Human attentional networks
Abstract
In recent years it has been possible to treat attention as an organ system with its own anatomy, circuitry and set of functions. We view attention in terms of three interrelated neural networks in the human brain. These networks carry out the specific functions of developing and maintaining the alert state, orienting to sensory input, and executive control. Damage to these networks or their chemical neuromodulators can produce specific neurological and psychiatric deficits. We have conducted behavioral, developmental, and patient studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), event related potentials (ERP), genetics, and computational modeling to investigate the anatomy, circuitry, pathology, and development of attentional networks. The Attentional Network Test (ANT) is developed to measure the efficiency of each of the attention networks. The ANT can also serve as an endophenotype for genetic studies on attentional networks. This paper reviews our work with the ANT in studies of normal performance and various forms of psychopathology.
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ADHD primarily involves the fronto-striatal and fronto-parietal networks.
“Besides these macrostructural indicators, it was suggested that ADHD primarily involves the fronto-striatal [13] as well as fronto-parietal networks [14].”
From The brain anatomy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in young adults—a magnetic resonance imaging study (2017) · cites this paper as [14]
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Mindfulness Meditation Training in Adults and Adolescents With ADHD: A Feasibility Study
Zylowska, L., Ackerman, D. L., Yang, M. H., Futrell, J. L., Horton, N. L., Hale, T. S., Pataki, C., & Smalley, S. L. (2008) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054707308502 · Cited by 674 · see citing works
“…was assessed via the Attention Network Test (ANT), a computerized test measuring three aspects of attention: alerting (maintaining a vigilant state of preparedness), orienting (selecting a stimulus among multiple inputs), and conflict (prioritizing among competing tasks; Fan & Posner, 2004).”
MethodAuditory attention — focusing the searchlight on sound
Fritz, J. B., Elhilali, M., David, S. V., & Shamma, S. (2007) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2007.07.011 · Cited by 521 · see citing works
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Networks
Bush, G. (2010) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2009.120 · Cited by 358 · see citing works
“More recent functional imaging evidence has also supported Posner and Petersen's three-module framework and started to link these brain findings to genetic influences (Fan et al, 2003, 2005; Fan and Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundIs there a bilingual advantage in the ANT task? Evidence from children
Antón, E., Duñabeitia, J. A., Estévez, A., Hernandez-Cabrera, J. A., Castillo, A., Fuentes, L. J., Davidson, D. J., & Carreiras, M. (2014) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00398 · Cited by 328 · see citing works
“Hence, considering that the current results fully replicate the indices observed in preceding studies with the ANT task (e.g., Fan and Posner, 2004; Fan et al., 2005; Wang and Fan, 2007; Ishigami and Klein, 2010; Yin et al., 2012; Mackie et al., 2013 among many others), it is hardly possible that…”
ResultAppraising the ANT: Psychometric and theoretical considerations of the Attention Network Test.
MacLeod, J. W., Lawrence, M. A., McConnell, M., Eskes, G. A., Klein, R. M., & Shore, D. I. (2010) · Neuropsychology · doi:10.1037/a0019803 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
The relation of brain oscillations to attentional networks
Fan, J., Byrne, J., Worden, M. S., Guise, K. G., McCandliss, B. D., Fossella, J., & Posner, M. I. (2007) · Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1833-07.2007 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
“Jin Fan,1,2 Jennie Byrne,1 Michael S. Worden,3 Kevin G. Guise,1 Bruce D. McCandliss,4 John Fossella,1 and Michael I. Posner4,5 1Departments of Psychiatry and 2Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, 3Brain Science Program, Brown University,”
BackgroundSelf-citationMindfulness training affects attention—Or is it attentional effort?
Jensen, C. G., Vangkilde, S., Frokjaer, V., & Hasselbalch, S. G. (2012) · Journal of Experimental Psychology: General · doi:10.1037/a0024931 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
“However, Fan & Posner (2004), cocreators of the applied paradigm, acknowledged: " It is also possible that increased effort may facilitate more efficient use of the peripheral cue, [which] could indicate improved orienting " (p. S212, italics added).”
