Interaction of Brain Attention Networks in Cognitive Tasks Assignment Sample

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Introduction - Interaction of Brain Attention Networks in Cognitive Tasks

Attention is expounded as the multifaceted cognitive procedure that enables humans to focus on specified stimuli, prioritising mandatory tasks and eradicating irrelevant information. The attention network in the brain plays a significant role during attentional tasks. The theory of attention hypothesises different independent systems concerned with three types of attention networks; Dorsal Attention Network [DAN], Ventral Attention Network [VAN], and Default Mode Network [DMN] (Onofrj et al, 2022). This essay on biological psychology will be based on critically evaluating the ways in which different attention networks within the brain interact with each other during diverse attention tasks. An in-depth analysis will be done, and this would be valuable for those seeking assignment help writing, as it evaluates whether there is an association between DAN, VAN, and DMN while undertaking attentional tasks.

Main Body

The Dorsal Attention Network [DAN] aligned with the intraparietal sulcus, superior colliculus and frontal eye fields. This area is basically active when the attention is oriented under the space. Thus, DAN is accountable for filtering unnecessary information and focusing towards relevant stimuli in the brain. The thoughts of DAN are found in the early stages of attention that further support in emphasising on the relevant stimuli (Owens et al, 2020). Whereas the ventral attention network [VAN] accounts for shaping attention towards unexpected stimuli. The later stages of attention are composed of VAN and accordingly, attention can be reoriented towards specific stimuli or change. The VAN is concerned with the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and the Anterior Inferior Temporal Gyrus. Default mode network [DMN] refers to that system which led to connects different brain areas and plays a significant role in increasing the activity during that time when an individual is not focused (Owens et al, 2020). Hence, it is composed of the varied brain regions that vacillate comprehensibly throughout the resting phase when people do not consider external stimuli. The DMN involves the medial prefrontal cortex, temporoparietal junction and posterior cingulate cortex. It is responsible for remembering the past incident and accordingly envisioning the future instead of performing tasks.

Interaction of Brain Attention Networks in Cognitive Tasks Assignment Sample

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From the findings, it has been evaluated that there is a strong association between DAN and VAN. Both of these networks are correlated with each other at the time of attentional switching. Nevertheless, when people are engaged in such tasks, they need sustained attention and only focus on single stimuli. At this time decreased association has been witnessed between DAN and VAN (Kobayashi et al, 2020). On a critical note, cognitive demand is responsible for distracting attention from painful stimuli. The pain gets exerted and creates a negative impact on cognitive performance from the bottom-up ways. The DMN led to increased activity participation at the time of attentional tasks; for instance, listening to a story in which the individual is not interested or daydreaming (Mengotti et al, 2020). Often, there is an increased correlation between the DMN, DAN and VAN during mind-wandering. Hence, this proves that DMN plays a pivotal role in the modulation of switching attention. This is done by increasing and decreasing the extent of activities possessed by DAN and VAN (Mengotti et al, 2020). Thus, there is no doubt in stating that, the different network has a correlation with each other and this interaction is important for stimulating and fostering the focus of an individual. This results in performing the task by assuring required focus and attention.

In the Journal of PLOS Biology, it was evident that neural oscillation under the Alpha frequency band was composed of switching among varied stimuli. On the other hand, the beta frequency band is associated with sustained attention (Hsu et al, 2020). Furthermore, it has been witnessed that neural oscillations under alpha frequency were strongly connected with DAN and VAN for attentional switching (Chen et al, 2020). This clearly states that it plays an important role in exhibiting attentional switching during different stages of activities. The early stages of attention involve DAN and VAN; this is specifically orientation and shifting of attention to eradicating irrelevant data and focusing on explicit stimuli. It is important to understand how these networks interact with each other so that effectual treatment for attention disorders can be identified. Furthermore, understanding the interaction among networks led to providing detailed insights regarding how abilities could be improved by focusing on relevant stimuli (Qian et al, 2020). In the educational context; it has been proven highly important so that attentional abilities can be enhanced and an individual becomes able to learn relevant things along with filtering irrelevant information (Hsu et al, 2020). Thus, there has been an associated witnessed between three of the networks in the brain that contribute to activating receptors for performing tasks and relevant activities.

Two networks; DAN and VAN are found to be substantial in controlling attention; the potential of responding towards novel events is the priority. Novelty processing plays the utmost role in the cognition procedure and contributes to cognitive development as well. This led to driving the memory efficacy and shifts the attention. However, VAN can act as a circuit breaker for orienting the attention towards varied environmental events that have occurred recently. The DMN and DAN share anticorrelation within healthy adults (Trambaiolli et al, 2022). When there is reduced segregation of the network then, it creates a negative impact on cognitive abilities and can often result in psychiatric disorders. At the time of resting fMRI negative relationship has been witnessed in two of the networks; DMN and DAN. Dorsal and ventral networks are responsible for undertaking attentional control in individuals and fostering their brains to perform the task. The brain networks are related to the audacity of attention and it keeps changing throughout the different stages of life (Stein et al, 2024). The default network in the brain becomes more active at the time of passive tasks which majorly demands extra attention. It keeps thinking about the future course of events and mind wandering to focus on a specified stimulus

