AUTHOR=Cao Shanshan , Zhang Jun , Wang Zhiqi , Pan Wen , Tian Yanghua , Hu Panpan , Wei Qiang , Wang Jingye , Shi Xiuli , Wang Kai 

TITLE=Laterality of Attentional Networks in Patients With Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2020.00021

DOI=10.3389/fnagi.2020.00021

ISSN=1663-4365

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Problems with attention are common in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). The normal human brain exhibits functional and structural asymmetry. However, it is unknown whether there is lateralization of attention in patients with CSVD. 
Objective: This study aims to investigate attention separately in both cerebral hemispheres in patients with CSVD using the computer based Lateralized Attention Network Test (LANT). 
Methods: The total number of participants included was 58, which includes the CSVD (N = 35) and healthy control (HC, N = 23) groups. All subjects completed the LANT program and neuropsychological background tests. 
Results: The results indicate that there is a LH lateralization in orienting network efficiency in the HC group. However, this lateralization was not apparent in the CSVD group. Furthermore, the difference between groups was significant (interaction P = 0.02). In addition, the scores of participants in the CSVD group are lower in several cognitive domains, including attention function, memory function, information processing speed, and executive function, compared with controls.
Conclusion: CSVD patients changes in the lateralization of attention compared with normal elderly. The decreased in attention in CSVD patients might be caused by the reduced ability of selecting useful information in the LH.