We found a decline in reading abilities as a function of aging (β = 0.34, p < 0.05). We did not find an increase in crowding or difficulties in visual acuity. Furthermore, we found no decline with age in tasks of simple reaction times, visuospatial attention, and other single components of attention. Interestingly, we instead found a worsening with age in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (β = -0.26, p < 0.05), involving attention, working memory, and processing speed, which explains part of the reading decline. Our results suggest that task complexity is a fundamental aspect to account for aging changes.

Altered functional connectivity in default mode network maintains attention task performance in school-age children with frontal lobe tumor

This study examines functional brain network changes in children with frontal lobe tumors (FLT). Ten pediatric FLT patients from Beijing Tiantan Hospital and 20 healthy children were compared in terms of cognitive performance and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) connectivity. The FLT group showed lower cognitive performance, particularly in visual and working memory domains, but had comparable attention abilities to the healthy controls. There were notable differences in connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and sensorimotor network (SMN) in both groups. The FLT group also displayed a significant reduction in local efficiency in the left lateral parietal area within the DMN. Importantly, reduced DMN-SMN connections and increased DMN-lateral prefrontal cortex connectivity may facilitate maintaining attention and memory tasks in FLT children. This study sheds light on how the brains of children with FLT adapt, preserving “normal” attention functions despite frontal lobe damage.

Differences in visuospatial cognition among table tennis players of different skill levels: an event-related potential study.

This study aimed to examine the influence of sport skill levels on behavioural and neuroelectric performance in visuospatial attention and memory visuospatial tasks were administered to 54 participants, including 18 elite and 18 amateur table tennis players and 18 nonathletes, while event-related potentials were recorded. In all the visuospatial attention and memory conditions, table tennis players displayed faster reaction times than nonathletes, regardless of skill level, although there was no difference in accuracy between groups. In addition, regardless of task conditions, both player groups had a greater P3 amplitude than nonathletes, and elite players exhibited a greater P3 amplitude than amateurs players. The results of this study indicate that table tennis players, irrespective of their skill level, exhibit enhanced visuospatial capabilities. Notably, athletes at the elite level appear to benefit from an augmented allocation of attentional resources when engaging in visuospatial tasks.

Rhodiola and green tea, combined with magnesium and B-vitamins, may improve the brain’s processing capacity under stress

Stress can have a negative impact on cognitive functions. This secondary analysis from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on moderately stressed healthy adults, showed the positive acute effects of a combination of magnesium, B vitamins (B6, B9, B12), rhodiola and green tea extracts enriched in L-theanine on brain EEG theta activity during attentional task performance conducted under acute social stress conditions.

A Comparative Study of Real and Virtual Environment via Psychological and Physiological Responses

Currently, immersive virtual environments (IVE) are widely used in fields such as architecture and environmental psychology. These simulated environments allow for a detailed evaluation of how different designs impact users’ perception and interaction with the built environment, under controlled conditions and without incurring high costs. The validity of these IVEs is related to their capacity to evoke a participant’s response similar to that of the space they are simulating. This paper presents a validation study of a virtual classroom with two phases: the analysis of the sense of presence in the generated IVE and the comparison of the psychological and neurophysiological response of subjects in the two environments (physical vs. IVE). The psychological response captures cognitive processes via the performance of attention and memory tasks. The physiological response records the subject’s activity monitored via electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and electrodermal activity. The results showed that the psychological and physiological responses in both environments (physical vs. IVE) were similar. This may be of interest to architecture researchers and professionals as they validate IVE systems as tools to study the effects of the built environment on users’ cognitive responses.

B - 52 Effects of rTMS Treatment on Attention Measured by the CANTAB Rapid Visual Information Processing Module.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been associated with decreased performance in sustained attention tasks (Sinclair et al., 2013). Non-invasive neurostimulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be utilized to improve cognitive outcomes, however there is uncertainty about which cognitive outcomes should be investigated (Clark & Parasuraman, 2014; Donaldson et al., 2015). The present study examines the observed enhancements in sustained attention related to rTMS administered to older adults with TBI. We utilized the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), a commonly used assessment instrument in research settings that offers various modules for measuring neurocognitive functions (CDC). Veterans and civilians were enrolled (n = 28; mild and moderate TBI; mean age = 62.25) in either placebo or an active group. Participants received neuropsychological assessment at baseline, after 20 rTMS treatments, and at six month follow up. Participants were administered the CANTAB Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) module to assess sustained attention after active rTMS or sham treatment. Findings revealed that the active rTMS treatment group had a lower RVIPPFA (n = 12; M = 0.003; SD = 0.003) compared to the sham group (n = 16; M = 0.02; SD = 0.06), indicating a potential improvement in visual sustained attention. A moderate effect size was observed between the two groups (Cohen's d = 0.48). The results suggest that rTMS treatment could potentially enhance cognitive performance, specifically visual sustained attention, in older adults. Further research is warranted to investigate the impact of rTMS on sustained attention and its clinical implications.

Dissociable neural correlates of multisensory coherence and selective attention.

