Attentional Skills in the Acute Phase Following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury

Only a limited number of studies have investigated attention following pediatric head-injury. The present study examined sustained attention and processing speed in a group of children who had sustained a mild (n = 27), moderate (n = 33) or severe (n = 16) traumatic brain injury (TBI). No significant differences were evident between the TBI groups on reaction time measures. Results did show that the severe TBI group exhibited greater deficits in the area of sustained attention, in comparison to children with mild and moderate injuries, in the acute stage following traumatic brain injury. This difficulty may impact on the future development of skills dependent on intact attentional capacity.     

Attentional skills in the acute phase following pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Only a limited number of studies have investigated attention following pediatric head-injury. The present study examined sustained attention and processing speed in a group of children who had sustained a mild (n = 27), moderate (n = 33) or severe (n = 16) traumatic brain injury (TBI). No significant differences were evident between the TBI groups on reaction time measures. Results did show that the severe TBI group exhibited greater deficits in the area of sustained attention, in comparison to children with mild and moderate injuries, in the acute stage following traumatic brain injury. This difficulty may impact on the future development of skills dependent on intact attentional capacity.     

Impairments of Attention Following Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury

Attentional deficits are commonly reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults, although the occurrence of such problems is less well documented in young children. This study aimed to investigate residual attentional abilities associated with TBI during childhood, by examining a number of aspects of attention including sustained, focussed, and divided attention, attentional shift, and response inhibition. Eighteen children with a history of TBI, aged between 8 and 14 years and 18 non-injured matched controls participated in the study. Results show that attentional skills may be differentially impaired after TBI, with children who have sustained moderate-to-severe TBI exhibiting significant deficits on the following attentional domains: sustain, focus, and response inhibition. These findings support the view that attentional impairments following pediatric TBI, while not global, may be more generalized than those reported for adult samples, perhaps reflecting the relative immaturity of attentional skills at the time of injury.     

Impairments of attention following childhood traumatic brain injury.

Attentional deficits are commonly reported following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adults, although the occurrence of such problems is less well documented in young children. This study aimed to investigate residual attentional abilities associated with TBI during childhood, by examining a number of aspects of attention including sustained, focussed, and divided attention, attentional shift, and response inhibition. Eighteen children with a history of TBI, aged between 8 and 14 years and 18 non-injured matched controls participated in the study. Results show that attentional skills may be differentially impaired after TBI, with children who have sustained moderate-to-severe TBI exhibiting significant deficits on the following attentional domains: sustain, focus, and response inhibition. These findings support the view that attentional impairments following pediatric TBI, while not global, may be more generalized than those reported for adult samples, perhaps reflecting the relative immaturity of attentional skills at the time of injury.     

Attention After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Multidimensional Assessment

Attentional disturbance is a common complaint after TBI in children and adolescents, however, few studies have assessed post-traumatic attentional functions. The attentional constructs proposed by Mirsky, Anthony, Duncan, Ahearn, and Kellam (1991) provided a multidimensional framework for prospective assessment of late attentional disturbance after mild-moderate (n = 34) and severe (n = 57) traumatic brain injury (TBI). Attention was evaluated from 5 to 8 years after TBI in children ages 0 to 15 years at the time of injury. Children with severe TBI performed more poorly than children with mild-moderate TBI on tests comprising the focus/execute and shift constructs. Younger children scored below older children irrespective of injury severity on the Digit Span subtest and interstimulus interval scores from an adaptive rate continuous performance test reflecting the encode and sustain constructs of Mirsky et al. (1991). Age × Severity interaction effects were found for speeded perceptual-motor tests; scores were reduced following mild-moderate and severe TBI in younger children and following severe TBI in older patients. Results are discussed in terms of the vulnerability of skills in a rapid stage of development to disruption by acquired brain injury.     

Spatial distribution of visual attention: Perceptual sensitivity and response latency

Studies of the spatial distribution of visual attention have shown that attentional facilitation monotonically decreases in a graded fashion with increasing distance from an attended location. However, reaction time (RT) measures have typically shown broader gradients than have signal detection (SD) measures of perceptual sensitivity. It is not clear whether these differences have arisen because the stages of information processing indexed by RT measures are different from those indexed by SD measures, or whether these differences are due to methodological confounds in the SD studies. In the present set of experiments, the spatial distribution of attention was studied by using a luminance detection task in an endogenous cuing paradigm that was designed to permit accurate calculations of SD and RT measures for targets at cued and uncued locations. Subjects made target-present/absent decisions at one of six possible cued or uncued upper visual hemifield locations on each trial. The results from three experiments suggest that the differences between broad and focal attentional distributions are not the result of different stages of information processing indexed by RT measures as opposed to SD measures. Rather, the differing distributions appear to reflect variations in attentional allocation strategies induced by the perceptual requirements typical of RT paradigms as opposed to SD paradigms. These findings support numerous prior studies showing that spatial attention affects perceptual sensitivity and that the strategic allocation of attention is a highly flexible process.     

The Continuation of Perpetrator Behaviors that Influence Perceptions of Sexual Harassment

This study was designed to investigate sexual harassment perceptions based on continuation of unwanted sexual attention following victim resistance. Participants were 504 undergraduates who responded to statements regarding a sexual harassment scenario, in which the perpetrator continued or discontinued attention, which varied in severity according to nonphysical, physical, or restraint contact. Results showed that continued attention and any type of physical contact strengthened harassment perceptions, although men’s perceptions were weaker unless restraint was present. No sex differences were observed in the restraint condition. Women had stronger perceptions than men did in the physical condition, but showed a non-significant trend toward stronger perceptions in the nonphysical condition. Findings suggest that continuation following resistance may clarify for observers that harassment is occurring. Conceptualizations of harassment severity are suggested.     

Subtle Motor Findings During Recovery from Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Report

Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a heterogeneous condition, varying in both severity and sequelae. The long-term motor deficits following severe TBI requiring inpatient rehabilitation are better established than those following milder forms of TBI. The authors examined motor performance 2 and 12 months postinjury in children without overt motor impairment using standard measures of upper limb function and the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs (PANESS). The PANESS was sensitive to differences between children with TBI and uninjured children as well as to changes in children with TBI over time. These data suggest that subtle motor deficits are present after milder forms of TBI and, particularly those related to balance and gait, may persist even 12 months postinjury.     

Relationship between sustained,orientated, divided,and selective attention and simulated aviation performance: Training & pressure effects

The present study examined how different characteristics of visual attention are related to flying ability. Eighty participants completed one of four attentional tests designed to assess sustained attention (SUSTAIN), attentional orienting (ORIENT), divided attention (DIVIDE) or selective attention (SELECT). Median splits were used to create low and high groups. After completing training, participants executed simulated landings under conditions of high anxiety. For the DIVIDE test, there were significant group differences in: (i) landing ability after training and (ii) the effects of anxiety. The high DIVIDE group had lower root mean square (RMS) errors at the end of training and were less affected by anxiety as compared to the low DIVIDE group. For the ORIENT and SELECT tests, there were significant group effects for training but not for anxiety. The high groups for these tests displayed lower RMS errors following training. There were no group differences for the SUSTAIN test. The results suggest that a test of divided attention may be useful for operational assessment of pilots.     

The time-course of threat processing in children: a temporal dissociation between selective attention and behavioral interference

Although selective attention to threatening information is an adaptive mechanism, exaggerated attention to threat may be related to anxiety disorders. However, studies examining threat processing in children have obtained mixed findings. In the present study, the time-course of attentional bias for threat and behavioral interference was analyzed in a community sample of 8-18-year-old children (N=33) using a pictorial dot probe task. Threatening and neutral stimuli were shown during 17 ms (masked), 500 ms, and 1250 ms. Results provide preliminary evidence of an automatic attentional bias for threat at 17 ms that persists during later, more controlled stages of information processing (500 and 1250 ms). Furthermore, participants showed a delayed response to threat-containing trials relative to neutral trials in the 500 and 1250 ms condition, which may indicate interference by threat. Together, these results suggest that an attentional bias for threat precedes behavioral interference in children. Furthermore, results indicate that performance in daily life can be temporarily interrupted by the processing of threatening information. In addition, results of earlier studies into selective attention in children using tasks based on behavioral responses may have been confounded by interference effects of threat. For future studies, we recommend to take behavioral interference into account.     

不同注意形式调节听感觉门控的神经机制

前脉冲抑制(prepulse inhibition, PPI)是听感觉门控的测量模型, 反映了听觉系统的早期信息选择功能。尽管PPI的主要神经环路位于脑干, 研究发现PPI可以被注意自上而下调节。然而, 已有研究并未区分不同注意(特征注意和空间注意)对PPI的特异性调节, 并且神经机制方面的研究集中于听皮层区域, 仍缺乏对皮层下机制的探讨。在以往研究的成果基础之上, 借助听觉信息加工的双通路模型, 采用行为测量、脑电和脑成像技术, 揭示特征和空间两种注意调节PPI的神经活动在听觉系统中的层次性神经表达。包括1)建立特征注意和空间注意调节PPI的统一行为模型, 考察两种注意调节PPI的时间动态性异同; 2)两种注意调节PPI的脑干分离机制, 即前脉冲刺激包络和精细结构成分加工在注意调节PPI中的作用差异; 3)两种注意调节PPI的关键脑区和脑网络差异。     

Are girls with problems of attention underrecognized?

