Color-Word Test Research Articles

Abstract- Poster

Introduction:Formal Thought Disorder (FTD) is regarded as a cardinal symptom of Schizophrenia (Goldberg and Werberger; 2000) and is characterized by aberrant speech pattern and inappropriate word use. The causal and openings of this phenomenon are still being debated. To date, the strongest evidence has emerged for compromised executive functioning and abnormal semantic processing (Soriano, etal; 2008). Working Memory (WM) deficits has been found to correlate significantly with FTD because monitoring one’s own speech is a function of WMAim:The aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between WM and FTD in Schizophrenia.Methods:The sample of the present study will be comprised of 30 schizophrenic patients with FTD and 30 patients without FTD. The sample will be taken from the in-patient and OPD of Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra using ICD-10 DCR. Participants will be further screened for exclusion criteria of mental retardation, history of head injury/neurological disorder, age above 50 years and dual diagnosis. The tools that will be used are scale for the assessment of Thought, Language and Communication (Nancy C Anderson), PGI memory scale, Stroop, Colour-word test and N-back test. After taking consent to participate in the study the above mentioned tools will be administered to assess FTD and WM of participants. The person assessing cognitive functions will be blind to the assessment score of FTD scale. Data will be analyzed by using SPSS software.

The Effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Cognitive Rehabilitation and the Degree of Recovery in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation and compare the patterns of cognitive function recovery occurring in both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. Methods: A total of 62 patients were finally enrolled, consisting of 30 with TBI and 32 with stroke. The patients received 30 sessions of computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation (Comcog) five times per week. Each session lasted for 30 min. Before and immediately after cognitive rehabilitation, all patients were evaluated by computerized neuropsychological test (CNT), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and modified Barthel index (MBI). Results: We analyzed the differences between pre- and post-cognitive rehabilitation in each TBI and stroke group. Significant differences were observed in MMSE, MBI, and some CNT contents, including digit span forward, verbal learning, verbal learning delayed recall, visual span forward, visual span backward, visual learning, trail making test A and B, and intelligence quotient (IQ) in the TBI group (p < 0.05). In the stroke group, in addition to significant differences that appeared in the TBI group, additional significant differences in the digit span backward, visual learning delayed recall, auditory continuous performance test (CPT), visual CPT, and card sorting test. We compared the difference values at pre- and post-cognitive rehabilitation for cognitive recovery between the TBI and stroke groups. All contents, except the digital span forward, visual learning, word-color test, and MMSE, had greater mean values in the stroke group; and thus, statistically significant higher values were observed in the visual span forward and card sorting test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Most evaluation results showed improvement and the evaluation between the TBI and stroke groups also showed significant differences in cognitive functions in addition to more CNT contents, which significantly change in the stroke group. The stroke group showed a high difference value in most CNT contents. Therefore, those with stroke in the focal brain region tend to have better cognitive function recovery after a computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation than those with TBI, which could cause diffuse brain damage and post-injury inflammation.

Screening for cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus: Application of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a Greek patient sample

Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given that extensive neuropsychological testing is not always feasible in routine clinical practice, brief cognitive screening tools are desirable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) as a screening tool for CI in SLE. Consecutive SLE patients followed at a single centre were evaluated using MoCA and an extensive neuropsychological test battery (NPT), including the Digits Forward and Digits Backwards, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Memory Test, Trail Making Test, Stroop Colour-Word Test, Semantic and Phonetic Verbal Fluency tests and a 25-problem version of the General Adult Mental Ability test. The criterion validity of MoCA was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses using three different case definitions: i) against normative population data, ii) and iii) against average performance of a comparison group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to adjust for possible confounding effects of chronic illness and inflammatory processes on cognitive performance. The effect of patient-related (age, years of education, anxiety, depression, fatigue and pain) and disease-related (activity, damage, age at diagnosis, disease duration, use of glucocorticoid, psychotropic and pain medication) parameters on the MoCA was examined. A total of 71 SLE patients were evaluated. MoCA significantly correlated with all NPT scores and was affected by education level (p < 0.001), but not by other demographic or clinical variables. The optimal cutoff for detecting CI, as defined on the basis of normative population data, was 23/30 points, demonstrating 73% sensitivity and 75% specificity. A cutoff of 22/30 points, using neuropsychological profiles of the RA group as inflammatory disease controls, exhibited higher sensitivity (100%, based on both definitions) and specificity (87% and 90%, depending on the definition). The standard cutoff of 26/30 points displayed excellent sensitivity (91-100%) with significant expenses in specificity (43-45%). The MoCA is an easily applied tool, which appears to be reliable for identifying CI in SLE patients. The standard cutoff score (26/30) ensures excellent sensitivity while lower cutoff scores (22-23/30) may, also, provide higher specificity.

Effects of mental fatigue on static upright stance and functional balance in older adults

BackgroundCognitive influences on balance control may contribute to greater instability and falls in older adults. In support of this, old age exacerbates the effects of a concurrent cognitive task on balance. Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state experienced following prolonged demanding cognitive activity. However, its effects on static upright stance and functional balance in older adults is unclear. It is also unclear how the effects of mental fatigue and a concurrent task interact. MethodsBalance was assessed in ten younger and ten older participants before and immediately after 25 min of the incongruent Stroop colour-word test (mental fatigue) and leisurely reading (control), presented in a randomized counterbalanced order on separate days. Static and functional balance was assessed using the centre of pressure path length when standing still and the ‘Timed Up & Go’ test, respectively. These balance assessments were completed with and without a concurrent backward counting task (i.e. dual-task and single-task, respectively). ResultsUnder subjectively-confirmed conditions of mental fatigue, sway path length when standing still was 32% greater than the control condition in older adults but unchanged in younger adults. This age-dependant effect of mental fatigue on static balance was similar in single-task and dual-task trials. Mental fatigue did not significantly affect functional balance performance in either age group. ConclusionsThese findings are the first to show mental fatigue to impair static balance control in older adults. Therefore, whether due to everyday activities or a symptom of disease, mental fatigue may contribute to poor balance in older adults.

Regression-based, demographically adjusted norms for Victoria Stroop Test, Digit Span, and Verbal Fluency for Sri Lankan adults

Objective: Lack of test norms is a major limitation in neuropsychological assessment in many non-English-speaking countries. Our objective was to generate sex-, age-, and education-adjusted, regression-based norms for three pen-and-paper-based executive function/working memory tests, viz. Victoria Stroop Test (VST), Digit Span, and Verbal Fluency, for Sinhala-Speaking Sri Lankan adults. Method: Six-hundred and six healthy, community-living, Sinhala-speaking adults (273 men) aged 19–83 years completed VST, Digit Span (forward and backward), and Phonemic (Sinhala phonemes “N,” “P,” and “S”) and Category (animals and vegetables) Fluency tests. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses with sex, age, and years of education fitted as predictors to model the test outcome variables. Results: Younger age was associated with better performance in all tests except in Phonemic Fluency. Longer education was associated with better performance in all outcomes except VST errors and interference. Women had a significant but small advantage over men in VST Neutral and Color Word tests, and Phonemic Fluency. We report regression equations to predict norms for the test performance measures based on sex, age, and years of education; and the test variances accounted by these factors. Conclusions: We propose demographically adjusted norms for VST, Digit Span, and Verbal Fluency for Sinhala-speaking Sri Lankans aged 19–83 years, and supplement the regression formulae with a calculator that produces predicted and standard scores. These norms would help in interpreting the results of clinical samples in the future, taking into account the variability introduced by sex, age, and education.

Interrelationships Between Oxidative Stress, Cytokines, and Psychotic Symptoms and Executive Functions in Patients With Chronic Schizophrenia.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the pathophysiology of schizophrenia is involved in various abnormalities in oxidative stress markers and cytokines closely related to synaptic plasticity. However, the interactive effects among key cytokines, oxidative stress, and executive dysfunction and symptoms of schizophrenia have not been investigated yet. A total of 189 patients with chronic schizophrenia and 60 controls were recruited in the current study. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and IL-2 levels; catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities; and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined in patients and controls. Executive function was evaluated by the Wisconsin card sorting tests, the verbal fluency tests, and the Stroop word-color test. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Relative to the controls, the patients had lower activities of SOD and glutathione peroxidase and levels of TNF-α, but higher levels of MDA, IL-8, IL-6, and IL-2 (all p values < .05). A significant negative relationship between SOD activity and IL-8 levels was found only in patients (β = -0.44, p = .008). Furthermore, we found that an interactive effect of low TNF-α level and high MDA level was associated with negative symptoms (β = -0.02, p = .01). Moreover, the interactive effects of IL-8 and MDA or IL-8 and SOD were correlated with executive function only in patients (β = 0.23, p = .02; β = 0.09, p = .03). Our findings suggest that the interrelationships between oxidative stress markers and cytokines occur in schizophrenia patients, which may be the basis of their pathological mechanisms underlying clinical symptoms and cognitive dysfunction.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychotherapeutic Therapy on Executive Functions of Children Aged 7 To 12 Years

