Neural correlates of executive attention in adults born very preterm

Marcel Daamen; Josef G Bäuml; Lukas Scheef; Chun Meng; Alina Jurcoane; Julia Jaekel; Christian Sorg; Barbara Busch; Nicole Baumann; Peter Bartmann; Dieter Wolke; Afra Wohlschläger; Henning Boecker

doi:10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.002

Neural correlates of executive attention in adults born very preterm

Neuroimage Clin. 2015 Sep 10:9:581-91. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2015.09.002. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany ; Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
² Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, 81664 Munich, Germany ; TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, Munich 81664, Germany.
³ Department of Radiology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
⁴ Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, 81664 Munich, Germany ; TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, Munich 81664, Germany ; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN, Ludwig Maximilians Universität, Biocenter, Department Biology II Neurobiology, Großhaderner Str. 2, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
⁵ Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, Bochum 44801, Germany ; Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, University Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
⁶ Department of Neuroradiology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, 81664 Munich, Germany ; Department of Psychiatry, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, Munich 81664, Germany ; TUM-Neuroimaging Center of Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger str. 22, Munich 81664, Germany.
⁷ Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Bonn, Sigmund Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany.
⁸ Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, University Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
⁹ Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, University Road, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK ; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.

Abstract

Very preterm birth is associated with an increased prevalence of attention problems and may especially impair executive attention, i.e., top-down control of attentional selection in situations where distracting information interferes with the processing of task-relevant stimuli. While there are initial findings linking structural brain alterations in preterm-born individuals with attention problems, the functional basis of these problems are not well understood. The present study used an fMRI adaptation of the Attentional Network Test to examine the neural correlates of executive attention in a large sample of N = 86 adults born very preterm and/or with very low birth weight (VP/VLBW), and N = 100 term-born controls. Executive attention was measured by comparing task behavior and brain activations associated with the processing of incongruent vs. congruent arrow flanker stimuli. Consistent with subtle impairments of executive attention, the VP/VLBW group showed lower accuracy and a tendency for increased response times during the processing of incongruent stimuli. Both groups showed similar activation patters, especially within expected fronto-cingulo-parietal areas, but no significant between-group differences. Our results argue for a maintained attention-relevant network organization in high-functioning preterm born adults in spite of subtle deficits in executive attention. Gestational age and neonatal treatment variables showed associations with task behavior, and brain activation in the dorsal ACC and lateral occipital areas, suggesting that the degree of prematurity (and related neonatal complications) has subtle modulatory influences on executive attention processing.

Keywords: ACC, anterior cingulate cortex; ANT, Attentional Network Test; Anterior cingulate; Attentional Network Test; BLS, Bavarian Longitudinal Study; BW, birth weight; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; DLPFC, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; DNTI, duration of neonatal intensive treatment; EHI, Edinburgh Handedness Inventory; ELBW, extremely low birth weight; EP, extremely preterm; Executive attention; FWE, familywise error; GA, gestational age; GM, gray matter; Gestational age; ICV, intracranial volume; INTI, intensity of neonatal intensive treatment; IVH, intraventricular hemorrhage; PFC, prefrontal cortex; Preterm birth; VLBW, very low birth weight; VP, very preterm; WM, white matter; fMRI, functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / complications
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / pathology*
Brain / blood supply
Brain / pathology*
Brain Mapping*
Cognition Disorders / complications
Cognition Disorders / pathology*
Executive Function / physiology*
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Infant, Extremely Premature*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neural Pathways / blood supply
Neural Pathways / pathology
Neuropsychological Tests
Oxygen / blood

Substances

Oxygen