Ancient Brain Neurons Play Key Role in Attention and Distraction Management

Recent research led by Johns Hopkins University reveals the significance of a group of neurons deep within the brain, which appear to help animals enhance focus by filtering out distractions. These findings, emerging from studies on mice, suggest a shared neural mechanism across vertebrates, including humans, which could pave the way for targeted treatments for attention-related disorders.

Senior researcher Shreesh Mysore explains, “A hallmark of ADHD is that even faint distractors draw attention away — and that's precisely what we observe when these neurons are silenced.” This illustrates their essential role in maintaining attention amidst competing stimuli. Interestingly, when these neurons are reactivated, the affected mice regain their ability to dismiss distractions, underscoring the neurons' function as a key attentional resource.

Published in Nature Communications, the study has sparked interest as it was chosen as an editorial highlight, further emphasizing its importance. The foundational concept here revolves around “selective spatial attention,” a cognitive skill enabling individuals to concentrate on relevant information while ignoring irrelevant stimuli, a capacity often challenged in conditions like autism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

For decades, researchers have attributed the control of attention primarily to the prefrontal cortex. However, this theory has limitations. Numerous species, including birds and fish, exhibit focused attention yet possess underdeveloped prefrontal cortices. Lead author Ninad Kothari noted, “Going back in evolution, for hundreds of millions of years, birds and fish have had this ability. They do not typically have a highly developed prefrontal cortex, so we sought to identify how these species maintain focus.” Their investigation revealed an evolutionary old cluster of neurons in the brainstem which contributes to attentional capabilities.

The researchers employed an attention task designed to mirror human studies. Mice were presented with visual cues on a screen, rewarded for accurately responding to signals directly in front while ignoring side distractions. The results were telling: mice successfully completed the task before researchers temporarily silenced the brainstem neurons.

Kothari remarked, “When we inactivate these neurons, the mice become hyper distractible.” Comprehensive testing ruled out visual impairments or motor difficulties as causes for the performance decrease. Instead, they pinpointed a decline in the animals' capacity to assess competing signals and prioritize the most pertinent one.

Mysore elaborated, “The only deficit noted was their inability to evaluate competing information and determine which location possessed the most critical signal.” This observation casts these neurons as an “attentional selection engine,” central to discerning what information warrants attention at any given moment.

The researchers are now keen to further investigate how these brain cells influence spatial attention among different vertebrate species and their potential roles in humans. Mysore suggests, “Current evidence implies that these neurons exist in humans as well. But are they responsible for selective spatial attention in our species? The hypothesis is exciting; they may play a pivotal role.”

Future investigations could focus on the activity of these neurons in individuals with ADHD and autism. Should differences be confirmed, it could significantly guide the approach to developing more tailored medications and therapies for these conditions.

The study's authors also include Arunima Banerjee, Qingcheng (Jessica) Zhang, and Wen-Kai You, all from Johns Hopkins University.

Materials provided by Johns Hopkins University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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