title: Attention in spina bifida myelomeningocele: Relations with brain volume and integrity.
abstract: This study investigated the relations of tectal volume and superior parietal cortex, as well as alterations in tectocortical white matter connectivity, with the orienting and executive control attention networks in individuals with spina bifida myelomeningocele (SBM). Probabilistic diffusion tractography and quantification of tectal and superior parietal cortical volume were performed on 74 individuals aged 8-29 with SBM and a history of hydrocephalus. Behavioral assessments measured posterior (covert orienting) and anterior (conflict resolution, attentional control) attention network functions. Reduced tectal volume was associated with slower covert orienting; reduced superior parietal cortical volume was associated with slower conflict resolution; and increased axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity along both frontal and parietal tectocortical pathways were associated with reduced attentional control. Results suggest that components of both the orienting and executive control attention networks are impaired in SBM. Neuroanatomical disruption to the orienting network appears more robust and a direct consequence of characteristic midbrain dysmorphology; whereas, executive control difficulties may emerge from parietal cortical anomalies and reduced frontal and parietal cortical-subcortical white matter pathways susceptible to the pathophysiological effects of congenital hydrocephalus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, USA ; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Paulina A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kulesz
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Amery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Treble-Barna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, USA ; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, USA.
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juranek
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, USA ; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Cirino
authors.affiliation: Department Of Surgery And Psychology, University Of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Houston, USA ; Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics, University of Houston, USA.
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003336:Tectum Mesencephali / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attention network; Neuroimaging; Robust correlations; Superior parietal cortex; Tectocortical pathways; Tectum