Functional Connectivity of the Dorsal and Ventral Attention Network and Its Role in Attentional Disengagement

The interplay between the ventral attention network (VAN) and dorsal attention network (DAN) is crucial for attentional control, particularly in disengagement processes. While task-based fMRI studies have extensively characterized their roles, less is known about whether intrinsic connectivity patterns during rest within these networks predict individual differences in attentional disengagement. This study investigates the relationship between resting-state functional VAN-DAN connectivity and disengagement efficiency.

An initial sample of 85 healthy participants completed a spatial cueing task, assessing attentional disengagement through reaction time differences between valid and invalid cue trials. Resting-state fMRI data were collected and analyzed using seed-based connectivity methods. Functional connectivity between key VAN and DAN regions-frontal eye fields (FEF), intraparietal sulcus (IPS), inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and supramarginal gyrus (SMG)-was examined in relation to a disengagement index, representing cue validity effects.

Participants exhibited slower responses to invalidly cued targets, with a greater disengagement cost in the left visual field. Functional connectivity analyses revealed that VAN regions, particularly the right IFG and SMG, showed stronger associations with attentional disengagement than DAN regions. Increased FC with occipito-temporal areas correlated with heightened validity effects in the left hemifield, while greater connectivity with medial parietal and cingulate regions was linked to reduced disengagement asymmetry. Interhemispheric connectivity also played a modulatory role in attentional control.

These findings underscore the role of VAN over DAN in attentional disengagement, emphasizing the right IFG and SMG in reorienting attention. Greater connectivity with occipito-temporal regions may hinder disengagement, while enhanced functional connectivity with medial cortical areas facilitates adaptive shifts in attention. This study highlights the importance of intrinsic VAN-DAN interactions in shaping attentional control and provides insights into the neural mechanisms underlying disengagement efficiency.