Developmental analysis of three aspects of information processing: Sustained attention, selective attention, and response organization

Abstract

The development of cognitive abilities associated with Luna's (1973) three functional units of the brain was investigated in a sample of 62 children, ages 7 to 11 years, and 16 adults, ages 21 to 48 years. Selective attention, associated primarily with Luria's sensory‐input unit, showed no demonstrable development within the age ranges studied. However, sustained attention, presumably mediated through Luria's arousal unit and its ascending fibers to the cortex, as well as response organization, associated with Luna's organization‐and‐ planning unit, did reflect differential development Capacity for sustained attention showed no appreciable development between 7 and 11 years of age, but there was significant growth in this ability between age 11 and adulthood. Response organization, on the other hand, was found to develop most rapidly between 7 and 11 years of age. These findings are partially consistent with Luria's model of neurodevelopment as well as with research investigating the functional and physiological maturation of various brain regions.