Double Dissociation of Auditory Attention Span and Visual Attention in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cerebellar Tumor: A Deterministic Tractography Study of the Cerebellar-Frontal and the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus Pathways

Abstract

Objective: Right cerebellar-left frontal (RC-LF) white matter integrity (WMI) has been associated with working memory. However, prior studies have employed measures of working memory that include processing speed and attention. We examined the relationships between the RC-LF WMI and processing speed, attention, and working memory to clarify the relationship of RC-LF WMI with a specific cognitive function. Right superior longitudinal fasciculus II (SLF II) WMI and visual attention were included as a negative control tract and task to demonstrate a double dissociation. Methods: Adult survivors of childhood brain tumors [n = 29, age: M = 22 years (SD = 5), 45% female] and demographically matched controls were recruited (n = 29). Tests of auditory attention span, working memory, and visual attention served as cognitive measures. Participants completed a 3-T MRI diffusion-weighted imaging scan. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) served as WMI measures. Partial correlations between WMI and cognitive scores included controlling for type of treatment. Results: A correlational double dissociation was found. RC-LF WMI was associated with auditory attention (FA: r = .42, p = .03; RD: r = −.50, p = .01) and was not associated with visual attention (FA: r = −.11, p = .59; RD: r = −.11, p = .57). SLF II FA WMI was associated with visual attention (FA: r = .44, p = .02; RD: r = −.17, p = .40) and was not associated with auditory attention (FA: r = .24, p = .22; RD: r = −.10, p = .62). Conclusions: The results show that RC-LF WMI is associated with auditory attention span rather than working memory per se and provides evidence for a specificity based on the correlational double dissociation.

Functional Connectivity Networks and Their Recruitment During Working Memory Tasks in Adult Survivors of Childhood Brain Tumors

“…Distinctions between both survivor groups and their healthy peers clearly indicate changes to cortical functioning after posterior fossa tumor and resection. Damage to the cerebellum impacts cerebellar-frontal white matter tracts that support attention and working memory abilities (Ailion et al, 2020;Clark et al, 2021;King et al, 2015a;Law et al, 2015;Ravizza et al, 2006), and recent studies suggest the involvement of brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, fusiform gyrus, parietal cortex, and cerebellum relative to greater load on such tasks (Emch et al, 2019), aligned with present results.…”

Altered Cerebellar White Matter in Sensory Processing Dysfunction Is Associated With Impaired Multisensory Integration and Attention

“…We hypothesize that the CP will most strongly correlate with unimodal sensory processing measures such as the Differential Screening Test for Processing (DSTP) and the Auditory and Tactile measures of the Sensory Profile, consistent with prior results from cerebral tracts in SPD (Owen et al, 2013;Chang et al, 2016). In contradistinction, because of the integral role of the cerebellum in multisensory integration (Cardon et al, 2017;Zhao et al, 2018;Sathyanesan et al, 2019) and in attention (Buckner, 2013;Baumann et al, 2015;Ailion et al, 2020), we hypothesize that the SCP and MCP will correlate more strongly than does the CP with measures of Multisensory Processing and Attentional Behavior from the Sensory Profile. Furthermore, we expect these correlations of cerebellar WM microstructure with sensory behavior to exist in the SPD cohort, but not in TDC who by definition do not exhibit atypical sensory processing or cognitive control.…”

Oral processing speed as a key mechanism in the relationship between neurological risk and adaptive functioning in survivors of pediatric brain tumors

“…In any discussion of white matter integrity and PS, it is important to recognize the differential impact of various white matter tracts. Ailion and colleagues report a double dissociation exists, such that white matter integrity in the left cerebellar‐right frontal pathway was associated with auditory attention, whereas the right superior longitudinal fasciculus was associated with visual attention 37,38 . PS likely underlies the skills necessary to complete these different types of AF, but attention and WM might be more relevant to some but not all of the domains.…”