BackgroundUsing genetic data in cognitive neuroscience: from growing pains to genuine insights
Green, A. E., Munafo, M. R., DeYoung, C. G., Fossella, J., Fan, J., & Gray, J. R. (2008) · Nature reviews. Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn2461 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
“Imaging studies of brain activity during performance of the AN”
BackgroundSelf-citationGreater efficiency in attentional processing related to mindfulness meditation
van den Hurk, P. A. M., Giommi, F., Gielen, S. C., Speckens, A. E. M., & Barendregt, H. P. (2010) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1080/17470210903249365 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
An information theory account of cognitive control
Fan, J. (2014) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00680 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
“Attention is defined as the activity of a set of brain networks of alerting, orienting, and executive control that influences the priority of computations of other brain networks for access to consciousness or to output (Fan et al., 2002, 2005; Fan and Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundSelf-citationSahdra, B. K., MacLean, K. A., Ferrer, E., Shaver, P. R., Rosenberg, E. L., Jacobs, T. L., Zanesco, A. P., King, B. G., Aichele, S. R., Bridwell, D. A., et al. (2011) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0022764 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Mitchell, J. T., McIntyre, E., English, J. S., Dennis, M. F., Beckham, J. C., & Kollins, S. H. (2013) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054713513328 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
“To measure components of EF, the following laboratory tasks were administered: the Attention Network Task (ANT; Fan & Posner, 2004), which is a computerized test measuring alerting (maintaining a vigilant state of preparedness), orienting (selecting a stimulus among multiple inputs), and conflict…”
MethodLong-term effects of frequent cannabis use on working memory and attention: an fMRI study
Jager, G., Kahn, R. S., van den Brink, W., van Ree, J. M., & Ramsey, N. F. (2006) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-005-0298-7 · Cited by 186 · see citing works
“…to find proof of gross abnormalities, but there is some evidence for mild cognitive impairments, particularly in the domain of attention, memory and executive functions (Block and Ghoneim 1993; Fletcher et al. 1996; Hall and Solowij 1998; Pope et al. 1995, 2001a,b, 2002; Solowij et al. 2002).”
BackgroundImpaired attention and network connectivity in childhood absence epilepsy
Killory, B. D., Bai, X., Negishi, M., Vega, C., Spann, M. N., Vestal, M. L., Guo, J. N., Berman, R., Danielson, N., Trejo, J., et al. (2011) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.03.036 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
“CPT does not differentiate among particular attention networks, including orienting, alerting, and executive functions, as previously described (Fan et al., 2005a; Fan et al., 2005b; Fan and Posner, 2004).”
Coffman, B. A., Trumbo, M., & Clark, V. P. (2012) · BMC Neuroscience · doi:10.1186/1471-2202-13-108 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
“These three measures have been validated in previous behavioral and imaging studies and represent functionally and anatomically distinct attention networks in the brain [18,19].”
ResultWhat is remembered? Role of attention on the encoding and retrieval of hippocampal representations
Muzzio, I. A., Kentros, C. G., & Kandel, E. R. (2009) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2009.172445 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
“Neuroimageing and pharmacological studies later confirmed that each of these attentional networks requires a distinct neuroanatomical substrate that is modulated by a different neurotransmitter system (Marrocco et al. 1994; Fan & Posner, 2004; Raz, 2004).”
BackgroundSocial stimuli interfere with cognitive control in autism
Dichter, G. S., & Belger, A. (2007) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.12.038 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
“We employed a variant of the Attention Network Test (ANT, Fan & Posner, 2004;Fan, McCandliss, Sommer, Raz, & Posner, 2002), a well-replicated task originally designed to assess the integrity of attentional and executive networks.”
MethodIntensive video gaming improves encoding speed to visual short-term memory in young male adults
Wilms, I. L., Petersen, A., & Vangkilde, S. (2012) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2012.11.003 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Caffeine modulates attention network function
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Matchock, R. L., & Mordkoff, J. T. (2008) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-008-1567-6 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
“As pointed out by Fan and Posner (2004) : “Larger alerting numbers generally arise when one group has diYculty in maintaining alertness without a cue” (p. S211).”
