Slowed processing on the alerting, orienting and executive control components of attention measured using the Attention Network Test-Interactions (ANT-I) have been widely reported in multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite the assumption that these components correspond to specific neuroanatomical networks in the brain, little is known about gray matter changes that occur in MS and their association with ANT-I performance. We investigated vertex-wise cortical thickness changes and deep gray matter volumetric changes in young MS participants (N = 21, age range: 18–35) with pediatric or young-adult onset and mild disease severity. ANT-I scores and cortical thickness were not significantly different between MS participants and healthy volunteers (N = 19, age range: 18–35), but thalamic volumes were significantly lower in MS. Slowed reaction times on the alerting component in MS correlated significantly with reduced volume of the right pallidum in MS. Slowed reaction times on executive control component correlated significantly with reduced thickness in the frontal, parietal and visual cortical areas and with reduced volume of the left putamen in MS. These findings demonstrate associations between gray matter changes and attentional performance even in the absence of widespread atrophy or slowed attentional processes.

中文翻译：

---

青年成年人多发性硬化症的灰色物质形态与注意效率相关

在多发性硬化症（MS）中，已广泛报道了使用注意力网络测试交互作用（ANT-I）进行的注意力集中在警报，定向和执行控制组件上的处理缓慢。尽管假设这些成分对应于大脑中的特定神经解剖网络，但对于MS中发生的灰质变化及其与ANT-1性能的关联知之甚少。我们调查了小儿或年轻成人发病和轻度疾病严重程度的年轻MS参与者（N = 21，年龄范围：18-35）的顶点层皮质厚度变化和深灰质体积变化。MS参与者和健康志愿者之间的ANT-I评分和皮质厚度无显着差异（N = 19，年龄范围：18-35），但MS的丘脑体积明显较低。MS中警报组件的反应时间减慢与MS中右苍白球体积的减少显着相关。在执行控制组件上反应时间减慢与额叶，顶叶和视皮层区域的厚度减少以及MS中左壳核的体积减少显着相关。这些发现表明，即使没有广泛的萎缩或缓慢的注意力过程，灰质变化与注意力表现之间也存在关联。