Complex Reaction Time Research Articles

Structural connectivity prior to whole-body sensorimotor skill learning associates with changes in resting state functional connectivity

Changes in resting state functional connectivity are induced by sensorimotor training and assumed to be concomitant of motor learning, although a potential relationship between functional and structural connectivity associated with sensorimotor sequence learning remains elusive. To investigate whether initial structural connectivity relates to changes in functional connectivity, we evaluated resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC), white matter fibre density (FD), fibre-bundle cross-section (FC), and gray matter volume (GMV) in healthy human participants before and after two days of performing a complex whole-body serial reaction time task (CWB-SRTT). As CWB-SRTT was implicit, participants were not told about the presence of any sequence. Since the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays an important role in sequence learning, we hypothesized that structural connectivity within the PFC prior to learning is associated with changes in rs-FC involving the lateral PFC. Sequence specific improvements, as assessed by the time difference between the last random and the last sequence blocks, were observed for reaction times, suggesting that sensorimotor sequence memory was acquired. Rs-FC between the right lateral PFC and bilateral striatum increased significantly in the learning group, when compared to a control group who performed only random blocks. This indicated that rs-FC changes are related to sequence memory but not to exercise itself. In addition, changes in rs-FC between the right lateral PFC and the left striatum were correlated with sequence specific improvements in individual reaction times. Furthermore, changes in rs-FC between right lateral PFC and left striatum were positively correlated with FC in the right anterior corona radiata measured before the task. We did not find any structural changes or significant correlations in FD or GMV. These findings suggest that an early phase of sensorimotor sequence learning in complex whole-body movements is associated with an increase in rs-FC between prefrontal and subcortical regions. Furthermore, we provide novel evidence that CWB-SRTT-induced changes in rs-FC were correlated with FC within the PFC.

Psychomotor Performance Decrements following a Successful Physical Activity Intervention for Insomnia

ABSTRACTObjectives: Evidence supports the view that reductions in cognitive hyperarousal contribute substantially to improved sleep outcomes following cognitive and behavioral interventions for insomnia disorder. Assuming an inverted-u relationship between arousal and performance, a theoretical possibility, supported by limited empirical data, is that the same mediating processes could negatively impact aspects of psychomotor performance, reducing speed on tests of reaction time. Participants: Sedentary participants (mean age = 59.8; SD = 9.46) meeting research diagnostic criteria for insomnia were randomized to either an exercise intervention of ≥150 min of moderate-intensity activity per week (n = 20), or a wait-list control group (n = 21). Of these, n = 17 intervention and n = 18 control participants completed 6-month follow-up assessments. Methods: Digit span, and simple and complex vigilance task performance was assessed using a computerized protocol at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Dependent variables included digit span, simple reaction time (SRT), complex reaction time (CRT), false positive responses, number of lapses, and SRT/CRT ratio (indicative of the magnitude of difference between simple and complex RT performance). The primary clinical outcome was Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score. Results: In comparisons of baseline to follow-up change, ISI scores showed clinically significant improvement in the intervention group at 6-month follow-up (F (8,26) = 5.16; P = 0.03). Baseline vigilance performance was equivalent in both groups. At 6-month follow-up, however, the intervention group showed significantly slower simple reaction time F(4,30) = 10.25, p < 0.01, and a significantly decreased SRT/CRT ratio (F(4,30) = 13.22, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Among people meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia, beneficial sleep outcomes following successful behavioral interventions may, under some circumstances, come at the cost of slower psychomotor performance.

Metalation and Methyl Group Migration in 21-, 22-, and 23-Methylcarbaporphyrins: Synthesis and Characterization of Palladium(II), Rhodium(I), and Rhodium(III) Derivatives

A rational synthesis of 23-methylcarbaporphyrin has been developed. 3,4-Diethyl-1-methylpyrrole reacted with acetoxymethylpyrrole under acidic conditions to give N-methyltripyrrane, and following cleavage of the ester protective groups, the tripyrrolic intermediate condensed with an indene dialdehyde in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid to afford the required N-methylcarbaporphyrin. Reaction with palladium(II) acetate in refluxing acetonitrile for short time periods gave a 23-methyl palladium(II) complex but prolonged reaction times afforded a rearranged 21-methyl product. The 23-methyl complex can be isolated but gradually converts into the 21-methyl derivative even in the solid state. 21-Methyl- and 22-methylcarbaporphyrins reacted with [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 to give rhodium(I) complexes. However, when the 23-methylcarbaporphyrin was reacted under the same conditions, a rhodium(III) derivative was isolated. This complex incorporates a bridging methylene unit between the Rh(III) and the 21-carbon and must therefore be formed by a methyl group migration–cyclization process.

