Longitudinal Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment on Neural Correlates of Attention

Overview

Journal Arch Clin Neuropsychol

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialties Neurology
Psychology

Date 2022 Jul 28

PMID 35901461

Authors

Robert D Melara

Tim A Ahles

Neelam Prashad

Madalyn Fernbach

Jay A Edelman

James Root

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: Cognitive dysfunction has been observed consistently in a subset of breast cancer survivors. Yet, the precise physiological and processing origins of dysfunction remain unknown. The current study examined the utility of methods and procedures based on cognitive neuroscience to study cognitive change associated with cancer and cancer treatment.

Methods: We used electroencephalogram and behavioral measures in a longitudinal design to investigate pre- versus post-treatment effects on attention performance in breast cancer patients (n = 15) compared with healthy controls (n = 24), as participants completed the revised Attention Network Test, a cognitive measure of alerting, orienting, and inhibitory control of attention.

Results: We found no group differences in behavioral performance from pretest to posttest, but significant event-related potential effects of cancer treatment in processing cue validity: After treatment, patients revealed decreased N1 amplitude and increased P3 amplitude, suggesting a suppressed early (N1) response and an exaggerated late (P3) response to invalid cues.

Conclusions: The results suggest that treatment-related attentional disruption begins in early sensory/perceptual processing and extends to compensatory top-down executive processes.

Citing Articles

Changes in EEG Microstate Dynamics and Cognition Post-Chemotherapy in People With Breast Cancer.

Damji S, Sattari S, Zadravec K, Campbell K, Brunet J, Virji-Babul N Brain Behav. 2025; 15(3):e70335.

PMID: 40038798 PMC: 11879782. DOI: 10.1002/brb3.70335.

The effect of cancer and cancer treatment on attention control: evidence from anti-saccade performance.

Edelman J, Ahles T, Estelle M, Mohr I, Li Y, Melara R J Cancer Surviv. 2024; .

PMID: 39548022 DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01711-2.

Protocol for a prospective, longitudinal study of cognitive impairment in young patients with cancer: a multidisciplinary neuroscience approach (MyBrain).

Nordhjem B, Tjornlund M, Thomsen B, Hjerming M, Kjaer T, Pappot H BMJ Open. 2023; 13(5):e070534.

PMID: 37202143 PMC: 10201232. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070534.

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