Dorsal attention network

The dorsal attention network (DAN), also known anatomically as the dorsal frontoparietal network (D-FPN), is a large-scale brain network of the human brain that is primarily composed of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) and frontal eye fields (FEF).^[2][3] It is named and most known for its role in voluntary orienting of visuospatial attention.^[4][5]

Interaction between dorsal and ventral attention networks enables dynamic control of attention in relation to top-down goals and bottom-up sensory stimulation.^[1]

As the IPS and FEF were noticed to be activated during many attention-demanding tasks, this network was sometimes referred to as the task-positive network to contrast it against the task-negative network, or default mode network.^[6] However, this dichotomy is now considered misleading, because the default mode network can be active in certain cognitive tasks.^[7]

Anatomy

The core regions of the DAN are the IPS and FEF of each hemisphere.^[8] Other regions of the network may include the middle temporal region (MT+),^[6] superior parietal lobule (SPL), supplementary eye field (SEF),^[9] and ventral premotor cortex.^[10]

More recent works indicate that the cerebellum may participate in this network as well.^[11][12] Less studied regions include the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior colliculus.^[10]

Function

The DAN is most prominently involved in goal-directed, voluntary control of visuospatial attention.^[4][5] Corbetta et al., who first defined and named the DAN in the early-to-mid 2000s,^[5][13] suggest that the network is involved in general top-down selection of stimuli and responses, including other modalities (e.g. auditory, tactile).^[14] However, evidence that the full DAN is involved in auditory top-down attention has been questioned, as tests that make said claims incorporated both auditory and visual stimuli.^[15]

The dorsal attention network dynamically interacts with the ventral attention network (or salience network) according to task demands.^[1] The inferior frontal junction configures this interaction between the two networks during task switches or attention shifts.^[16]

Clinical significance

Reduced connectivity within the dorsal and ventral attention networks has been linked to higher levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms.^[17][18] Similarly, reduced connectivity between the DAN and the frontoparietal network is associated with major depressive disorder.^[19] On the other hand, overactivation of the DAN has been observed in patients with schizophrenia.^[20]

Nomenclature

There are several variations of this network's name in neuroscience literature, such as the dorsal attention system,^[1] dorsal frontoparietal attention network,^[9] and frontoparietal attention network.^[21] Until the discovery of other networks, such as the frontoparietal control network, the term task-positive network referred to the DAN.^[22] The term task-positive networks is still sometimes used to refer to all non-default-mode networks.^[23]

In 2019, Uddin et al. proposed that dorsal frontoparietal network (D-FPN) be used as a standard anatomical name for this network.^[10]