Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have been linked to reduced cognitive functioning in adulthood. This cross-sectional online study refines this picture by including emotional and physical domains of childhood trauma. METHODS: A total of 262 individuals completed the German version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to operationalize ACE. Sustained attention was measured using the gradual onset Continuous Performance Task (gradCPT). Multivariate linear regressions modeled sustained attention parameters (d', RT, RTCoV, criterion) based on total CTQ score and emotional / physical subscores. RESULTS: Higher CTQ Total Scores predicted lower discrimination performance (d') and increased reaction time variability (RTCoV). No significant effects were found for the emotional and physical trauma subscores. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest lasting, negative ACE effects on sustained attention in adulthood. Additionally, the fully online design proved to be a reliable method for detecting subtle variations in sustained attention.