BackgroundInfluentialAttentional Processes in Skill Learning and Expert Performance
Abernethy, B., Maxwell, J. P., Masters, R. S. W., van der Kamp, J., & Jackson, R. C. (2007) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118270011.ch11 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
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In vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the attentional networks in autism
Bernardi, S., Anagnostou, E. A., Shen, J., Kolevzon, A. L., Buxbaum, J. D., Hollander, E., Hof, P. R., & Fan, J. (2010) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2010.12.057 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Self-citationGehricke, J.-G., Kruggel, F., Thampipop, T., Alejo, S. D., Tatos, E., Fallon, J., & Muftuler, L. T. (2017) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0175433 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
“Besides these macrostructural indicators, it was suggested that ADHD primarily involves the fronto-striatal [13] as well as fronto-parietal networks [14].”
BackgroundAn Overview of Attention: Behavior and Brain
McDowd, J. M. (2007) · Neurology Report · doi:10.1097/npt.0b013e31814d7874 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Measuring attention in the hemispheres: The lateralized attention network test (LANT)
Greene, D. J., Barnea, A., Herzberg, K., Rassis, A., Neta, M., Raz, A., & Eran Zaidel, B. (2007) · Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2007.05.003 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Do Attention Deficits Influence IQ Assessment in Children and Adolescents with ADHD?
Jepsen, J. R. M., Fagerlund, B., & Mortensen, E. L. (2009) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/1087054708322996 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
“The executive control of attention component (divided attention) involves more complex mental operations needed in situations that involve planning, error detection, decision making, and so on (Fan & Posner, 2004; Fan, Raz, & Posner, 2003; Swanson et al., 1998).”
BackgroundThe impact of passive hyperthermia on human attention networks: An fMRI study
Liu, K., Sun, G., Li, B., Jiang, Q., Yang, X., Li, M., Li, L., Qian, S., Zhao, L., Zhou, Z., et al. (2013) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.013 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Luna, F. G., Marino, J., Roca, J., & Lupiáñez, J. (2018) · Journal of Neuroscience Methods · doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.05.011 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Functional Neural Correlates of Attentional Deficits in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Dam, N. T. V., Sano, M. C., Mitsis, E. M., Grossman, H. T., Gu, X., Park, Y., Hof, P. R., & Fan, J. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054035 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
“Participants completed the ANT, which we previously developed and have validated in both healthy controls and psychiatric patients [20,21,23,60,61], while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).”
MethodSelf-citationPoissant, H., Mendrek, A., Talbot, N., Khoury, B., & Nolan, J. A. (2019) · Behavioural Neurology · doi:10.1155/2019/5682050 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
“Attention was evaluated using the ANT and the CPT-2, before and after intervention.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialAttention Network Test in adults with ADHD - the impact of affective fluctuations
Lundervold, A. J., Adólfsdóttir, S., Halleland, H. B., Halmøy, A., Plessen, K. J., & Haavik, J. (2011) · Behavioral and Brain Functions · doi:10.1186/1744-9081-7-27 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
“These networks have been associated with different anatomical locations, neurotransmitter systems and genetic markers [23,24], and the model has inspired studies of attention deficits in ADHD as well as in other neuropsychiatric disorders (see [25]).”
BackgroundHuman Attentional Networks: A Connectionist Model
Wang, H., & Fan, J. (2007) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn.2007.19.10.1678 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
“At least three attentional networks (i.e., alerting, orienting, and executive control) have been identified at multiple levels (Posner, 2004; Posner & Dehaene, 2000; Posner & Raichle, 1994).”
