title: Visual attention in preterm born adults: specifically impaired attentional sub-mechanisms that link with altered intrinsic brain networks in a compensation-like mode.
abstract: Although pronounced and lasting deficits in selective attention have been observed for preterm born individuals it is unknown which specific attentional sub-mechanisms are affected and how they relate to brain networks. We used the computationally specified 'Theory of Visual Attention' together with whole- and partial-report paradigms to compare attentional sub-mechanisms of pre- (n=33) and full-term (n=32) born adults. Resting-state fMRI was used to evaluate both between-group differences and inter-individual variance in changed functional connectivity of intrinsic brain networks relevant for visual attention. In preterm born adults, we found specific impairments of visual short-term memory (vSTM) storage capacity while other sub-mechanisms such as processing speed or attentional weighting were unchanged. Furthermore, changed functional connectivity was found in unimodal visual and supramodal attention-related intrinsic networks. Among preterm born adults, the individual pattern of changed connectivity in occipital and parietal cortices was systematically associated with vSTM in such a way that the more distinct the connectivity differences, the better the preterm adults' storage capacity. These findings provide first evidence for selectively changed attentional sub-mechanisms in preterm born adults and their relation to altered intrinsic brain networks. In particular, data suggest that cortical changes in intrinsic functional connectivity may compensate adverse developmental consequences of prematurity on visual short-term storage capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Finke
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany; TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neitzel
authors.affiliation: TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Josef G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bäuml
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Redel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, General and Experimental Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Leopoldstr. 13, 80802 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Biocenter, Großhaderner Strasse 2, 82152 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaekel
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daamen
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scheef
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.affiliation: Functional Neuroimaging Group, Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boecker
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1353 Copenhagen K, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Habekost
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolke
authors.affiliation: TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Afra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wohlschläger
authors.affiliation: TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München TUM, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: c.sorg@lrz.tu-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sorg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Compensation; Intrinsic brain networks; Preterm birth; Preterm born adults; Selective attention; Theory of Visual Attention