Introduction. Attention is described as a modulatory system which controls the data processing through three brain networks: alerting, orienting, executive network. We used the attention network test (ANT) which is a modified flanker task that allows examination the relative functioning of alerting, orienting and executive control networks. Materials and Methods. Two groups of participants were tested: the first group consists of seventeen immature girls (9-11 years), the second group consists of seventeen postmenopausal women (45-55 years). At the beginning of session 1, the participants were given the instruction for ANT, then the performance of attentional networks were assessed. Immediately after performing the ANT, a blood sample was collected. Serum levels of estradiol, progestrone, LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) were analyzed by the ELISA (the .enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay) technique Results. Difference score in alerting network was significantly higher in the immature children than in the postmenopausal women (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the performance of orienting network. Difference score in executive network was significantly higher in the immature children than in the postmenopausal women (p<0.001). Estradiol levels were significantly less in the serum of immature children than in the postmenopausal women (p<0.001). Progestrone levels were significantly higher in the serum of postmenopausal women than in the immature children (p<0.001). LH levels were significantly higher in the serum of the postmenopausal women than in the immature children (p<0.001). FSH levels were significantly higher in the serum of postmenopausal women than in the immature children (p<0.001). Conclusion. These results suggest that low levels of estrogen and progestrone can affect the performance of alerting and executive networks in immature children. More investigation is suggested to reveals the underlying mechanisms.

Keywords