Abstract: Objective  To explore the attentional network function in sub-healthy individuals with spleen qi deficiency syndrome.  Methods  Twenty-seven individuals in the sub-healthy spleen qi deficiency syndrome group were recruited from September 2022 to August 2024 in communities and colleges. Twenty-five healthy controls were also recruited according to the principle of matching age, gender, and years of education components. Attention network tests were performed on subjects in both groups. Results  Compared with the control group, the executive control network function value of the spleen qi deficiency syndrome group was significantly decreased (P=0.012). The differences in correct rate, overall reaction time, alert network and orientation network between the two groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between Health Evaluating Questionnaire  H20  V2009 scores and executive control network efficiency of the subjects in the spleen qi deficiency syndrome (P<0.001), and a positive correlation between the spleen qi deficiency syndrome score and executive control network efficiency (P=0.038). Conclusions  Abnormal changes in the executive control of attention in sub-healthy subjects with spleen qi deficiency syndrome were closely related to the severity of the symptoms of spleen qi deficiency, which provided further scientific evidence for the cognitive psychological connotation of the theory of “spleen stores Yi”.

Key words: spleen qi deficiency syndrome, sub-health, cognition, attention networks, spleen stores Yi