Background: A review of research in the field of children shows that with the expansion and deepening of studies on children. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and psychotherapeutic therapy on executive functions in children aged 7 to 12 years. Materials & Methods: The research method is quasi-experimental (quasi-experimental) studies with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with the control group. The sample group was available among 24 children who were registered at the Ava Mehr Pasargad Counseling Center to diagnose the symptoms of externalized disorder and met the necessary criteria to participate in the study, 24 people were randomly selected. They were divided into two experimental (n=8) groups and one control group (n=8). Cognitive-behavioral (11 sessions, two sessions every week, two hours) and psychotherapeutic therapy (12session, two sessions every week, two hours) were performed for the experimental groups, but the control group did not receive any special intervention. The executive functions (Stroop word color test, and working memory reinforcement test) completed by participants. Data were analyzed using Spss software version 22.0. Results: The cognitive-behavioral group therapy technique was successful on the memory test and the mean and standard deviation in the post-test were more effective than the (15.09±52.12) pre-test. For the memory test, the psychotherapeutic group had the lowest mean and standard deviation of (16.42 ±35.75). So it can be concluded that psychotherapeutic therapywas more effectiveness than cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention on improving children's executive functions (P<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychotherapeutic therapy were useful in improving externalized disorders and executive functions of children with externalized disorders in 7 to 12-year-old children in Pasargad.

FOREARM VASCULAR RESPONSES TO MENTAL STRESS AND DEVICE GUIDED BREATHING ASSOCIATE WITH PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF NORMETADRENALINES IN SUBJECTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Objective: Forearm vasodilator responses to mental stress (MS) are impaired in hypertensive compared to normotensive individuals by a mechanism that may relate to peripheral alpha-adrenergic activity antagonising that of neuronal nitric oxide. We investigated whether the response to MS may be dependent on the level of basal sympathetic activity as measured by plasma concentrations of normetadrenaline (NM) and how responses to slowing respiratory rate by device guided breathing (DGB, which reduces sympathetic activity) vary according to NM concentrations. Design and method: Subjects with essential hypertension were stratified according to concentrations of plasma NM into those with low NM (&lt; or = 500pmol/L) and high NM (&gt; or = to 750pmol/L). Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography after 15 minutes of rest, during MS elicited by the Stroop word-colour test and during supervised DGB with breathing rate &lt; 10 breaths/minute. Results: Subjects with high NM (n = 30, 15 men) had greater body mass index than those with low NM (n = 30, 17 men): (mean ± SD) 31 ± 7 vs 27 ± 4 kg/m2 (P &lt; 0.05), but the two groups were similar with respect to age and brachial blood pressure (BP). During MS and DGB, changes in BP were similar in subjects in both low NM and high NM groups. MS increased FBF in both groups but the response in high NM was impaired as compared to subjects with low NM (34 ± 3 vs. 49 ± 3 %, P &lt; 0.05). DGB increased forearm vascular resistance to a lesser extent in subjects with high compared to low NM (1.21 ± 7.95 vs 5.50 ± 6.32 mmHg.100 mL/mL, P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: These results are consistent with greater sympathetic vascular tone in patients with higher NM that antagonises forearm vascular responses to MS. Circulating concentrations of NM may identify subjects with impaired neuronal nitric oxide signalling.

Functional Connectivity and Response Inhibition: A Secondary Analysis of an 8-Week Randomized Controlled Trial of Computerized Cognitive Training

