“Crochet … a little hook to improve attention?”

In this work we compared the short-term effects of crochet on the performance in the well-known Attention Network Test and on the global cortical functioning networks revealed by magnetoencephalography between a group of crocheters and a sex and age-matched control group. Our data revealed that crochet is associated with an increase of the alerting and the orienting networks even after a brief, single work session and that this behavioural effect seems to have a counterpart in the modification seen in the global functional connectivity of the brain, where an increased speed of the information exchange between different brain areas have been seen. Moreover, we discuss the hypothesis that these effects on attentional networks are dissimilar from those determined by meditation, where an improvement in the executive control was previously demonstrated as the main effect. Our results provided for the first time that crochet is associated with an increase in the attentional networks, and namely in alerting and orienting networks, paving the way for the use of textile-related arts in the neurorehabilitation, possibly in combination with meditation, considering that the two practices promote complementary effects on the attentional networks. Highlights ### Competing Interest Statement This work was partially supported by both the Italian Ministry of Health (RRC) and Gomitolorosa ONLUS. Gomitolorosa-ONLUS also provided all the materials for the study, including the wool balls, the MEG-compatible hooks necessary for the crochet session, and the response devices. ### Funding Statement This work was partially supported by both the Italian Ministry of Health (RRC) and Gomitolorosa ONLUS. Gomitolorosa-ONLUS also provided all the materials for the study, including the wool balls, the MEG-compatible hooks necessary for the crochet session, and the response devices. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: This study was carried out in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments, and it was approved by the Ethical Committee of Fondazione-IRCCS-Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta of Milan, Italy (approval number: 76/2020; date of approval: October 7th, 2020). Participants gave their written informed consent before their inclusion in the study. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors