Daamen Marcel, Bäuml Josef G, Scheef Lukas, Meng Chun, Jurcoane Alina, Jaekel Julia, Sorg Christian, Busch Barbara, Baumann Nicole, Bartmann Peter, Wolke Dieter, Wohlschläger Afra, Boecker Henning
Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany ; Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, 81664 Munich, Germany ; TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, Munich 81664, Germany.
Neuroimage Clin. 2015 Sep 10;9:581-91. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.002. eCollection 2015.
Very preterm birth is associated with an increased prevalence of attention problems and may especially impair executive attention, i.e., top-down control of attentional selection in situations where distracting information interferes with the processing of task-relevant stimuli. While there are initial findings linking structural brain alterations in preterm-born individuals with attention problems, the functional basis of these problems are not well understood. The present study used an fMRI adaptation of the Attentional Network Test to examine the neural correlates of executive attention in a large sample of N = 86 adults born very preterm and/or with very low birth weight (VP/VLBW), and N = 100 term-born controls. Executive attention was measured by comparing task behavior and brain activations associated with the processing of incongruent vs. congruent arrow flanker stimuli. Consistent with subtle impairments of executive attention, the VP/VLBW group showed lower accuracy and a tendency for increased response times during the processing of incongruent stimuli. Both groups showed similar activation patters, especially within expected fronto-cingulo-parietal areas, but no significant between-group differences. Our results argue for a maintained attention-relevant network organization in high-functioning preterm born adults in spite of subtle deficits in executive attention. Gestational age and neonatal treatment variables showed associations with task behavior, and brain activation in the dorsal ACC and lateral occipital areas, suggesting that the degree of prematurity (and related neonatal complications) has subtle modulatory influences on executive attention processing.
极早产与注意力问题的患病率增加有关，尤其可能损害执行性注意力，即在存在干扰信息干扰与任务相关刺激处理的情况下，对注意力选择的自上而下控制。虽然有初步研究结果将早产个体的大脑结构改变与注意力问题联系起来，但这些问题的功能基础尚未得到很好的理解。本研究使用了注意力网络测试的功能磁共振成像（fMRI）改编版，以检查86名极早产和/或极低出生体重（VP/VLBW）的成年人大样本以及100名足月出生对照者的执行性注意力的神经相关性。通过比较与处理不一致与一致箭头侧翼刺激相关的任务行为和大脑激活来测量执行性注意力。与执行性注意力的细微损害一致，VP/VLBW组在处理不一致刺激时表现出较低的准确性和反应时间增加的趋势。两组都表现出相似的激活模式，特别是在预期的额-扣带-顶叶区域内，但组间无显著差异。我们的结果表明尽管执行性注意力存在细微缺陷，但高功能早产成年人中与注意力相关的网络组织得以维持。孕周和新生儿治疗变量与任务行为以及背侧前扣带回和枕叶外侧区域的大脑激活有关，这表明早产程度（以及相关的新生儿并发症）对执行性注意力处理有细微的调节影响。