Background: Evidence suggests that computerized cognitive training (CCT) can improve cognitive function in older adults, particularly executive functions. However, the underlying mechanisms by which CCT may improve executive functions are not well established. Objective: To determine: 1) inter-network functional connectivity correlates of changes in executive functions; and 2) the effect of CCT on these functional connectivity correlates. Methods: This secondary analysis included a subset of 124 adults aged 65–85 years enrolled in an 8-week randomized controlled trial of CCT. Participants were randomized to either: 1) group-based CCT 3x/week for 1 hour plus 3x/week home-based training; 2) group-based CCT preceded by brisk walking (Ex+CCT) 3x/week for 1 hour plus 3x/week home-based training; or 3) group-based balanced and toned (BAT) classes 3x/week for 1 hour (control). At baseline and trial completion, 65 of the 124 participants completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological tests of executive functions, specifically the Stroop Colour-Word Test and Flanker Test. Results: Improved performance on the Stroop Colour-Word Test and Flanker Test were associated with decreased correlation between the default mode network (DMN) and the fronto-parietal network (FPN) (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with BAT, CCT alone significantly decreased correlation between the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and both the left and right medial temporal gyrus (–0.143, 95%CI [–0.256,–0.030], p = 0.014, and –0.123, 95%CI [–0.242,–0.004], p = 0.043, respectively). Conclusion: Decreased correlation between DMN and FPN, indicating less connection between these networks, may be an underlying mechanism by which CCT improves executive functions. Future studies are needed to replicate this finding.

Consecutive and temporally distant perseverations after right brain damage: A prospective study.

Objective: Right brain-damaged patients may show omissions and/or additional marks in target cancellation. The latter is classified as perseverative behavior and has been attributed to defective response inhibition or attentional disengagement deficit. This study aimed at (a) verifying that consecutive (immediate) and return (temporally distant) motor perseverations could be due to different mechanisms; (b) investigating the relationships among different types of perseveration (e.g., consecutive, return, scribble), spatial neglect and the impairment in specific components of executive functioning. Method: Seventeen right brain-damaged patients underwent letter, star, bell, and apple cancellation tasks. A global index for each type of perseveration found and Mean Position of Hits, as a neglect index, were calculated. The following components of executive functioning were evaluated: motor programming (Frontal Assessment Battery [FAB] subtest), inhibitory control FAB, interference sensitivity (FAB and Stroop color-word interference test), set-shifting (Weigl sorting test, Phonemic/semantic alternate fluencies), and working memory (Backward Digit span). Results: Ten patients out of 17 showed some degree of perseveration. Regularized linear regression analyses demonstrated that interference sensitivity and Stroop test performances were related to return perseverations and backward digit to scribble ones. No significant relationships were found for consecutive perseverations and between neglect and any type of perseverations. Conclusions: The present study showed that return perseverations might have a distinct etiology from consecutive ones, being related to an inability to update and shift between action programs according to the visual stimuli. A finer classification of perseverations could help in unveiling the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying each type of behavior. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Does participation in Downhill mountain biking affect measures of executive function?

This study assessed the influence of downhill mountain biking on acute measures of executive function. Twenty-three participants took part in the study and were assigned to either, FIELD (N=7, mean age 27 ± 9 yrs), LAB (N=8, mean age 36 ± 9 yrs) or CONTROL (N=8, mean age 41 ± 9 yrs) groups. Participants performed the Stroop colour-word test via a tablet pc app (EncephalApp). Additionally, the Trail Making Test A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B) were completed. Significant main effects were found for OffTime (F2,12 = 13.04; p = .001; ηp2 = .69), OnTime (F2,12 = 4.31; p = .04; ηp2 = .42) and OnTrials (F2,12 = 10.74; p = .002; ηp2 = .64), with the results showing a decrement in Stroop test performance following Trial1 and Trial4 compared to BL for the FIELD group. A significant main effect was found for TMT-A (F2,12 = 7.50; p = .008; ηp2 = .56), with performance improving following Trial4 compared to BL for the FIELD group. LAB and CONTROL groups significantly improved on the TMT-B from BL to Trial1 and Trial4 (F2,14 = 4.31; p = .04; ηp2 = .38 and F2,14 = 13.70; p = .001; ηp2 = .66, respectively). Results suggest participation in downhill mountain biking in this cohort significantly impaired executive function when compared to repeated sprint activity within a laboratory. This is indicative of repeated head accelerations caused by riding over rough terrain.

Cerebellar GABA Levels and Cognitive Interference in Parkinson's disease and Healthy Comparators.

