Domain specific attentional impairments in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Abstract

One of the defining cognitive characteristics of the chromosome 22q deletion syndrome (DS22q11.2) is visuospatial processing impairments. The purpose of this study was to investigate and extend the specific attentional profile of children with this disorder using both an object-based attention task and an inhibition of return task. A group of children with the disorder was compared in these tasks with a group of age-matched typically developing children. The children with DS22q11.2 demonstrated impaired spatially based orienting which is consistent with previous findings in this group. Strikingly, the children with DS22q11.2 also demonstrated an improved ability to use object-based cues, relative to the typically developing group. Finally, the children with DS22q11.2 demonstrated an intact inhibition of return system, however, it appears to be delayed developmentally.

Fig. 1

Graphical depiction of the object vs. spatial cueing task. Example of horizontal orientation. Vertical orientation is not demonstrated.

Fig. 2

Overall response time data for the three conditions, valid, invalid-within object, and invalid-between object.

Fig. 3

Cost/benefit comparison relative to validly cued trials.

Fig. 4

Graphical depiction of inhibition of return task.

Fig. 5

Inhibition of return–response time differences between invalid trials and valid trials. Positive numbers indicate facilitation, while negative numbers indicate inhibition.