Feedback on underperformance in patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The impact on subsequent neuropsychological test performance

Performance Validity Tests (PVTs) are used to measure the credibility of neuropsychological test results. Until now, however, a minimal amount is known about the effects of feedback upon noncredible results (i.e., underperformance) on subsequent neuropsychological test performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of feedback on underperformance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients. A subset of these patients received feedback on Amsterdam Short-Term Memory (ASTM) failure (i.e., feedback [FB] group). After matching, the final sample consisted of two comparable groups (i.e., FB and No FB; both n = 33). At baseline and follow-up assessment, the patients completed the ASTM and two measurements of information processing speed (Complex Reaction Time [CRT] and Symbol Digit Test [SDT]). Results indicated that the patients in the FB group improved significantly on the CRT, compared to the No FB group. Although not significant, a comparable trend-like effect was observed for the SDT. Independent of the feedback intervention there was a substantial improvement on ASTM performance at re-administration. A limited feedback intervention upon underperformance in CFS patients may result in improvement on information processing speed performance. This implies that such an intervention might be clinically relevant, since it maximizes the potential of examining the patients’ actual level of cognitive abilities.

Facile synthesis of zirconia nanoparticles using a salt-assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis combined with a citrate precursor method

Current synthesis processes for zirconia nanoparticles require expensive precursors or templates, complex steps and long reaction times, and produce highly agglomerated nanoparticles. In this study, we demonstrated a simple and continuous approach for synthesizing zirconia nanoparticles by combining a salt-assisted ultrasonic spray pyrolysis with a citrate precursor method. This process allows tuning of the morphology and size, where hollow sub-micron particles are transformed to minute nanoparticles by controlling (through a chelating reaction) the diffusion rate of zirconium cations in a pyrolysis step. The synthesized nanoparticles (average diameter: ∼10 nm) are characterized by a highly crystalline tetragonal structure, uniform particle-size distribution, and high specific surface area. A detailed mechanism for generating tiny nanoparticles, via this process, is presented and the optical properties of the nanoparticles are evaluated through an ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) diffuse reflectance spectrum and converted Kubelka-Munk function.

The analysis of drivers' reaction time using cell phone in the case of vehicle stabilization task.

The article analyzes the driver's psychophysiological qualities such as complex reaction and individual ability to control the vehicle that has suddenly lost its stability. The comparative analysis of the duration of reaction time was performed to assess the negative influence of speaking on a phone and driving with one hand. The experimental research was carried out on special training grounds with the road surface having low adhesion coefficient, where sudden lateral vehicle destabilization was caused by the moving plate mounted on the road surface. The vehicle onboard equipment was used for identifying the difference between the destabilization moment and the responsive driver's steering wheel movement which in this research was assumed as the reaction time. Statistical methods of research applied for the analysis of results showed high probability that the driver's actions would be significantly late in controlling a vehicle. When stabilizing a vehicle movement, the complex reaction time of a vehicle driver speaking on a mobile phone is increased by 18.1% as compared with the conventional driving by a driver not speaking on a phone. The risk of using the phone depends on the driver characteristics, traits and attitudes that affect the level of their experienced dangers, and the intensity of using mobile phones and driving. Speaking on a phone while driving increases the driver's reaction time and mental workload, and changes his or her visual overview ability as well as understanding of the situation. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(5):633-648.

