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. 2009 Jul;70(2):209-20.
doi: 10.1016/j.bandc.2009.02.002. Epub 2009 Mar 6.

Testing the behavioral interaction and integration of attentional networks

Jin Fan  1 , Xiaosi Gu, Kevin G Guise, Xun Liu, John Fossella, Hongbin Wang, Michael I Posner
Affiliations

Testing the behavioral interaction and integration of attentional networks

Jin Fan et al. Brain Cogn. 2009 Jul.

Abstract

One current conceptualization of attention subdivides it into functions of alerting, orienting, and executive control. Alerting describes the function of tonically maintaining the alert state and phasically responding to a warning signal. Automatic and voluntary orienting are involved in the selection of information among multiple sensory inputs. Executive control describes a set of more complex operations that include detecting and resolving conflicts in order to control thoughts or behaviors. Converging evidence supports this theory of attention by showing that each function appears to be subserved by anatomically distinct networks in the brain and differentially innervated by various neuromodulatory systems. Although much research has been dedicated to understanding the functional separation of these networks in both healthy and disease states, the interaction and integration among these networks still remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to characterize possible behavioral interaction and integration in healthy adult volunteers using a revised attention network test (ANT-R) with cue-target interval and cue validity manipulations. We found that whereas alerting improves overall response speed, it exerts negative influence on executive control under certain conditions. A valid orienting cue enhances but an invalid cue diminishes the ability of executive control to overcome conflict. The results support the hypothesis of functional integration and interaction of these brain networks.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Schematic of the Attention Network Test (ANT)
In each trial, depending on the cue condition (none, double, and valid or invalid cues), a cue box flashes for 100 ms. After a variable duration (0, 400, or 800 ms), the target (the center arrow) and two flanker arrows on the left and right side (congruent or incongruent flankers) are presented for 500 ms. The participant makes a response to the target’s direction. The post-target fixation period varies between 2000 to 12000 ms.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Attentional network and two-way interaction scores in terms of RT (ms) and accuracy (%) differences. The error bars represent standard error.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Alerting by flanker conflict processing interaction in terms of RT (ms) and accuracy (%) differences.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Orienting by flanker conflict processing interaction in terms of RT (ms) and accuracy (%) differences.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Cue validity by flanker conflict processing interaction in terms of RT (ms) and accuracy (%) differences.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Flanker congruency by location congruency interaction in terms of RT (ms) and accuracy (%) differences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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