Previous work has demonstrated that performance in an auditory selective attention task can be enhanced or impaired, depending on whether a task-irrelevant visual stimulus is temporally coherent with a target auditory stream or with a competing distractor. However, it remains unclear how audiovisual (AV) temporal coherence and auditory selective attention interact at the neurophysiological level. Here, we measured neural activity using electroencephalography (EEG) while human participants (men and women) performed an auditory selective attention task, detecting deviants in a target audio stream. The amplitude envelope of the two competing auditory streams changed independently, while the radius of a visual disc was manipulated to control the audiovisual coherence. Analysis of the neural responses to the sound envelope demonstrated that auditory responses were enhanced independently of the attentional condition: both target and masker stream responses were enhanced when temporally coherent with the visual stimulus. In contrast, attention enhanced the event-related response (ERP) evoked by the transient deviants, independently of AV coherence. Finally, in an exploratory analysis, we identified a spatiotemporal component of ERP, in which temporal coherence enhanced the deviant-evoked responses only in the unattended stream. These results provide evidence for dissociable neural signatures of bottom-up (coherence) and top-down (attention) effects in AV object formation.Significance StatementTemporal coherence between auditory stimuli and task-irrelevant visual stimuli can enhance behavioral performance in auditory selective attention tasks. However, how audiovisual temporal coherence and attention interact at the neural level has not been established. Here, we measured EEG during a behavioral task designed to independently manipulate AV coherence and auditory selective attention. While some auditory features (sound envelope) could be coherent with visual stimuli, other features (timbre) were independent of visual stimuli. We find that audiovisual integration can be observed independently of attention for sound envelopes temporally coherent with visual stimuli, while the neural responses to unexpected timbre changes are most strongly modulated by attention. Our results provide evidence for dissociable neural mechanisms of bottom-up (coherence) and top-down (attention) effects on AV object formation.

Influence of game features on attention in adults.

The incorporation of game features into cognitive tasks can inform us about the influence of reward and motivation on attention. Continuous performance tasks (CPTs), designed to assess attention abilities, are examples of cognitive tasks that have been targeted for the addition of game features. However, previous results have been mixed regarding how game elements affect attention abilities and task performance. Here, we studied if there were factors that predict which individuals exhibit changes in attention from game features added to a CPT. Participants (N = 94, aged 21-71) played a traditional CPT and a game CPT with identical mechanics, but featured engaging game elements (aesthetics, storyline, competition, feedback, and reward). We first found corroborating evidence that game features have mixed effects on attention performance: most attention metrics of interest exhibited no overall difference between the traditional and game CPT, while game elements reduced performance for a few metrics. Importantly, we also found that specific behavioral and demographic profiles predicted individual differences in performance on the game CPT compared to the traditional CPT. Those with more attention difficulties (ADHD symptoms), more reward responsiveness, and younger adults performed better on the game CPT while, conversely, those with fewer ADHD symptoms, less reward responsiveness, and older adults performed better on the traditional CPT. These findings provide insights into how game features can influence attention in different individuals and have important implications for the use of game elements in cognitive tasks and training interventions.

Effects of the self-perceived sensorimotor demand and immersion during video gaming on visual-attention skills.

Playing specific genres of video games (e.g., action video games) has been linked to improvements in cognitive skills mostly related to attentional phenomena. Nonetheless, do video games have features or dimensions in common that impact cognitive improvements beyond the game genre? Here, we argue that the sensorimotor demand-the amount of demand for precise coordination between movement and perception-is a key element in the improvements associated with playing video games. We conducted a two-part study to test this hypothesis: a self-report online gaming instrument development and validation and an in-lab behavioural and electrophysiological study. In the first study, data from 209 participants were used to devise the sensorimotor demand instrument (SMDI). The SMDI was split into three dimensions of video game playing: sensorimotor contingency, immersion and unfocused gaming. Criterion validity related to video gamers' characteristics supported that the SMDI is sensitive to the input device (e.g., keyboard or touchscreens), and the most recent experience gained during gaming sessions while not being sensitive to the game genre. In the second study, data from 20 participants who performed four visual-attentional tasks previously reported in the literature showed that the SMDI's dimensions were associated with behavioural performance measures and the latency and amplitude of event-related potentials (N1, P2 and P3). Despite the challenge of studying the video gamer population, our study remarks on the relevance of sensorimotor demands in the performance of attentional tasks and its potential use as a dimension to characterize the experience of playing video games beyond the game genre.

Presence and simulator sickness predict the usability of a virtual reality attention task

Attention is the ability to actively process specific information within one’s environment over longer periods of time while disregarding other details. Attention is an important process that contributes to overall cognitive performance from performing every day basic tasks to complex work activities. The use of virtual reality (VR) allows study of the attention processes in realistic environments using ecological tasks. To date, research has focused on the efficacy of VR attention tasks in detecting attention impairment, while the impact of the combination of variables such as mental workload, presence and simulator sickness on both self-reported usability and objective attention task performance in immersive VR has not been examined. The current study tested 87 participants on an attention task in a virtual aquarium using a cross-sectional design. The VR task followed the continuous performance test paradigm where participants had to respond to correct targets and ignore non-targets over 18 min. Performance was measured using three outcomes: omission (failing to respond to correct targets), commission errors (incorrect responses to targets) and reaction time to correct targets. Measures of self-reported usability, mental workload, presence and simulator sickness were collected. The results showed that only presence and simulator sickness had a significant impact on usability. For performance outcomes, simulator sickness was significantly and weakly associated with omission errors, but not with reaction time and commission errors. Mental workload and presence did not significantly predict performance. Our results suggest that usability is more likely to be negatively impacted by simulator sickness and lack of presence than performance and that usability and attention performance are linked. They highlight the importance of considering factors such as presence and simulator sickness in attention tasks as these variables can impact usability.