Developing attention in typical children related to disabilities.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Attention is crucial for cognitive function and is underpinned by distinct brain networks.
• Understanding the developmental trajectory of these networks is essential for identifying neurological and psychological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define attention by its three core functions: alertness, orienting, and executive control.
• To explore the developmental timelines of the brain networks associated with these attention functions.
• To examine the relationship between developing attention networks and disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual framework defining attention by three functional components.
• Review of developmental changes in attention networks from infancy to adulthood.
• Analysis of the connection between attention network development and specific neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main Results:

• Attention comprises three separable functions: obtaining/maintaining alertness, orienting to stimuli, and selecting among responses.
• The alert state network develops from infancy through adulthood.
• Executive control, crucial for response selection, shows rapid improvement in early childhood.

Conclusions:

• Attention is mediated by three distinct, developing brain networks.
• Deficits in these attention networks are implicated in autistic spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Further research into attention network development is vital for understanding and treating related disorders.