Attentional Network Task (ANT)
Background
The Attentional Network Task (ANT), originally introduced by Jin Fan and colleagues in 2002, is a cognitive behavioral assessment tool of different attentional components referred to as 'attentional networks': Alerting ('vigilance'), Orienting ('selective attention'), and Executive Attention (in the form of conflict resolution). Later iterations of the task expanded on the original design to allow the study of the relationships of these three networks in more detail as well as explore different modalities and their various interactions.
The ANT design builds upon the arrow flanker test in which the main task is to respond as fast as possible to the direction of a central target arrow that is surrounded by flanker arrows that may point in the same or opposite direction of the central one. Different spatial locations of the arrow configuration (e.g. upper screen vs. lower screen) as well as different signal cues preceding the arrows help tease apart the different attentional network effects on response times and performance accuracy. For example, by comparing response times to arrow configurations that were preceded by cues that signaled their actual screen location ('spatial cue') to those configurations that were signaled by cues without a location information ('central cue'), the effect of the Orienting Network can be measured.
Task Procedure
The participant sees a configuration of 5 arrows above or below a fixation cross and is asked to press as fast as possible the left response button if the central arrow points to the left or the right response button if the central arrow points to the right (irrespective of where the flanking arrows point). The arrow configuration may be preceded by a brief visual cue. In the example below, the participant sees two stars (one above and one below the fixation cross) that signal that the arrows will come along shortly ('alerting') but leaves the location of the arrows unknown ('no orienting').
What it Measures
The Attentional Network Task (ANT) is a cognitive behavioral test to measure the effects of three attentional networks on accuracy and response times.
Psychological domains
- Attention: Assessment of Attentional Networks
- Vigilance: Measures the ability to achieve and maintain a state of high sensitivity to incoming stimuli
- Selective Attention: Measures the ability to select information from sensory input by directing attention to a specific location in space
- Executive Control: Measures the ability to resolve conflict among competing stimuli, involving response inhibition and decision-making
Main Performance Metrics
- alertingEffect: The effect of alerting signals on response speed and performance
- orientingEffect: The effect of orientation signals on response speed and performance
- conflictEffect: The cost effect of flanker incongruence on response speed and performance
Psychiatric Conditions
ANT performance tends to be impaired in patients with the following psychiatric conditions.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Schizophrenia
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Anxiety Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Test Variations
The Attentional Network Task as originally developed by Fan et al (2002).
This script implements the auditory Attention Network Test (ANT-A) as suggested by Wu et al (2021). The ANT-A is an approximate auditory analog of the visual ANT-R (Fan et al, 2009). As part of the ANT tasks, the ANT-A is a behavioral measure of alerting, orienting and executive attention.
The Attention Network Test - Interaction (ANT-I), a modified behavioral measure of alerting, orienting and executive attention based on the original ANT procedure. The implemented ANT-I procedure was originally proposed by Callejas et al (2005)
The revised version of the ANT as described in Fan et al (2009).
The revised version of the ANT using mouse tracking as described in Yamauhi et al (2019).
The modified Attentional Network Task (ANT) by Wang et al (2015).
The child version of the Attentional Network Task as developed by Rueda et al (2004).
A 10-minute version of the ANT developed by the CRSD (Weaver et al, 2013) using arrow stimuli.
A 10-minute version of the ANT developed by the CRSD (Weaver et al, 2013) using images of trucks as stimuli.
The Short ANT as developed by Dr. Jin Fan.
References
Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Attentional Network Task (ANT).
Fan, J., McCandliss, B. D., Sommer, T., Raz, A., & Posner, M. I. (2002). Testing the efficiency and independence of attentional networks. Journal Cognitive Neuroscience, 14(3), 340-7.
Rueda, M. R., Fan, J., McCandlis, B. D., Halparin, J. D., Gruber, D. B., Pappert Lercari, L., & Posner, M.I (2004).
Callejas A, Lupiàñez J, Funes MJ, Tudela P. Modulations among the alerting, orienting and executive control networks. Exp Brain Res. 2005 Nov;167(1):27-37. doi: 10.1007/s00221-005-2365-z. Epub 2005 Oct 29. PMID: 16021429.
Gooding, D. C., Braun, J. G., & Studer, J. A. (December 01, 2006). Attentional network task performance in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders: Evidence of a specific deficit. Schizophrenia Research, 88, 1-3.
Moore, K. S., Porter, C. B., & Weissman, D. H. (January 01, 2009). Made you look! Consciously perceived, irrelevant instructional cues can hijack the attentional network. Neuroimage, 46, 1, 270-9.
Fan, J., Gu, X., Guise, K.G., Liu, X., Fossella, J., Wang, H. & Posner, M.I. (2009).Testing the behavioral interaction and integration of attentional networks.Brain and Cognition, 70, 209–220.
López, S. G., Fuster, J. I., Reyes, M. M., Collazo, T. M., Quiñones, R. M., Berazain, A. R., Rodríguez, M. A., ... Valdés-Sosa, M. (January 01, 2011). Attentional network task in schizophrenic patients and theirs unaffected first degree relatives: a potential endofenotype. Actas Españolas De Psiquiatría, 39, 1.)
Salo, R., Gabay, S., Fassbender, C., & Henik, A. (December 01, 2011). Distributed attentional deficits in chronic methamphetamine abusers: Evidence from the Attentional Network Task (ANT). Brain and Cognition, 77, 3, 446-452.
Weaver, B.,Bédarda, M., and McAuliffe, J. (2013). Evaluation of a 10-minute Version of the AttentionNetwork Test. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, Vol. 27, No. 8, 1281–1299.
Yi-Feng Wang, Xiu-Juan Jing, Feng Liu, Mei-Ling Li, Zhi-Liang Long, Jin H. Yan & Hua-Fu Chen (2015).Reliable Attention Network Scores and Mutually Inhibited Internetwork Relationships Revealed byMixed Design and Non-orthogonal Method.www.nature.com/scientificreports: Scientific Reports | 5:10251 | DOI: 10.1038/srep10251
Yamauhi, T., Leontyev, A., & Razavi, M. (2019). Mouse Tracking Measures Reveal Cognitive Conflicts Better than Response Time and Accuracy Measures. In A.K. Goel, C.M. Seifert, & C. Freksa (Eds.), Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society(pp. 3150-3156). Montreal, QB: Cognitive Science Society
Wu X, Jiang Y, Jiang Y, Chen G, Chen Y, Bai X. The Influence of Action Video Games on Attentional Functions Across Visual and Auditory Modalities. Front Psychol. 2021 Jun 2;12:611778. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.611778. PMID: 34149505; PMCID: PMC8206543.