The impact of prematurity on visual attention: How gestational age influences attentional disengagement in toddlerhood.

Prematurity is a critical biological factor that can lead to increased vulnerability for long-term difficulties in cognitive and behavioral development. Therefore, investigating the impact of gestational age (GA) at birth on neurodevelopmental outcomes is crucial. In this study, we aimed to examine the influence of gestational age on visual attention skills, which are a promising early marker of atypical neurodevelopment. We administered the Gap-Overlap task to measure the attentional performance of 16-month-olds born between the 34th and 41st weeks of gestation. Our findings suggest that attentional disengagement varied depending on GA, with lower GA being associated with slower orienting of visual attention and reduced endogenous control of attention. The results provide evidence for the importance of GA as a critical factor that impacts visual attention skills that in turn may affect cognitive and behavioral development. The study stresses a call to action for further investigation into the neurodevelopmental outcomes of late preterm infants and the potential interventions that can support their healthy development.