Data Sheet 1_Sustained attention and inhibitory control: age and sex related difference in children and adolescents using a CPT with distracting events.pdf

IntroductionThe study investigates age and sex-related differences in sustained attention and inhibitory control in a sample of children and adolescents using a continuous performance test with distractor events. In addition, the impact of distractors on sustained attention and inhibitory control is explored.
MethodsThe study included 479 individuals aged 6–17 years and analyzed four indices, namely omission, timing, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
ResultsResults revealed that both sustained attention and hyperactivity show age-related changes into adolescence, whereas impulsivity shows age-related changes only in the 6–12 age range, with no differences observed from 13 to 17. Sex differences emerged in inhibitory control: impulsivity remained consistently lower in females than in males across the entire 6–17 age range. In contrast, sex differences in hyperactivity were no longer evident by age 17. Overall, combined distractors have the greatest negative impact on performance, followed by visual and auditory distractors. However, in adolescents, lower distractors impact emerged, together with a positive impact of the auditory ones.
DiscussionThese findings provide helpful insight on sustained attention an inhibitory control development, showing different trajectories for impulsivity and hyperactivity. In addition, insight on the role of distractors in determining the performances emerged.

引言
本研究采用带有干扰事件的持续操作测验（continuous performance test），探究儿童与青少年群体中持续性注意（sustained attention）与抑制控制（inhibitory control）的年龄及性别差异。此外，本研究还探讨了干扰物对持续性注意与抑制控制的影响。

研究方法
本研究纳入了479名年龄介于6至17岁的个体，分析了四项指标，即漏报率、时程指标、冲动性与多动性。

研究结果
结果显示，持续性注意与多动性均在进入青春期后呈现随年龄变化的特征；而冲动性仅在6-12岁年龄区间内呈现随年龄变化的特征，13至17岁区间未观察到显著差异。抑制控制方面存在性别差异：在6-17岁的全部年龄区间内，女性的冲动性始终低于男性。相较而言，多动性的性别差异在17岁时已不再显著。总体而言，复合干扰物对任务表现的负面影响最大，其次是视觉干扰物与听觉干扰物。但在青少年群体中，干扰物的整体负面影响有所减弱，且听觉干扰物反而呈现出正向影响。

讨论
本研究结果为持续性注意与抑制控制的发展轨迹提供了有益见解，揭示了冲动性与多动性各自不同的发展路径。此外，本研究也明确了干扰物在影响任务表现中的作用机制。