There is a generally held belief that disorders of attention (e.g., ADHD) are to be found primarily among boys, not girls. We question the evidence relating to sex differences in the prevalence of attentional disorders and suggest possible reasons why reported sex differences appear limited to teacher ratings. An examination of the admittedly scarce literature on correlates of ADHD behaviors suggests no strong evidence for sex differences in the pattern of developmental, attentional and background correlates. We recommend the use of sex-specific norms and diagnostic criteria to identify girls with problems of attention and our plea is for more research to examine the nature of attention deficits in girls.     

Chronic Pain and Neuropsychological Functioning

This review article examines the effect of chronic pain on neuropsychological functioning. Primary attention is given to studies that include patient groups without a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) or neurologic disorders. Numerous studies were identified that demonstrate neuropsychological impairment in patients with chronic pain, particularly on measures assessing attentional capacity, processing speed, and psychomotor speed. Despite suggestive findings, further studies are needed to clarify the variables that mediate the impact of pain on neuropsychological functioning and the unique role of various symptoms often associated with chronic pain.     

Existe-t-il une typologie familiale dans les pathologies addictives ? Revue critique de la littérature sur les familles d’adolescents présentant des troubles alimentaires ou des conduites de dépendance aux substances

Among factors favoring the addictive behaviors, some specific family processes are often identified in eating disorders and dependences with psychoactive substances. Different models of systemic orientation described the familial disturbances involved in the addictive pathologies emphasizing either the emotional interaction and the processes of differentiation family, either the structure and the level of family cohesion. This article proposes a critical review of the systemic literature on the familial disturbances involved in the families of adolescents with eating disorders or with a substance-dependence. The systemic models (Bowen, Minuchin) are reference values in the understanding of family processes and therapy with families. The observations of these family processes have been confronted to empirical researches integrating different epistemological levels and different methods. The empirical results are heterogenous concerning the different forms of family functioning associated with these addictive pathologies. The empirical studies support the hypothesis of a family dysfunctioning in the different addictive behaviors and demonstrate the relationship between the severity of familial disorders and the severity of the addictive disorders. However, the family configuration described by the typological models is rarely found complete or with a similar intensity between the families. The studies support the hypothesis of an emotional distance in the family interactions and a lack of parental care which could correspond to factors of chronicity or vulnerability. Comparing the family characteristics of these two types of addictive behaviors, the literature supports the existence of (1) some specific family characteristics according to the type of addictive behavior (in particular the conflict avoidance which appears specifically in anorexic families) (2) some similar family patterns of interactions between the members of addictive families in particular the representation of a low family cohesion, an intergenerational enmeschment and a high level of control. These family patterns suggest rather to a dimensional approach of the family characterized by different protective or risk factors. We suggest that these family patterns could constitute, according to their importance (intensity and frequence), a family risk factor of development or aggravation of the addictive behaviors.     

阈下抑郁个体对负性情绪刺激的注意解脱困难

本研究拟采用点探测范式及不同情绪内容的面孔刺激（高兴、中性、悲伤和愤怒）考察阈下抑郁个体的负性注意偏向及其内在机制。点探测任务中情绪面孔配对呈现（负性-中性、正性-中性）,配对面孔中的情绪线索位置与靶刺激的位置构成负性一致/不一致和正性一致/不一致条件,同时实验中加入“中性-中性”面孔线索作为一致和不一致条件的对比基线来考察注意偏向的内在机制。结果发现,阈下抑郁个体在负性不一致条件下的反应时显著长于负性一致条件,表明阈下抑郁个体具有对负性刺激的注意偏向;进一步比较发现,阈下抑郁个体在负性不一致条件下的反应时显著的长于“中性-中性”基线条件,而负性一致条件与基线之间差异不显著,表明阈下抑郁个体的负性注意偏向为对负性刺激的注意解脱困难。结果另发现,阈下抑郁个体未能像无抑郁对照组个体表现出对正性刺激的注意偏向。结果表明,处于阈下抑郁状态的个体表现出对负性刺激的注意偏向,具体为对负性刺激的注意解脱困难,其原因可能是由于阈下抑郁个体在注意控制和情绪调节功能上的紊乱。     

