Assessing sustained attention processes and related cerebral activations in typically developing adolescents using the gradual-onset continuous performance task (gradCPT)
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Introduction
Sustained attention and inhibition processes are fundamental components of attention that mature during adolescence, a transitive period between childhood and adulthood characterized by a rapid behavioral and cognitive development. The current study aimed to provide a better understanding of sustained attention and inhibition processes in typically developing adolescents (n = 26) aged 11-18.
Methods
Functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) were acquired during two different modalities (the face and the scene ) from a previously validated gradual□onset continuous (gradCPT) paradigm to evaluate sustained attention performances. In addition, we performed linear regression analyses to investigate how cerebral activation varied as a function of covariates of interest.
Results
We showed a bilateral fronto-parieto-occipito brain activation during response inhibition regardless the type of task. Participants demonstrated better behavioral performances during the scene gradCPT. We observed a mainly left-lateralized pattern of activation in a fronto-cingulo-cerebellum area during the face gradCPT and an extended bilateral fronto-temporo-parieto-occipital activation during the scene gradCPT. Finally, we found associations between brain activity and behavioral attentional responses.
Conclusion
This study gives a better understanding of the neural correlates of sustained attention and inhibition in a typically developing adolescent population.
