Dorsal Attention Network (DAN)

Dorsal attention network (DAN) — one of several highly interconnected brain networks — includes the frontal eye fields (FEF) and regions of the parietal lobe. It supports voluntary, top-down attention, allowing us to direct and maintain focus on the most relevant external information in a given moment. This includes cognitive control, selective attention, and visuospatial attention. The DAN is active when we deliberately focus on something specific — such as reading a sentence, searching for a particular person or object, or tracking a moving target. Altered DAN connectivity has been observed in both ADHD and autism, though patterns of difference vary. Also see: Ventral Attention Network (VAN)