Supporting Mindfulness Practices with Brain-Sensing Devices. Cognitive and Electrophysiological Evidences

Mindfulness meditation is at present deemed also as form of mental training that may allow for empowering focusing, attention regulation, and executive control skills. Nonetheless, the potential of traditional mindfulness practice for improving cognitive and neural efficiency is affected by two critical requirements—intensity of exercise and perseverance to practice—which represent a known limitation of accessibility to meditation practices. It has been suggested that the impact of such limitations might be reduced thanks to the support of external devices. The present study aims at testing the efficacy of an intensive technology-mediated intervention based on mindful practices and supported by a brain-sensing device to optimize cognitive performance and neural efficiency. Forty participants took part in the study and were randomly divided in an active control and an experimental group. Both groups were involved in a structured intervention, which lasted 4 weeks and was constituted by brief daily activities. The experimental group, differently from the active control, underwent mindfulness-based practices with the support of a dedicated device. Analyses highlighted increased electrophysiological responsiveness indices at rest and frequency profiles consistent with a relaxed mindset in the experimental group. Participants in the experimental group also showed improved electrophysiological markers of attention regulation and improved cognitive performance, as measured by a complex reaction times task. Findings hint at the potential of the investigated technology-mediated mindfulness practice for enhancing cognitive performance and for inducing consistent modulations of neural efficiency markers.

COGNITIVE RESERVE AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE IN HEALTHY LATVIAN SENIORS

In the next 30 years, a significant increase of the population aged over 65 is expected (WHO, 2015). Ageing can often be associated with cognitive decline; however, recent research indicates that symptoms of age-related cognitive impairment are modulated by Cognitive Reserve (CR), which derives from level of education, working activity, and social activity (Tucker Stern, 2011). The role of CR in neurodegenerative disease has been extensively researched, but little is known about its contribution to normal ageing. Fifty-four healthy Latvian seniors were recruited for the study. We assessed simple and complex reaction times, associative memory, memory retrieval, attention, working memory. Furthermore, we quantified their CR. We analysed the relationship between CR and reaction times with two separate logistic regressions. Then, four linear regression models were built to analyse the relationship between CR and the scores on the cognitive tasks. CR was not related to the cognitive performance of healthy Latvian seniors. Such results indicate that CR resources may be mostly required when high-demanding tasks have to be performed.

Changes in Psychomotor Reactions and Hemodynamic Parameters during a Six Minute Walking Test for Men with Hearing Impairments

Background. Lately scientists abroad and in Lithuania have been interested in the peculiarities of motor learning and control. As the recent research shows, psychomotor parameters of persons with disabilities receive much attention from the community. However, we could find only a few scientific papers dealing with the psychomotor peculiarities of the disabled people, deaf people among. Research aim was to evaluate psychomotor reactions and hemodynamic indices of persons with hearing impairments, athletes and male persons who did not go in for sports.Methods. Twenty two young persons with hearing impairments took part in the study. Among them there were deaf players from the national basketball team (age 23.80 ± 2.6 years), (45.5%, n = 10). Persons with hearing impairments who did not go in for sports were in the control group (age 21.75 ± 1.8 years), (54.5%, n = 12). Research was carried out in the Lithuanian Sports University (LSU) using the analyser of dynamic parameters DPA – 1 for human hand and leg movements in the laboratory of motor control.Results. Simple and complex reaction time was statistically different only after physical exercise between athletes with hearing impairments and those who did not go in for sports (p &lt; 0.05). Simple psychomotor reaction time of athletes with inborn and acquired hearing impairments before and after exercise was not statistically significantly different. There were no significant changes in simple and complex reaction time and hemodynamic parameters (double product) of athletes with inborn hearing impairment after the 6-minute walking test.Conclusion. Simple and complex reaction time in athletes with hearing impairment and those who did not go in for sports was statistically different (p &lt; .05) only after physical strain in sportsmen. Having tested simple psychomotor time reaction in deaf persons since birth and those with the acquired hearing impairment before and after exercise we found that there was no significant difference ( p &gt; .05) between them, but the complex reaction time in subjects with acquired hearing impairment before and after exercise was shorter than in persons who were deaf since birth. However, the difference was also not significant (p &gt; .05). There were also no significant changes in simple and complex reaction time and hemodynamic parameters (double product) in athletes who were deaf since birth after the 6 min walking test.Keywords: hearing impairment, psychomotor parameters, reaction time.

