title: Sustained attention abnormalities in breast cancer survivors with cognitive deficits post chemotherapy: An electrophysiological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many breast cancer survivors (BCS) report cognitive problems following chemotherapy, yet controversy remains concerning which cognitive domains are affected. This study investigated a domain crucial to daily function: the ability to maintain attention over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined whether BCS who self-reported cognitive problems up to 3 years following cancer treatment (n=19) performed differently from healthy controls (HC, n=12) in a task that required sustained attention. Participants performed a target detection task while periodically being asked to report their attentional state. Electroencephalogram was recorded during this task and at rest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BCS were less likely to maintain sustained attention during the task compared to HC. Further, the P3 event-related potential component elicited by visual targets during the task was smaller in BCS relative to HC. BCS also displayed greater neural activity at rest.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BCS demonstrated an abnormal pattern of sustained attention and resource allocation compared to HC, suggesting that attentional deficits can be objectively observed in breast cancer survivors who self-report concentration problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data underscore the value of EEG combined with a less traditional measure of sustained attention, or attentional states, as objective laboratory tools that are sensitive to subjective complaints of chemotherapy-related attentional impairments.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: kamjulia@gmail.com.
authors: J W Y
authors: JWY
authors: Kam
authors: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: cbrenner@psych.ubc.ca.
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Brenner
authors: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2136 West Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: tchandy@psych.ubc.ca.
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Handy
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, 2177 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: lara.boyd@ubc.ca.
authors: L A
authors: LA
authors: Boyd
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, 2177 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: teresa.ambrose@ubc.ca.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Liu-Ambrose
authors: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada; Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada. Electronic address: hlim@bccancer.bc.ca.
authors: H J
authors: HJ
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. Electronic address: sherri.hayden@vch.ca.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hayden
authors: Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, 2177 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: kristin.campbell@ubc.ca.
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000639:trends; D018913:Event-Related Potentials, P300 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Adjuvant chemotherapy; Breast cancer; Cognitive deficits; Mind wandering; P300 ERP; Rest EEG; Sustained attention