InfluentialSelf-citationWolkin, J. (2015) · Psychology Research and Behavior Management · doi:10.2147/prbm.s31458 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Working Memory Training Improves Emotion Regulation Ability
Xiu, L., Wu, J., Chang, L., & Zhou, R. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-31495-2 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Efficiency of attentional networks in musicians and non-musicians
Medina, D., & Barraza, P. (2019) · Heliyon · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e01315 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Attention networks and the intrinsic network structure of the human brain
Markett, S. A., Nothdurfter, D., Focsa, A. H., Reuter, M., & Jawinski, P. (2021) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.25734 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
“We defined the attention networks as the set of activated grayordinates in different contrasts in the attention network test, the standard protocol proposed by the authors of attention network theory (Fan et al., 2009; Fan & Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundMethodADHD and attentional control: Impaired segregation of task positive and task negative brain networks
Mills, B. D., Miranda-Domínguez, Ó., Mills, K. L., Earl, E., Cordova, M., Painter, J. G., Karalunas, S. L., Nigg, J. T., & Fair, D. A. (2017) · Network Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/netn_a_00034 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Hyperthermia impairs the executive function using the Attention Network Test
Sun, G., Yang, X., Jiang, Q., Liu, K., Li, B., Li, L., Zhao, L., & Li, M. (2012) · International Journal of Hyperthermia · doi:10.3109/02656736.2012.705217 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Meyer-Baron, M., Knapp, G., Schäper, M., & van Thriel, C. (2014) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2014.09.030 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
“The attention network test (Fan et al., 2002, Fan and Posner, 2004) allows to obtain reliable estimates of the efficiency of each of the networks within half an hour, also for animals (Fan et al., 2002).”
MethodHansen, B. H., Skirbekk, B., Oerbeck, B., Wentzel‐Larsen, T., & Kristensen, H. (2013) · Behavioral Sleep Medicine · doi:10.1080/15402002.2013.764525 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
“How sleep problems are related to functioning of the different attentional networks as described by Fan and Posner (2004) has not been reported in children with ADHD.”
BackgroundColor Stroop and negative priming in schizophrenia: An fMRI study
Ungar, L., Nestor, P. G., Niznikiewicz, M. A., Wible, C. G., & Kubicki, M. R. (2009) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2009.07.005 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
“This neural activity is coordinated and organized across networks of brain regions that traverse anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and medial and lateral parietal sites (Botvinick et al., 2001; Carter et al., 2001; Fan and Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundThe Attention Network Test-Interaction (ANT-I): reliability and validity in healthy older adults
Ishigami, Y., Eskes, G. A., Tyndall, A. V., Longman, R. S., Drogos, L. L., & Poulin, M. J. (2015) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-015-4493-4 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
The effect of multisensory cues on attention in aging
Mahoney, J. R., Verghese, J., Dumas, K., Wang, C., & Holtzer, R. (2012) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2012.07.014 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
“…test (ANT) that simultaneously investigates the effects of alerting, orienting, and executive attention, as well as their possible interactions (Fan et al., 2002, 2003, 2005; Fan and Posner, 2004; Posner and Petersen, 1990; Posner et al., 2006; Posner and Rothbart, 2007; Raz and Buhle, 2006).”
PDE and cognitive processing: Beyond the memory domain
Heckman, P. R. A., Blokland, A., Ramaekers, J. G., & Prickaerts, J. (2014) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2014.10.011 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
“Posner and Petersen (Fan & Posner, 2004; Petersen & Posner, 2012; Posner & Petersen, 1990) describe the concept that is referred to as ‘attention’ in terms of three basic concepts.”
Neuroimaging and genetic associations of attentional and hypnotic processes
Raz, A., Fan, J., & Posner, M. I. (2006) · Journal of Physiology-Paris · doi:10.1016/j.jphysparis.2006.03.003 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
“…an important part of the executive network (i.e., selective attention and conflict resolution), and the right frontal and parietal areas are active when people maintain the alert state (See also Fan and Posner, 2004; Fan et al., 2003b, 2005; Raz, 2004a; Raz and Buhle, 2006; Raz and Shapiro, 2002).”
Self-citationKaufman, D. A. S., Sozda, C. N., Dotson, V. M., & Perlstein, W. M. (2016) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2016.00099 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
“These executive operations are particularly crucial when situations are novel or difficult, and require response monitoring or inhibition of strong prepotent response tendencies (Fan and Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundBlock, S. R., & Liberzon, I. (2016) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.05.009 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Roca, J., Lupiáñez, J., López-Ramón, M.-F., & Castro, C. (2012) · Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour · doi:10.1016/j.trf.2012.10.005 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Immersion in nature enhances neural indices of executive attention
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“Fan and Posner (2004) have indicated that higher alerting scores have been associated with difficulty in maintaining alertness without a cue.”
Parsing the intrinsic networks underlying attention: A resting state study
Visintin, E., Panfilis, C. D., Antonucci, C., Capecci, C., Marchesi, C., & Sambataro, F. (2014) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2014.10.002 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
The Effects of Martial Arts Training on Attentional Networks in Typical Adults
Johnstone, A., & Marı́-Beffa, P. (2018) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00080 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
“For example, Fan and Posner (2004) suggested the use of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to look at the attentional networks’ functional connectivity; by understanding how these circuits work in a typical group of participants, we could then begin to investigate whether Martial Arts experience has…”
BackgroundJo, H., Schmidt, S., Inacker, E., Markowiak, M., & Hinterberger, T. (2015) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2015.11.016 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Behavioral and neural correlates of disrupted orienting attention in posttraumatic stress disorder
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“In our data, the larger orienting effect in the PTSD group was driven by slower RT in center cue trials, indicating difficulty with disengaging attention from the central cue location and reorienting to the target location (Fan & Posner, 2004).”
MethodDefining a Link between Perceptual Learning and Attention
Yotsumoto, Y., & Watanabe, T. (2008) · PLoS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060221 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
“Posner and colleagues [23-25] defined attention as assemblies of three different subsystems: alerting, orienting, and executive attention.”
BackgroundPeters, S., Handy, T. C., Lakhani, B., Boyd, L. A., & Garland, S. J. (2015) · Physical Therapy · doi:10.2522/ptj.20140492 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Kaufmann, L., Zieren, N., Zotter, S., Karall, D., Scholl‐Bürgi, S., Haberlandt, E., & Fimm, B. (2010) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03560.x · Cited by 44 · see citing works
“The alerting network mediates the employment and maintenance of the alert state and is supported by frontoparietal regions of the right hemisphere, possibly modulated by noradrenergic neurotransmitters.(8) The executive network is enrolled in attention shifting, inhibitory control, and conflict monitoring.”
BackgroundCooper, N. R., Uller, C., Pettifer, J., & Stolc, F. (2009) · Acta Paediatrica · doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2009.01377.x · Cited by 46 · see citing works
“however, an additional factor to bear in mind is the possibility that in some circumstances, high orienting scores may indicate efficient use of the valid spatial cue (16).”
BackgroundInfluentialZhang, D., Zhang, X., Ma, H., Wang, Y., Ma, H., & Liu, M. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18886-7 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Elements of attention in HIV-infected adults: Evaluation of an existing model
Levine, A. J., Hardy, D. J., Barclay, T. R., Reinhard, M. J., Cole, M. M., & Hinkin, C. H. (2007) · Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/13803390601186684 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“Some support has been established for Posner's model, included functional imaging and genetic association studies ( Fan & Posner, 2004 ; Fan, Wu, Fossella, & Posner, 2001 ; Fossella et al, 2002 ).”
MethodAttentional control mediates the effect of social anxiety on positive affect
Morrison, A. S., & Heimberg, R. G. (2012) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2012.10.002 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
“Attention is a complex collection of cognitive mechanisms, one of which is executive attention (e.g., Fan & Posner, 2004; Posner & Petersen, 1990; Posner & Rothbar, 2007).”
BackgroundGilmour, G., Porcelli, S., Bertaina‐Anglade, V., Arce, E., Dukart, J., Hayen, A., Lobo, A., López‐Antón, R., Pich, E. M., Pemberton, D. J., et al. (2018) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.025 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Machizawa, M. G., & Driver, J. (2010) · Neuropsychologia · doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.11.032 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Kubicki, M., Niznikiewicz, M., Connor, E., Ungar, L., Nestor, P. G., Bouix, S., Dreusicke, M., Kikinis, R., McCarley, R. W., & Shenton, M. E. (2009) · Brain Imaging and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11682-009-9061-8 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“The two main functions of these areas are: 1) evaluation and monitoring (i.e., detecting conflicts in information processing) (e.g., Botvinick et al. 2001, Carter et al. 2001, Cohen and Shoup 2000, Gehring and Knight 2000), and 2) regulation and control (often referred to as executive-attention) (e.g., Fan and Posner…”
BackgroundThe preparatory set: a novel approach to understanding stress, trauma, and the bodymind therapies
Payne, P., & Crane‐Godreau, M. A. (2015) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00178 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
“More rostral areas become involved later: the parietal lobe and the frontal eye fields (for visual stimuli), and finally, with volitional direction of attention, anterior cingulate and prefrontal cortex (Fan and Posner, 2004).”
BackgroundTian, Y., Du, J., Spagna, A., Mackie, M.-A., Gu, X., Dong, Y., Fan, J., & Wang, K. (2016) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/srep28028 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Self-citationIdentification of Two Distinct Working Memory-Related Brain Networks in Healthy Young Adults
Egli, T., Coynel, D., Spalek, K., Fastenrath, M., Freytag, V., Heck, A., Loos, E., Auschra, B., Papassotiropoulos, A., de Quervain, D. J. ‐., et al. (2018) · eNeuro · doi:10.1523/eneuro.0222-17.2018 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
“Sets of brain regions that appear similar to our parietally-centered network have been described in past studies as orienting system for visual events (Fan and Posner, 2004) or dorsal attention network (Power et al., 2011; Petersen and Posner, 2012).”
BackgroundTemperament and Self‐Regulation
Galehouse, P. J., & Foley, M. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118704660.ch2 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Sustained wakefulness and visual attention: moderation by chronotype
Barclay, N. L., & Myachykov, A. (2016) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-016-4772-8 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
“At the same time, visual attention is a complex system of functionally and anatomically distinct brain networks, which underlie our ability to (1) maintain an “alert” state (alerting network), (2) “orient” attention to stimuli (orienting network), and (3) resolve conflict when numerous stimuli simultaneously compete f…”
BackgroundNeuroimaging Biomarkers of New-Onset Psychiatric Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Mayer, A. R., & Quinn, D. K. (2021) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.06.005 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Entropy as Measure of Brain Networks’ Complexity in Eyes Open and Closed Conditions
Vecchio, F., Miraglia, F., Pappalettera, C., Orticoni, A., Alù, F., Judica, E., Cotelli, M., & Rossini, P. M. (2021) · Symmetry · doi:10.3390/sym13112178 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
“…for visual events, relies heavily on frontal eye fields and on parietal systems, comprising the temporal parietal junction and the superior parietal lobe [51]; the basal forebrain with its cholinergic systems also seems to play a fundamental role in controlling attentional orienting [52].”
BackgroundAttention to emotional information is associated with cytokine responses to psychological stress.
Maydych, V., Claus, M., Watzl, C., & Kleinsorge, T. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.00687 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Atypical modulation of cognitive control by arousal in autism
Dichter, G. S., & Belger, A. (2008) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.12.005 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“Our research group recently employed a variant of the Attention Network Test (ANT, Fan and Posner, 2004; Fan et al., 2002), a task originally designed to assess the integrity of attentional and executive networks, to investigate the neural mediators of cognitive control in autism (Dichter and Belger, 2007).”
MethodFu, D., Weber, C., Yang, G., Kerzel, M., Nan, W., Barros, P. V. A., Wu, H., Liu, X., & Wermter, S. (2020) · Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnint.2020.00010 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“Fan and Posner designed the Attentional Network Test (ANT) by combining the classic Flanker task and Posner cueing task to provide a quantitative measurement for studying the sub-components: alerting, orienting, and executive control (Fan et al., 2002, 2005; Fan and Posner, 2004).”
MethodClozapine improves the orienting of attention in schizophrenia
Spagna, A., Dong, Y., Mackie, M., Li, M., Harvey, P. D., Tian, Y., Wang, K., & Fan, J. (2015) · Schizophrenia Research · doi:10.1016/j.schres.2015.08.009 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
Self-citationDoes attentional dysfunction and thalamic atrophy predict decline in dementia with Lewy bodies?
Watson, R., Colloby, S. J., Blamire, A. M., Wesnes, K. A., Wood, J., & O'Brien, J. T. (2017) · Parkinsonism & Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2017.10.006 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
“10 the alerting task (vigilance) involved the thalamic areas [26, 27].”
BackgroundDifferential effects of film on preschool children's behaviour dependent on editing pace
Kostyrka‐Allchorne, K., Cooper, N. R., Gossmann, A. M., Barber, K. J., & Simpson, A. (2017) · Acta Paediatrica · doi:10.1111/apa.13770 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“Although due to the possible alternative explanations of orienting scores (20), these findings were somewhat difficult to interpret, it is evident that even a very brief exposure to a fast-paced film can affect children’s attention.”
BackgroundLaCroix, A. N., Blumenstein, N., Tully, M., Baxter, L. C., & Rogalsky, C. (2020) · Brain and Language · doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104756 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Ivanov, I., Liu, X., Schulz, K. P., Fan, J., London, E. D., Friston, K. J., Halperin, J. M., & Newcorn, J. H. (2012) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.08.004 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationZhan, J., Wilding, J. P. H., Cornish, K. M., Shao, J., Xie, C., Wang, Y., Lee, K., Karmiloff‐Smith, A., & Zhao, Z. (2010) · Child Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/09297049.2010.525500 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
“Posner's Attention Network Test (ANT; Fan, McCandliss, Sommer, Raz, & Posner, 2002 ; Fan & Posner, 2004 ) and its modified version for children (Rueda et al, 2004 ) are designed to measure these mechanisms separately.”
Alerting Network Dysfunction in Early Multiple Sclerosis
Crivelli, L., Farez, M., González, C. D., Fiol, M. P., Amengual, A., Leiguarda, R. C., & Correale, J. D. (2012) · Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society · doi:10.1017/s1355617712000410 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
“The ANT has been used with normal subjects (Fan et al., 2002) and a variety of patient populations (e.g., Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Correspondence and reprint requests to: Mauricio F. Farez, Raúl Carrea Institute for Neurologica…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSleep duration, sleep variability, and impairments of visual attention
Barclay, N. L., Rowley, S., Robson, A., Akram, U., & Myachykov, A. (2019) · Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology · doi:10.1177/1747021819895771 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“These networks are governed by distinct neurobiological pathways (Fan & Posner, 2004), and they are individually supported by network-specific genetic modulators (Fossella et al., 2002), making it likely that they are also differentially affected by sleep.”
Rezazadeh, S. M., Wilding, J. P. H., & Cornish, K. M. (2011) · Child Neuropsychology · doi:10.1080/09297049.2010.532203 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
“Although all three components will operate through a series of different neural circuits, the majority of attention paradigms will require the integration of all these processes (eg, Fan & Posner, 2004 ).”
BackgroundAlterations of theta oscillation in executive control in temporal lobe epilepsy patients
Li, X., Hou, Y., Ren, Y., Tian, X., & Song, Y. (2018) · Epilepsy Research · doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.12.017 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Havenith, M. N., Zijderveld, P. M., van Heukelum, S., Abghari, S., Glennon, J. C., & Tiesinga, P. H. E. (2018) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34966-8 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Increased brain activity to unpleasant stimuli in individuals with the 7R allele of the DRD4 gene
Gehricke, J., Swanson, J. M., Duong, S., Nguyen, J., Wigal, T. L., Fallon, J., Caburian, C., Muftuler, L. T., & Moyzis, R. K. (2014) · Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.10.021 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“As expected, both DRD4-4R/7R and DRD4-4R/4R genotypes were associated with activation of inferior parietal regions, which are involved in passive observation (Cunnington et al., 2006), but only participants with the 7R allele showed activation of DLPFC (Brodmann areas 8, 10, and 46), which reflects attention and prepa…”
BackgroundInfluentialReal-Time Attention Regulation and Cognitive Monitoring Using a Wearable EEG-Based BCI
Huang, H., Chen, J., Xiao, J., Chen, D., Zhang, J., Pan, J., & Li, Y. (2024) · IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering · doi:10.1109/tbme.2024.3468351 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“In addition, these differential linkages were mainly concentrated in the prefrontal and parietal regions, which are closely related to attention processing [41].”