Povezanost hipertoničnih promjena očne pozadine i uratka u testovima sposobnosti različite složenosti

The paper deals with the results of an investigation which aim was to find out whether there is any correlation between the hypertonic changes on the eye retina (changes in the blood vessels) and the reaction time in different situations of varying stimulus complexity. The assessment to hypertonic changes was done on 58 subjects by an ophtalmologist, and the reaction time in varying degrees of stimulus complexity was measured by the CRD apparatus (Drenovac, 1980, 1984). The sample consisted of 29 subjects in the control group and 29 hyper - thonic persons. The results showed a negative correlation between the degree of retinal changes and complex response reaction time. Increased peripheral blood pressure, however, was found to have a positive correlation with the reaction time, which is most probably due to the effect of increased muscular tension, while »expecting the stimulus« (Kahne- man, 1973). The results indicated a possibility of a positive relationship between high blood pressure and the speed of reaction during the central phase, and the negative correlation during the effector period

Halstead-Reitan characteristics of nonimpact and impact mTBI litigants and insurance claimants

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to investigate possible neuropsychological differences in Halstead-Reitan characteristics between motor vehicle accident litigants and insurance claimants that sustained uncomplicated mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and did or did not sustain direct impact to the head (i.e., Impact vs. Nonimpact mTBI), and to compare these clinical groups with a control group that did not suffer mTBI (No mTBI). The Tactile Form Recognition Test (TFR) was the only level of performance test in the Halstead-Reitan Battery (HRB) that generated statistically significant differences. The TFR resembles a complex reaction time test. TFR response time was significantly longer for Nonimpact mTBI patients than for Impact mTBI and No mTBI participants. Frequency comparisons of abnormal score patterns demonstrated that Nonimpact patients produced significantly more aberrant Impairment Index vs. FSIQ score patterns than Impact and No mTBI participants. Given the components of the score pattern, this finding suggests that Nonimpact patients may experience less recovery from neuropsychological deficits than Impact participants. Complex perceptual reaction times and score patterns comparing sensitive and “hold” test results may represent heuristic avenues of future research in the study of compensation-seeking Nonimpact and Impact mTBI patients.

Caffeine to optimize cognitive function for military mission-readiness: a systematic review and recommendations for the field.

In 2001 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report on the use of caffeine during sustained military operations in which recommendations for research and practice were made. This systematic review serves as an update on the current quality of the evidence and addresses gaps in the current literature surrounding the effects of caffeinated foods and beverages on cognitive functioning in healthy adult populations exposed to military-like moderators. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library were searched. Peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials published in the English language since 1998 were eligible. Twenty-five trials were included and assessed for methodological quality, and descriptive data were extracted according to each military-like moderator identified. Moderators included sleep deprivation (n = 17), physical or mental exertion (n = 4), sleep deprivation combined with a sustained military operation (n = 3), and physical exertion combined with low ambient temperature (n = 1). The effects of caffeine supplementation on cognitive functioning in sleep-deprived subjects included improvements in attention and vigilance, complex reaction time, and problem solving and reasoning in the trials reviewed. These findings are consistent with the conclusions reached in the 2001 IOM report. This review contributes to the field by addressing gaps outlined in the IOM report.

Influence of vertical and horizontal whole-body vibration on some psychomotor and cognitive functions of employees age 50+ (pilot study)

This paper presents the pilot study on influence of vertical and horizontal vibration on some psychomotor and cognitive functions of employees at the age of 50+. Tests have been conducted in two series on special designed laboratory test bench for simulation of exposure to whole-body vibration. During the I series of tests, vertical vibration had acted on subjects and during II series horizontal lateral vibration had acted. Complex reaction time values obtained during I and II series indicates that there are no statistical significant differences between reaction of subjects on vertical and horizontal vibration. However slightly lower values during II series were noticed. Similar observations regarded results of cognitive function (attention and perceptiveness) tests.