The neuroanatomical and molecular substrates for cognitive impairment in Parkinson Disease (PD) are far from clear. Evidence suggests a non-dopaminergic basis, and a crucial role for cerebellum in cognitive control in PD. We investigated whether a PD cognitive marker (response inhibition) was differently controlled by g-amino butyric acid (GABA) and/or by glutamate-glutamine (Glx) levels in the cerebellum of idiopathic PD patients, and healthy comparators (HC). Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of GABA/Glx (MEGA-PRESS acquisition sequence) was performed at 3 Tesla, and response inhibition assessed by the Stroop Word-Color Test (SWCT) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Linear correlations between cerebellar GABA/Glx levels, SWCT time/error interference effects and WCST perseverative errors were performed to test differences between correlation coefficients in PD and HC. Results showed that higher levels of mean cerebellar GABA were associated to SWCT increased time and error interference effects in PD, and the contrary in HC. Such effect dissociated by hemisphere, while correlation coefficients differences were significant in both right and left cerebellum. We conclude that MRS measured levels of cerebellar GABA are related in PD patients with decreased efficiency in filtering task-irrelevant information. This is crucial for developing pharmacological treatments for PD to potentially preserve cognitive functioning.

Motor Adaptation to Cognitive Challenges and Destabilizing Treadmill Walking in Healthy Older Adults

To develop effective fall prevention intervention, it is necessary to understand how older adults respond to challenges that demand cognitive-motor dual-tasking capability, an important capability in the daily lives. The purpose of this study is to investigate how older adults adjust their motor responses when encountering cognitive and walking perturbations simultaneously. We recorded kinematic data as subjects walked on a treadmill with or without 1) continuous random-amplitude treadmill platform sways (Perturbed vs. No-perturbed walking); and 2) each of the four cognitive tasks: Paced Auditory Serial Addition test (PASAT), clock test, visual color-word incongruent test (V-stroop), and auditory pitch-word incongruent test (A-stroop). We computed dynamic margins of stability (MOS), gait variability, and short-term local divergence exponent (LDE) of the trunk motion (local stability). Data of ten older subjects (age: 72.2±4.9) show that cognitive performance did not differ between standing, Perturbed or No-perturbed walking. Subjects demonstrated significantly greater local instability and variability in step measures, joint angle and MOS during Perturbed than No-perturbed walking (p<0.001). During dual-task conditions, subjects walked with significantly larger medio-lateral MOS (MOSML) compared to walking only, especially during early phase of the trial. During Perturbed walking, subjects had significantly larger MOSML during PASAT and Vstroop than walking only. Our data showed that subjects tried to increase their dynamic MOS during Perturbed walking or a cognitive task more difficult or taxing visual attention. However, the adjustments do not sustain throughout the trial. These findings suggest older adults tend to prioritize cognitive over walking tasks even when encountering walking perturbations.

Association Between Amyloid Accumulation and Sleep in Patients With Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder

Background and Objectives: Amyloid-beta protein may lead to sleep disturbance and eventually develop cognitive impairment. Idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is a predictor of neurodegeneration, yet there have been limited studies evaluating the relationship between cognitive decline and amyloid accumulation in iRBD patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical and sleep characteristics of iRBD patients and its association with amyloid deposition.Methods: We enroll 23 iRBD patients (mean age, 65.8 years; male, 73.9%), and their mean history of clinically suspected RBD was 6.5 years. All underwent 18F-flutemetamol amyloid PET completed polysomnography (PSG) and questionnaires. Patients were classified into two groups according to amyloid deposition as amyloid positive and negative. Clinical and sleep parameters were compared between groups and were correlated with amyloid deposition, calculated as a standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR).Results: Four patients (17.4%) were revealed to be amyloid positive, and they showed increased percentage of wake after sleep onset (WASO), stage N1, and stage N2 sleep and worse on the Stroop Word Color Test compared to amyloid negative patients. Global SUVR was correlated with total sleep time, sleep efficiency, WASO, and N1 sleep, and these sleep parameters were associated with a part of default mode network of brains such as orbitofrontal, dorsolateral pre-frontal, and left temporal areas.Conclusion: iRBD patients with amyloid deposition have worse sleep quality than patients without amyloid. Relationship between fragmented sleep and amyloid deposition in the default mode network may be crucial to elucidate the disease progress of iRBD.

Effect of desalted Salicornia europaea L. ethanol extract (PM-EE) on the subjects complaining memory dysfunction without dementia: a 12\xa0week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Desalted Salicornia europaea L. (SE) inhibits acetylcholine esterase, attenuates oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, and activates neurotrophic pathway. We performed 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of PhytoMeal(a desalted SE)-ethanol extract (PM-EE), in improving the cognitive performance in patients with subjective memory impairment. 63 participants complaining memory dysfunction without dementia (Korean Mini-Mental State Examination [K-MMSE] score ≥ 23) were assigned to PM-EE 600 mg/day or placebo. The cognitive domain of the Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-Korean version (ADAS-K) was set as the primary outcome. After 12 weeks, there was no differences in the changes in the primary outcome or the frequency of adverse events between the groups. In the subgroup analysis for the 30 subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, baseline K-MMSE scores ≤ 28), PM-EE significantly improved the color-reading score of the Korean color-word stroop test (8.2 ± 25.0 vs. − 4.7 ± 13.2, P = 0.018). Our findings suggest that PM-EE is safe but might not be effective in this setting of this study. However, PM-EE may improve the frontal executive function in the patients with MCI. Further large-sized studies with longer follow-up period is warranted (trial registration number KCT0003418).

PREVALENCE OF EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION IN ICU SURVIVORS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DAILY FUNCTIONAL ABILITY

SESSION TITLE: Critical Care Posters SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Posters PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment is common in survivors of critical illness and occurs in between 30% and 50% of individuals in the first year after discharge from the ICU. While cognitive impairment has been widely studied in this population, relatively little attention has been paid to the characterization of executive functioning. We undertook the current study both to describe the prevalence and nature of executive deficits in survivors of critical illness and to determine which dimensions of executive functioning were the most predictive of daily functional decrements. METHODS: A total of 184 participants were prospectively enrolled in a sub-study nested within an NIH-funded parent study (BRAIN-ICU). Patients were adult mechanically ventilated ICU survivors from two large medical centers who were followed at 3 months and 12 months after discharge with a comprehensive testing of both executive functioning and daily functional ability (via the Functional Activities Questionnaire or FAQ). Descriptive statistics were employed to characterize patient demographics and the prevalence of executive impairment. Proportional odds logistic regression was used to find the association between executive dysfunction and functional difficulties RESULTS: At 3- and 12-month follow-up, 135 and 105 patients were assessed, respectively. Global executive functioning was impaired (reflecting pervasive deficits across multiple domains) in nearly a quarter (22%) of study subjects at 3-month follow-up and in 10% at 12-months. Executive dysfunction was highly prevalent on tests of fluency (verbal and figural) and set-shifting, reflected in impairment on the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (44 % at 3 months and 30% at 12 months), the Controlled Oral Word Association (COWA) Test (39% at 3 months and 32% at 12 months), and the Trails B Test (31% at 3 months and 24% at 12 months). Deficits in executive ability were closely associated with impaired daily functional ability as seen in significant associations between scores on the Ruff, COWA, and Trails B tests and the FAQ, particularly at 3 months (p<0.001), with this relationship decreasing slightly at 12 months on Trails B. Analysis also revealed that lower (worse) scores on the Ruff, COWA, Trails B, and Color Word tests at 3 months predicted the presence of greater functional impairment (FAQ) (p<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: Executive dysfunction is highly prevalent in ICU survivors up to a year after discharge particularly in areas of fluency and set shifting. The presence of early executive dysfunction appears to be correlated with longer-term deficits in daily functioning. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Future investigations should strive to better characterize executive functioning after critical illness and researchers and clinicians should seek to identify ways to improve executive dysfunction in this ICU survivors DISCLOSURES: no disclosure on file for Wes Ely; No relevant relationships by Timothy Girard, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for James Jackson; No relevant relationships by Amy Kiehl, source=Web Response no disclosure on file for Caroline Lassen Green; No relevant relationships by Deepanjali Radhakrishnan Nair, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Rameela Raman, source=Web Response

Digitization of neuropsychological diagnostics: a pilot study to compare three paper-based and digitized cognitive assessments

Background and objectiveThe number of people suffering from dementia is increasing worldwide and so is the need for reliable and economical diagnostic instruments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the processing times of the neuropsychological tests Trail Making Tests A and B (TMT-A/B) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT), which were performed in both digital and paper versions.MethodsThe pilot study was conducted among 50 healthy participants (age 65–83 years) using a randomized crossover design. The correlations and differences in the individual processing times of the two test versions were statistically analyzed. Further research questions concerned the influence of the individual usage of technology and the technology commitment of participants as well as the influence of the assessed usability on participants’ performance.ResultsBetween the two versions (paper-based vs. digital) statistically significant correlations were found in all tests, e.g., TMT-A r(48) = 0.63, p < 0.01; TMT-B rs(48) = 0.77, p < 0.001). The mean value comparison showed statistically significant differences, e.g., interference table (CWIT) t(49) = 11.24, p < 0.01). Correlations with medium effect were found between the differences in processing times and the individual usage of computer (e.g., rs(48) = − 0.31) and smartphone (rs(48) = − 0.29) and between the processing times of the TMT-B and the usability (rs(48) = 0.29).ConclusionsThe high correlations between the test procedures appear promising. However, the differences found in the processing times of the two test versions require validation and standardization of digitized test procedures before they can be used in practice.

