Spatial orientation deficit in children due to cerebellum astrocytoma pediatric tumor obtained by means of the Attentional Network Test

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 504; no. 3; pp. 232 - 236
• Main Authors: Quintero-Gallego, E.A., Gómez, C.M., Morales, M., Márquez, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 31.10.2011
• Subjects: Astrocytoma; Astrocytoma - complications; Astrocytoma - physiopathology; Astrocytoma - psychology; Astrocytoma - surgery; Attention; Attention - physiology; Attentional deficits; Attentional Network Test; Brain Mapping; Cerebellar lesions; Cerebellar Neoplasms - complications; Cerebellar Neoplasms - physiopathology; Cerebellar Neoplasms - psychology; Cerebellar Neoplasms - surgery; Cerebellum; Cerebellum - physiopathology; Child; Children; Cognitive ability; Cues; Female; Fixation, Ocular - physiology; Frontal Lobe - physiopathology; Humans; Learning Disorders - etiology; Learning Disorders - physiopathology; Male; Nerve Net - physiopathology; Nervous system; Neuropsychological Tests; Orientation - physiology; Orientation network; Parietal Lobe - physiopathology; Pediatrics; Perceptual Masking - physiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - physiopathology; Psychomotor Performance; Spatial Behavior - physiology; Spatial orientation; Substantia grisea; Tumors; Spatial orientation; Attentional deficits; Attentional Network Test; Orientation network; Astrocytoma; Cerebellar lesions
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.09.034

► Cerebellar astrocytoma impaired the spatial orientation attentional network in children. ► The orientation network scores impairment is not due to motor or sensory processes. ► The cortico–pontine–cerebellar–thalamic–cortical loop would be the basis for this impairment. Cerebellum astrocytomas are the most typical nervous system tumors in children. Several cognitive deficits have been previously described. These deficits are probably produced by cerebellar connection and gray matter damage. The present study examines attentional deficits in children operated on for cerebellum astrocytomas, using an attentional paradigm with theoretical and clinical bases: the Attentional Network Test (ANT). This test was designed considering the attentional network theory proposed by Posner, and its usefulness has been demonstrated in clinical settings. Children operated on for cerebellar astrocytoma showed a mild attentional deficit in the orientation network.