Different brain regions are responsible for contributing to attention control, DAN is proposed for mediating top-to-down voluntary task allocation and the VAN assumes to identify irrelevant stimuli along with triggering the shift of attention. DAN is considered the large-scale brain network under the human brain that is associated with IPF and EPF. The attention system in the brain is highly necessary as every task requires significant attention. For listening, reading, learning and communicating attention is important (Zhang et al, 2022). The disorganised attention network and system in the brain leads to a severe disorder that impacts the potential of an individual in terms of performing tasks. If the attention network does not coordinate with each other then, this results in creating biases in the information and huge confusion has been developed in the mind (Stein et al, 2024). This results in impacting the capability to perform activities and these further influences resilience abilities for handling stress and emotions (Zhang et al, 2022). People experience stress and anxiety in day-to-day life due to varied reasons. During this time, the attention network plays a significant role by shaping the focus and reducing the negative thoughts in the mind. However, without interaction among different attention networks, it is not possible to shift the attention.

The neocortex of the brain keeps changing when there is a shift in attention; the neurons in the brain stop signalling; however, this is important as it often allows individual neurons to respond towards sensory information. Attention has been proven the source of intelligence and therefore, alignment between different attention networks is important. Both the DAN and VAN have been specialised in distinct attentional procedures (Relationship between attention networks, 2020). They both focus on behavioural-relevant stimuli which is important for making attention control flexible. Thus, there is no doubt in stating that, the dynamic interaction can be developed while each network interacts. Based on the task activities can related and this can often correlate with each other (Relationship between attention networks, 2020). Thus, it can be said that interaction between attention networks is essential for increasing the extent of attention and building cognitive potential in individuals. In this manner, effective development of the brain can be ensured and accordingly brain processes relevant data and reduces irrelevant information.

Conclusion

Conclusively; this can be stated that different attention networks in the brain interact with each other and it is crucial for improving focus. An individual can focus on the relevant stimuli because of these attention networks. Furthermore, it has been witnessed that different attention networks are involved in attentional tasks. DAN, VAN and DNM are impacted by diverse factors such as; individual differences, cognitive load and the requirement of the task. The attention system within the brain proves to be highly important as it guides individuals while performing tasks and shifts the focus in a significant manner. The regulation of emotions has also become possible due to the attention network.

References

Books and Journals

• Chen, M. H., Chen, Y. L., Bai, Y. M., Huang, K. L., Wu, H. J., Hsu, J. W., ... & Wu, Y. T. (2020). Functional connectivity of specific brain networks related to social and communication dysfunction in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatry research, 284, 112785.
• Hsu, H. M., Yao, Z. F., Hwang, K., & Hsieh, S. (2020). Between-module functional connectivity of the salient ventral attention network and dorsal attention network is associated with motor inhibition. PloS one, 15(12), e0242985.
• Kobayashi, K., Oishi, N., Yoshimura, S., Ueno, T., Miyagi, T., Murai, T., & Fujiwara, H. (2020). Relationship between media multitasking and functional connectivity in the dorsal attention network. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 17992.
• Mengotti, P., Käsbauer, A. S., Fink, G. R., & Vossel, S. (2020). Lateralization, functional specialization, and dysfunction of attentional networks. Cortex, 132, 206-222.
• Onofrj, V., Chiarelli, A. M., Wise, R., Colosimo, C., & Caulo, M. (2022). Interaction of the salience network, ventral attention network, dorsal attention network and default mode network in neonates and early development of the bottom-up attention system. Brain Structure and Function, 227(5), 1843-1856.
• Owens, M. M., Yuan, D., Hahn, S., Albaugh, M., Allgaier, N., Chaarani, B., ... & Garavan, H. (2020). Investigation of psychiatric and neuropsychological correlates of default mode network and dorsal attention network anticorrelation in children. Cerebral Cortex, 30(12), 6083-6096.
• Qian, S., Zhang, J., Yan, S., Shi, Z., Wang, Z., & Zhou, Y. (2020). Disrupted anti-correlation between the default and dorsal attention networks during hyperthermia exposure: An fMRI study. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 14, 564272.
• Stein, A., Thorstensen, J. R., Ho, J. M., Ashley, D. P., Iyer, K. K., & Barlow, K. M. (2024). Attention Please! Unravelling the link between brain network connectivity and cognitive attention following acquired brain injury: A systematic review of structural and functional measures. Brain connectivity, 14(1), 4-38.
• Trambaiolli, L. R., Peng, X., Lehman, J. F., Linn, G., Russ, B. E., Schroeder, C. E., ... & Haber, S. N. (2022). Anatomical and functional connectivity support the existence of a salience network node within the caudal ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Elife, 11, e76334.
• Zhang, H., Yang, S. Y., Qiao, Y., Ge, Q., Tang, Y. Y., Northoff, G., & Zang, Y. F. (2022). Default mode network mediates low‐frequency fluctuations in brain activity and behavior during sustained attention. Human Brain Mapping, 43(18), 5478-5489.

Online

• Relationship between attention networks, 2020. Online. Available through: < https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393223002701 >