Drinking and driving behavior at stop signs and red lights

Alcohol is one of the principal risk factors for motor vehicle crashes. One factor that contributes to vehicle crashes is noncompliance with stop signs and red lights. The present experiment investigated the effects of alcohol and drinking patterns on driving behavior at stop signs and red lights. 28 participants participated in drinking and simulated driving sessions during which they received a moderate dose of alcohol (0.08% BAC) or a placebo. Simulated driving tasks measured participants’ driving performance at stop signs and red lights in response to each dose. Results suggested that alcohol impaired the driver control of speed and direction and prolonged their simple and complex reaction time, which were exhibited by impaired speed and lateral control, longer reaction time when the lights turned yellow, and lower deceleration towards stop signs and red lights. Visual degradation may also occur under alcohol intake. It was also suggested that alcohol impaired non-binge drinkers more severely. To be specific, higher acceleration was observed in impaired non-binge drinkers.

Repeated Sprints in Fasted State Impair Reaction Time Performance

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 3-day Islamic intermittent fasting (3d-IF) on cognitive performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) before and after repeated sprints.Methods: Twenty-one physically active male Muslims (29.8 ± 5.9 years, exercising 4 ± 1.5 times/week) were randomly assigned to one of 2 experimental sessions: the control or nonfasting session (CS) or the fasting session (FS). These 2 sessions occurred 7 days apart in a counterbalanced crossover design. In both conditions, the test was performed at the same time of day, approximately 1 hour before sunset. In the FS, the test occurred on the third day of the 3d-IF and involved the participants' performance of the following: (a) two series of 5 maximal 5-second sprints and (b) 2 cognitive tasks: One Touch Stockings (OTS) and reaction time (simple and complex RTI).Results: In both conditions, the participants' reaction times during the RTI test were similar at the pre- and mid-exercise points, but postexercise, simple and complex reaction times were higher in FS compared to CS (p = 0.045, effect size [ES] = 0.21 and p = 0.006, ES = 0.41, respectively). However, OTS performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors were not influenced by the 3d-IF.Conclusion: Simple and complex reaction times during the RTI test were negatively affected by the 3d-IF after 2 bouts of intensive repeated sprints.

Deacidification from FCC diesel using 2-methylimidazole and ammonia

ABSTRACTAcids in FCC diesel is harmful to production equipments, storage, and transportation facilities. The complex deacidification process was adopted to remove acid from diesel using 2-methylimidazole and ammonia. The effect of all process parameters on removing acid from diesel was discussed, which included reaction temperature, mass ratio of complex deacidification agents, reaction time, and volume ratio of complex deacidification agents to diesel. Orthogonal experiments were done to optimize deacidification process on the basis of single factor experiments. The results showed that the optimum deacidification process was that volume ratio of complex deacidification agents to diesel was 0.20:1, reaction time was 12 min, mass ratio of 2-methylimidazole to ammonia was 0.4:1 and reaction temperature was 343 K. Under this condition, the deacidification rate reached 96.5%. This deacidification process had little effect on other physical and chemical properties of diesel.

Associations between reaction time measures and white matter hyperintensities in very old age

In old age, a relationship has been reported between intraindividual variability (IIV) in reaction time and white matter integrity as evidenced by white matter hyperintensities (WMH). However, it is unclear how far such associations are due to incipient neurodegenerative pathology in the samples investigated. The present study examined the relationship between IIV and WMH in older individuals (N=526) drawn from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study. Using a complex reaction time (RT) task, greater IIV and mean-RT were related to a higher WMH burden in the frontal lobe. Critically, significant associations remained having taken future dementia into account suggesting that they were not explained by incipient dementia. Additionally, independent measures of executive function accounted for the association between RT metrics and WHM. The results are consistent with the view that frontally-supported cognitive processes are involved in IIV-WMH relations, and that RT measures are sensitive to compromise in white matter structures in non-demented older individuals.

N-BACK TASK IN PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIA AND DEPRESSION COMPARED TO PATIENTS WITH ONLY DEPRESSION: CARDIOVASCULAR PATHOLOGY WITHOUT AND WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

The role of diabetes mellitus (DM) in cognitive decline in Alzheimer Disease (AD) remains unclear. In our previous study we did not find any additional impact of DM on the cognitive performance in demented patients with cardiovascular pathology (Bragin et al., 2013). The goal of this study is to implement the more challenging N-back task to investigate possible impact of DM in patients with dementia and depression and patients with depression alone. Data was collected from the charts of 409 patients (133 males, 276 females), mean age 76.7 ± 6.1, education 13.8 ± 2.5 yrs, all with cardiovascular pathology and with or without DM. All patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 - patients with dementia and depression (N=318) and group 2 - patients with Depression alone (N=91). The patients in each group were further divided into subgroups of patents with No DM and DM. The cognitive battery included the MMSE, the clock drawing (CDT), the verbal fluency category (VFC) and letters (VFL) tasks, computerized simple (SRT), complex (CRT) reaction time tasks and the N-2 Back Task with non-verbal stimuli (textures) as a target. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS-21. There were no statistically significant differences in most of the cognitive tasks between No DM and DM subgroups in group 1 (dementia and depression). In group 2 (depression), the only difference between DM and No DM subgroups was on mean reaction time in N-back task. It was 1030.87± 224.87ms for no DM and 1202 ± 352.70 ms for DM (p<0.037). The N-back task reaction time is slower only in the subgroup of patients with depression and diabetes. For patients with dementia, depression and diabetes, practical application of N-back task to differential diagnostics needs further investigation.

Acute effects of exercise and active video games on adults’ reaction time and perceived exertion

The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effects of resting, aerobic exercise practised alone, and aerobic exercise with active video games (AVG), on complex reaction time (CRT) and the post-exercise acute rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in young healthy adults. The experimental group was composed of 92 healthy young adults, 78 males and 13 females (age M = 21.9 ± 2.7 years) who completed two sessions, A and B. In session A, participants rode 30 min on an ergometer, while in session B they exercised for 30 min on an ergometer while playing an AVG on a Wii. The control group was composed of 30 young adults, 26 males and 4 females (age M = 21.4 ± 2.9 years) who rested for 30 min. In each session, a CRT task was performed before and after exercising or resting, and post-exercise global RPE was noted. Repeated measures general linear model (GLM) and Wilcoxon tests were performed. (1) Both aerobic exercise alone and aerobic exercise combined with AVG improved CRT, while resting did not; (2) aerobic exercise combined with AVG did not improve CRT more than aerobic exercise only; and (3) RPE was lower after aerobic exercise combined with AVG compared with aerobic exercise only. In young adults, exercise produces acute benefits on CRT, and practising exercise with AVG helps to decrease RPE.

Stroop event-related potentials as a bioelectrical correlate of frontal lobe dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Dysfunction of higher cognitive abilities occurs in 40–60 % of people with multiple sclerosis (MS), as detected with neuropsychological testing, with predominant involvement of executive functions and processing speed. Event-related potentials to the Stroop are a bioelectrical correlate of executive function. We tested whether event-related potentials to the executive Stroop test may reflect executive dysfunction in MS. 29 MS patients (M/F:14/15; mean age 40 ± 8), and 16 healthy control subjects were included in the study (M/F:7/9; mean age 36 ± 10). Patients underwent a neuropsychological battery and, according to the performance obtained, they were divided in two groups: 13 frontal patients (F-MS; M/F:6/7; mean age: 40 ± 8) and 16 non frontal patients (NF-MS; M/F:8/8; mean age: 41 ± 7). Simple and complex reaction times to the Stroop task were measured using a computerized system. Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to the same stimuli were obtained from 29 channel EEG, during mental discrimination between congruent and incongruent stimuli. Multivariate analysis was performed on reaction times (RTs) and ERPs latencies; topographic differences were searched with low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA). Significant group effects were found on the percentage of correct responses: F-MS subjects committed more errors than the other two groups. F-MS patients showed delayed P3 and N4 compared to NF-MS patients and delayed P2, N2, P3 and N4 compared to controls. NF-MS subjects showed significantly slower P2, N2 and P3 compared to control subjects. Moreover, frontal score correlated negatively with ERPs’ latency and with complex RTs. At source analysis F-MS patients presented significantly reduced activation predominantly over frontal, cingulate and parietal regions. Taken together, these findings suggest that bioelectrical activity to the Stroop test may well reflect the speed and extent of neural synchronization of frontal circuits. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of Stroop reaction times and ERPs for detecting frontal involvement early at a subclinical stage, allowing early cognitive therapy, and as a paraclinical marker for monitoring treatment outcomes.