title: Analysis of the elements of attention: a neuropsychological approach.
abstract: A model for conceptualizing the components or elements of attention is presented. The model substitutes for the diffuse and global concept of "attention" a group of four processes and links them to a putative system of cerebral structures. Data in support of the model are presented; they are derived from neuropsychological test scores obtained from two samples, the first consisting of 203 adult neuropsychiatric patients and normal control subjects, and the second, an epidemiologically-based sample of 435 elementary school children. Principal components analyses of test scores from these two populations yielded similar results: a set of independent elements of attention that are assayed by different tests. This work presents a heuristic for clinical research in which the measurement of attention is essential.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychology and Psychopathology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Mirsky
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Anthony
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ahearn
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kellam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics