The role of focused attention in learning from early childhood to late adolescence: Implications of neonatal brainstem compromise following preterm birth

Abstract This comprehensive longitudinal study explored for the first time the interrelations between neonatal brainstem abnormalities, focused attention (FA), and learning—following a preterm cohort ( N = 175; 46.3% female; predominantly White) from birth (2003–2006) to 17 years. The findings indicated that FA during early childhood was associated with language outcomes in toddlerhood ( n = 131) and academic and attention self‐report indices in late adolescence ( n = 44). Pilot assessments indicated that FA at 17 years ( n = 25) was also associated with concurrent academic and attention functioning. Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that neonatal brainstem functioning, manifested in auditory brainstem response patterns, was associated with early‐life FA competence, which affected learning development. Implications underscore the essential role of early brainstem function and FA in shaping childhood learning trajectories.