Modulatory role of background music on cognitive interference task in young people.

The Stroop Colour and Word Test (SCWT) is the most extensively used neuropsychological test in humans to evaluate the ability to inhibit cognitive interference. Any music played while the listener's primary attention is focused on another activity is known as background music and its effects on SCWT have not been studied well. The current study was designed to evaluate the influence of different background music (classical and heavy metal) on inhibiting cognitive interference in young adults by using the Stroop Colour and Word Test. Eighty student volunteers were invited for the study after obtaining their informed consent. They were first tested for colour blindness using Ishihara's colour test, and once passed, they were recruited to perform a computerised Stroop colour-word interference test. Each participant was requested to take part in four reading exercises: monochrome words, rectangle colours, coloured words and colour naming, respectively. These exercises were performed under three different conditions such as silence (absence of background music), presence of heavy metal and classical music, respectively. The participants' reaction time, errors made and heart rate were recorded and compared. The participants' reaction time was found to be significantly decreased with classical and heavy metal background music compared with the silence condition. The heart rate and errors made by the participants did not significantly change during any of the study conditions. Results of this study indicate the positive impact of background music on a cognitive interference task. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms.

Hemodynamic Activity and Connectivity of the Prefrontal Cortex by Using Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy during Color-Word Interference Test in Korean and English Language.

In daily living, people are challenged to focus on their goal while eliminating interferences. Specifically, this study investigated the pre-frontal cortex (PFC) activity while attention control was tested using the self-made color-word interference test (CWIT) with a functional near-infrared spectroscopy device (fNIRS). Among 11 healthy Korean university students, overall the highest scores were obtained in the congruent Korean condition 1 (CKC-1) and had the least vascular response (VR) as opposed to the incongruent Korean condition 2 (IKC-2). The individual’s automatic reading response caused less brain activation while IKC-2 involves color suppression. Across the three trials per each condition, no significant differences (SD) in scores and in VR since there was no intervention did. Meanwhile, SD was observed between CKC-1 and English Congruent Condition 3 (ECC-3) across trials. However, SD was only observed on the third trial of VR. In the connectivity analysis, right and left PFC are activated on ECC-3. In CKC-1 and IKC-2, encompassing dorsomedial and dorsolateral although CKC-1 has less connection and connectivity due to less brain activation as compared. Therefore, aside from VR, brain connectivity could be identified non-invasively using fNIRS without ionizing radiation and at low-cost.

Executive functions and functional impairment in Latin seniors suffering from depression

ABSTRACT Functional impairment (FI) relates to the condition of executive functions (EFs). While EFs become affected by age and educational level (EL). Seniors suffering from depression (SSDs) on the other hand show EF-related deficiencies; however, there is hardly any literature available regarding their relationship with FI in Latin SSDs, who usually have low ELs. Objective: To verify the relationship between EFs and FI in SSDs of Latin origins, by controlling the effects associated with age and educational level. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, of cases and controls, conducted on a nonprobability sample, made up of 102 self-sufficient SSDs and 142 control subjects over age 50, monolinguals of Latin origin (Chileans), all assessed by means of a battery of assessments such as: Geriatric Depression Scale, Addenbrook’s Cognitive Assessment III, Trail making Tests A and B, STROOP word—color test, and semantic and phonological verbal fluency tests. A domain of composite EFs was established with standardized Chilean population scores, where age and educational levels were controlled. A simple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between EFs and FI in SSDs. Results: Upon controlling age and educational levels, EFs explained an FI variance of 3.9% in SSDs; depression explained an EF variance of 3.2%, and 3.7% of FI. Conclusion: The results of the present study highlight the importance of a timely intervention when it comes to geriatric depression, considering the negative effect it has over the executive functions and the functionality of seniors.