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DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-828484
Human Attentional Networks
Aufmerksamkeits-Netzwerke des MenschenPublication History
Publication Date:
08 December 2004 (online)
![](https://www.thieme-connect.de/media/psychiat-praxis/2004S2/lookinside/thumbnails/10.1055-s-2004-828484-1.jpg)
Zusammenfassung
In den letzten Jahren gelang es, die Dimension Aufmerksamkeit als eine Art Organsystem mit spezifischer Anatomie sowie eigenen Schaltschemata und Funktionen zu definieren. Aufmerksamkeit kann in Form von drei untereinander verbundenen neuronalen Netzwerken im menschlichen Gehirn betrachtet werden. Diese Netzwerke bewerkstelligen spezifische Funktionen wie die Entwicklung und Aufrechterhaltung von Wachsamkeit, die Orientierung hin zum sensorischen Input und die exekutive Kontrolle. Störungen dieser Netzwerke bzw. ihrer Neuromodulatoren geht einher mit spezifischen neurologischen und psychiatrischen Defiziten. Um die Anatomie, die Schaltschemata, die Pathologie und die Entwicklung der Aufmerksamkeitsnetzwerke genauer zu studieren haben wir mittels fMRI, ERP, genetischen und Rechenmodellen behaviorale, Entwicklungs- und Patientenuntersuchungen durchgeführt. Der Aufmerksamkeitsnetzwerk-Test (ANT) wurde entwickelt um die Effektivität der drei neuronalen Netzwerke messen zu können und könnte unter Umständen als Test zur Endophänotypisierung für genetische Studien genutzt werden. Der folgende Überblick fasst die Untersuchungen unserer Arbeitsgruppe hinsichtlich normaler und psychopathologischer ANT-Testergebnisse zusammen.
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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Ph.D Jin Fan
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
One Gustave L. Levy Place
New York 10029, USA
Email: jin.fan@mssm.edu