Co-Occurring Traumatic Brain Injury,PTSD Symptoms,and Alcohol Use in Veterans

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been identified as a significant health problem among veterans. Recent research demonstrates the potential interaction and magnification of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUD) in veterans with a history of TBI; however, there is very limited research on the co-occurrence of the three conditions. Veterans (N = 115) with comorbid PTSD and SUD completed a baseline assessment for enrollment into a larger treatment study. As part of that assessment, participants completed a TBI screener as well as self-report measures for pain and physical health, affective symptoms, and substance use. Almost half of the sample (48 %) endorsed a history of a previous head trauma with loss of consciousness (LOC). Participants with and without head trauma with LOC were compared across various measures of functioning. Increased severity of physical health complaints and affective symptoms were reported by the TBI group compared to controls. However, the increases in affective symptoms were relatively small. No group differences were observed for alcohol use. Together, the findings suggest that treatment-seeking veterans with a history of head trauma with LOC may present with roughly equivalent symptoms of PTSD and SUD to those without said history.     

The time course of attentional modulation on emotional conflict processing

Cognitive conflict resolution is critical to human survival in a rapidly changing environment. However, emotional conflict processing seems to be particularly important for human interactions. This study examined whether the time course of attentional modulation on emotional conflict processing was different from cognitive conflict processing during a flanker task. Results showed that emotional N200 and P300 effects, similar to colour conflict processing, appeared only during the relevant task. However, the emotional N200 effect preceded the colour N200 effect, indicating that emotional conflict can be identified earlier than cognitive conflict. Additionally, a significant emotional N100 effect revealed that emotional valence differences could be perceived during early processing based on rough aspects of input. The present data suggest that emotional conflict processing is modulated by top-down attention, similar to cognitive conflict processing (reflected by N200 and P300 effects). However, emotional conflict processing seems to have more time advantages during two different processing stages.     

The female advantage: sex as a possible protective factor against emotion recognition impairment following traumatic brain injury

Although moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to facial affect recognition impairments in up to 39% of individuals, protective and risk factors for these deficits are unknown. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of sex on emotion recognition abilities following TBI. We administered two separate emotion recognition tests (one static and one dynamic) to 53 individuals with moderate to severe TBI (females = 28) and 49 demographically matched comparisons (females = 22). We then investigated the presence of a sex-by-group interaction in emotion recognition accuracy. In the comparison group, there were no sex differences. In the TBI group, however, females significantly outperformed males in the dynamic (but not the static) task. Moreover, males (but not females) with TBI performed significantly worse than comparison participants in the dynamic task. Further analysis revealed that sex differences in emotion recognition abilities within the TBI group could not be explained by lesion location, TBI severity, or other neuropsychological variables. These findings suggest that sex may serve as a protective factor for social impairment following TBI and inform clinicians working with TBI as well as research on the neurophysiological correlates of sex differences in social functioning.     

Cerebral asymmetry in visual attention

The traditional view of cerebral lateralization of various cognitive functions has been challenged by results from recent experimental and clinical studies. Evidence has been gathered to suggest that a seemingly unitized cognitive function can be further broken down into various processing subcomponents which are distributed across the two hemispheres. For instance, according to such a more complex conceptualization of cerebral lateralization, language is seen not as a unitary ability, but rather as a collection of syntactic, semantic, and prosodic components, with each lateralized in particular manners. In much the same way, the present study attempts to examine the cerebral lateralization patterns of the seemingly unitary visual perception process. In a visual half-field experiment, 20 normal subjects were asked to make same/different judgments to laterally presented arrays of stimuli of the same type as previously studied by Treisman and her colleagues in experiments attempting to separate the preattentive and attentive stages of visual perception. Hemispheric differences were obtained only in tasks requiring attentive processing (i.e., Treisman's glueing). Results indicate a local attentional strategy for the left hemisphere and a global attentional strategy for the right hemisphere.     

Attentional networks,vigilance, and distraction as a function of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in an adult community sample

Attentional difficulties are a core axis in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, establishing a consistent and detailed pattern of these neurocognitive alterations has not been an easy endeavour. Based on a dimensional approach to ADHD, the present study aims at comprehensively characterizing three key attentional domains: the three attentional networks (alerting, orienting, and executive attention), two components of vigilance (executive and arousal vigilance), and distraction. To do so, we modified a single, fine-grained task (the ANTI-Vea) by adding irrelevant distractors. One hundred and twenty undergraduates completed three self-reports of ADHD symptoms in childhood and adulthood and performed the ANTI-Vea. Despite the low reliability of some ANTI-Vea indexes, the task worked successfully. While ADHD symptoms in childhood were related to alerting network and arousal vigilance, symptoms in adulthood were linked to executive vigilance. No association between ADHD symptom severity and executive attention and distraction was found. In general, our hypotheses about the relationships between ADHD symptoms and attentional processes were partially supported. We discuss our findings according to ADHD theories and attention measurement.