title: Neural correlates of the attention network test in schizophrenia.
abstract: Attentional deficits are prominent in schizophrenia, affecting nearly all cognitive functions. Human attention comprises three essential components: alerting, orienting and executive control. For the assessment of these functions, the attention network test (ANT) has been proposed and used in healthy controls and patients. In schizophrenia, the ANT has revealed behavioral deficits; however, the corresponding neural correlates have not been examined. In the present study, neural correlates of attention were investigated in 17 schizophrenia patients and 17 healthy controls using the ANT with fMRI. Behavioral deficits emerged in the alertness system with a reduced efficiency for temporal cues. In fMRI, changes were observed for all three domains-alerting, orienting and conflict-and revealed hyper- as well as hypoactivation in patients. Affected regions during alerting comprised a broad fronto-temporo-parieto-occipito-cerebellar network, while differences during orienting mainly tapped fronto-parietal regions and during conflict processing a thalamo-frontal-temporal occipital network including the postcentral regions. In general, hyperactivations were positively correlated with more severe psychopathologial symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany. vbackes@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Backes
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kellermann
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: Conny
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Depner
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Habel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology