Hemispheric asymmetry in the efficiency of attentional networks

• Published in: Brain and cognition Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 117 - 128
• Main Authors: Asanowicz, Dariusz, Marzecová, Anna, Jaśkowski, Piotr, Wolski, Piotr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.07.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activity levels. Psychomotricity; Adult; Anatomical correlates of behavior; Arousal - physiology; Asymmetry; Attention; Attention - physiology; Attention Network Test; Attentional asymmetries; Attentional networks; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Cognitive Development; Cognitive Processes; Conflict Resolution; Dominance, Cerebral; Evaluation Methods; Executive Function; Executive Function - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemispheric asymmetry; Hemispheric specialization; Humans; Male; Nerve Net; Neuropsychological Tests; Orientation - physiology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Reaction Time; Task Analysis; Tests; Vigilance. Attention. Sleep; Visual Stimuli; Attentional networks; Hemispheric asymmetry; Hemispheric specialization; Attentional asymmetries; Attention; Attention Network Test; Human; Central nervous system; Cognition; Encephalon; Asymmetry; Perception; Attentional network; Laterality; Visual attention
• ISSN: 0278-2626; 1090-2147
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2012.02.014

► Attentional asymmetries were measured with a revised lateralized ANT task. ► The task provides reliable RT and ERR indexes of attentional networks’ efficiency. ► A left visual-field (LVF) advantage was observed in reorienting of attention. ► A LVF advantage was also found in conflict resolution. ► The study provides a new, detailed account of attentional asymmetries. Despite the fact that hemispheric asymmetry of attention has been widely studied, a clear picture of this complex phenomenon is still lacking. The aim of the present study was to provide an efficient and reliable measurement of potential hemispheric asymmetries of three attentional networks, i.e. alerting, orienting and executive attention. Participants (N=125) were tested with the Lateralized Attention Network Test (LANT) that allowed us to investigate the efficiency of the networks in both visual fields (VF). We found a LVF advantage when a target occurred in an unattended location, which seems to reflect right hemisphere superiority in control of the reorienting of attention. Furthermore, a LVF advantage in conflict resolution was observed, which may indicate hemispheric asymmetry of the executive network. No VF effect for alerting was found. The results, consistent with the common notion of general right hemisphere dominance for attention, provide a more detailed account of hemispheric asymmetries of the attentional networks than previous studies using the LANT task.