Age-related deficits in visual selective attention suggest that the efficiency of inhibitory processes is particularly affected by aging. To investigate whether processing inefficiencies observed in visual attention are similar in auditory attention and when shifting attention across modalities, we conducted an fMRI study with healthy young and older adults using a task that required sustained ...

In many everyday situations, we bias our perception from the top down, based on a task or an agenda. Frequently, this entails shifting attention to a specific attribute of a particular object or scene. To explore the cost of shifting top-down attention to a different stimulus attribute, we adopt the task-set switching paradigm, in which switch trials are contrasted with repeat trials in mixed-t...

Executive function encompasses a range of control processes supporting flexible, goal-directed behaviour. Attentional set-shifting, updating of information in working memory, and inhibitory control have been proposed as key components of executive function, but debate continues as to the validity of this conceptual framework, and the neural substrates of these putative components. Here we exami...

There is good progress with the implementation of South Africa's antiretroviral treatment program. The country, however, faces human resource shortages that could be addressed through appropriate task shifting. During 2009, we studied task shifting from nurses to community health workers (CHWs) for HIV treatment and care at 12 primary health-care clinics in Free State Province, South Africa. We...

1. In the ‘Background’ section, the sentence: “...limiting effective reduction of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality rates in patients” should be corrected to read: “...limiting effective reduction of hypertensionrelated morbidity and mortality rates among patients”. 2. In the ‘Background’ section, the sentence: “A clusterrandomized trial of task shifting and blood pressure in communi...

Most individuals with mental health needs do not receive professional care. One strategy to narrow this service provision gap is task-shifting, a process where certain responsibilities are shifted less specialized workers. Approximately 25% of those who seek care turn clergy. This study investigated the suitability using clergy scale-up by assessing perceptions satisfaction and helpfulness cler...

Recent research has shown that mind wandering recruits executive resources away from the external task towards inner thoughts. No studies however have determined whether executive functions are drawn away in a unitary manner during mind wandering episodes, or whether there is variation in specific functions impacted. Accordingly, we examined whether mind wandering differentially modulates three...