The Boss is Paying Attention: Power Affects the Functioning of the Attentional Networks
Willis, G. B., Rodríguez‐Bailón, R., & Lupiáñez, J. (2011) · Social Cognition · doi:10.1521/soco.2011.29.2.166 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
LaCroix, A. N., Tully, M., & Rogalsky, C. (2020) · Aphasiology · doi:10.1080/02687038.2020.1795077 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
“Alerting involves achieving and maintaining an alert state while orienting is the selection of specific information from a given stimulus (Fan et al., 2002; Fan & Posner, 2004; Posner & Petersen, 1990).”
BackgroundMethodAttention modulation during motor preparation in Parkinsonian freezers: A time–frequency EEG study
Tard, C., Dujardin, K., Bourriez, J., Molaee-Ardekani, B., Derambure, P., Defebvre, L., & Delval, A. (2016) · Clinical Neurophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2016.09.014 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
The role of P-glycoprotein in CNS antihistamine effects
Conen, S., Theunissen, E. L., Vermeeren, A., van Ruitenbeek, P., Stiers, P. L. J., Mehta, M. A., Toennes, S. W., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2013) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-013-3075-z · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“Dopamine plays an important modulating role in the control of executive attention (Fan et al. 2005; Fan and Posner 2004; Posner and Rothbart 2007) which may explain why antihistamines with dopaminergic action affect executive attention.”
BackgroundGut, M., Szumska, I., Wasilewska, M., & Jaśkowskí, P. (2012) · International Journal of Psychophysiology · doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.02.007 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
The role of cognitive processes in vestibular disorders
Guidetti, G. (2013) · Hearing Balance and Communication · doi:10.3109/21695717.2013.765085 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Matchock, R. L., & Mordkoff, J. T. (2013) · Experimental Brain Research · doi:10.1007/s00221-013-3790-z · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Abramov, D. M., Pontes, M. C., Pontes, A. T., Júnior, C. A. M., Vieira, J. R., Cunha, C. Q., Tamborino, T., Galhanone, P. R., deAzevedo, L. C., & Lazarev, V. V. (2017) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2017.03.031 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Temperament and Self‐Regulation
Galehouse, P. J., & Foley, M. (2021) · doi:10.1002/9781119487593.ch2 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Pronurturance Plus at birth: A risk reduction strategy for preventing postpartum haemorrhage
Saxton, A., Fahy, K. M., & Hastie, C. R. (2015) · Women and Birth · doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2015.11.007 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Zhang, M., Gong, X., Jia, J., & Wang, X. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.781997 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“Specifically, Alerting = RTno cue-RTdouble cue;Orienting = RTcenter cueRTspatial cue;Executive control = RTincongruent-RTcongruent (Fan and Posner, 2004; Neuhaus et al., 2010; Yang and Xiang, 2019).”
- Authors
- Fan, J., & Posner, M.
- Affiliations
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (US)
- University of Oregon (US)
- Venue
- Psychiatrische Praxis
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2004-11
- Volume
- 31
- Pages
- 210-214
- ISSN
- 1611-8332 (ISSN-L)
- 1611-8340
- OpenAlex
- W2017895389
- Cited by
- 204
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 2.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- de
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatrische Praxis. Supplement (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Keywords
- attentional networks, alertness, orienting, executive function, neuromodulators, Attentional Network Test, endophenotypes, psychopathology, neuropsychology
- MeSH terms
- Arousal, Attention, Mental Disorders, Brain, Brain Damage, Chronic, Brain Mapping, Genotype, Humans, Individuality, Nerve Net, Neuropsychological Tests
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