Deficits In Processing Speed Research Articles

Exploring the Interactions Between Psychotic Symptoms, Cognition, and Environmental Risk Factors: A Bayesian Analysis of Networks.

Psychotic disorders (PDs) have huge personal and societal impact, and efforts to improve outcomes in patients are continuously needed. Environmental risk factors (ERFs), especially modifiable risk factors, are important to study because they pose a target for intervention and prevention. No studies have investigated ERFs, cognition, and psychotic symptoms together in a network approach. We explored interactions between 3 important ERFs (tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and childhood trauma), 6 cognitive domains, and 3 dimensions of symptoms in psychosis. From the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) cohort, we used data from patients, siblings, and healthy controls to construct networks using Bayesian analyses of all 12 variables. We constructed networks of the combined sample and of patients and siblings separately. We found that tobacco smoking was directly associated with cognition and psychotic symptoms. The cognitive variable processing speed was the most central node, connecting clusters of psychotic symptoms and substance use through the variables of positive symptoms and tobacco smoking. Comparing the networks of patients and siblings, we found that networks were relatively similar between patients and siblings. Our results support a potential central role of processing speed deficits in PDs. Findings highlight the importance of integrating tobacco smoking as potential ERFs in the context of PDs and to broaden the perspective from cannabis discontinuation to smoking cessation programs in patients or people at risk of PDs.

Analyzing the relationship between processing speed impairment and Rey-15 item test performance

ABSTRACT Objective This study investigated the relationship between processing speed impairment severity and performance on the Rey 15-Item Test (RFIT) and RFIT + Recognition. Method Cross-sectional data from 285 examinees (228 valid/57 invalid) referred for neuropsychological assessment who were administered the RFIT, Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Processing Speed Index (PSI), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and three independent criterion PVTs were included. PSI bands were operationalized as Intact (≥85SS; n = 163), Reduced/Possibly Impaired (77-84SS; n = 36), or Impaired (≤76 SS; n = 29). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses tested the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition’s classification accuracy for detecting invalid performance for the overall sample and by PSI impairment status. Results Those with intact processing speed performed significantly better on the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition than those with reduced/possibly impaired and impaired processing speed. Though verbal/visual memory predicted RFIT scores independently, PSI contributed additional variance. ROC curves for RFIT and RFIT + Recognition were significant (AUC=.64-.84). Optimal cut-scores yielded modest sensitivity (30%-63%) and high specificity (89%-93%) among those with intact and reduced processing speed but yielded unacceptable accuracy in those with impaired speed (AUC=.59-.62). Conclusions Although the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition demonstrated acceptable classification accuracy in those with intact processing speed, accuracy diminished with increasing speed impairment. This finding was more pronounced for RFIT + Recognition compared to the traditional RFIT. As such, the RFIT may have limited clinical utility in examinees with more significant processing speed deficits.

A - 27 Case Study Approach to Initial Exploration of Adaptations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Non-Epileptic Seizures (NES) in the Context of Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Objective The following case study seeks to review implementation of CBT for NES, discuss psychotherapeutic adaptations and outcomes while balancing treatment fidelity, and offer preliminary recommendations for expansion of psychotherapeutic modalities for individuals with cognitive impairment. Methods 49-year-old Hispanic male with a history of mixed epileptic (non-lesional frontal lobe medically refractory) and non-epileptic events. Neurological workup included video EEG, which captured seven events without EEG correlate and an unremarkable brain MRI. Neuropsychological evaluation indicated mild cognitive impairment due to epilepsy with deficits in processing speed, executive functioning, and confrontation naming with borderline to low average core visual and verbal abilities. The patient participated in manualized CBT for PNES. Results Treatment adaptations included extending treatment sessions from 12–19 sessions and including the patient’s sister. They read the chapters together and practiced strategies outside of session. She participated in helping him notice patterns of manifestations of fear and anger and their influence on somatic symptoms. Omission of treatment elements with higher cognitive demand (i.e., thought chart). Outcomes included increased awareness of emotions, triggers, and warnings but not episode reduction in the context of increased epileptic seizures. Conclusions Feasibility of treatment may be limited for individuals with mixed epileptic and NES episodes, particularly if there is cognitive impairment and difficulty differentiating between the two. Psychotherapeutic techniques that are concrete and behaviorally based will = be beneficial for individuals with cognitive impairment. Episode reduction in isolation is likely reductionistic when considering treatment effectiveness. Ability to self-manage episodes, quality of life, functional status, and self-efficacy are valuable markers of improvement.

B - 53 Neuropsychological Functioning after a Bi-Parietal Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury in a 28-Year-Old Hispanic Male

Abstract Objective In the U.S. there are approximately 115,000 non-fatal firearm injuries each year, resulting in an annual cost of over $229 billion. Of these injuries, some result in penetrating brain injuries where an object enters and lodges within the cranial cavity, with the severity of damage determined by the shape, mass, and energy released of the projectile as it passes through the brain. This case follows a 28-year-old right-handed Hispanic male with no premorbid medical history, 16 years of education, who experienced bi-parietal lesions as a result of a gunshot wound to the head one year prior. This trajectory is rare, with little literature detailing the effects of penetrating injuries to both parietal lobes. Method The gunshot wound resulted in a bullet trajectory from the left frontoparietal region to the right parietal calvarium with multiple displaced ballistic fragments. Since the injury, he presented with resolving right-sided weakness and sensory changes, reduced balance, memory complaints, and bilateral parietally mediated findings. Results Neuropsychological testing showed right-sided suppression (tactile, auditory, and visual in the lower quadrant), reduced sensation in his right hand, alexia with agraphia, acquired apraxia of speech without aphasia, Gerstmann’s Syndrome, topographical disorientation, visuospatial dysgnosia, and constructional apraxia. There was also indication of inattentiveness, memory impairments, and processing speed deficits. Conclusions The present case study delineates the neuropsychological sequalae after a penetrating brain injury to the right parietal lobe and left frontoparietal region, resulting in significant cognitive deficits consistent with pronounced bilateral parietal lobe findings.

Impaired Emotional Processing in Major Depressive Disorder. Accuracy versus Processing Speed

Depression is one of the most frequent conditions within the general population, ranking among the most burdensome in terms of public health expenses, productivity loss and social costs. The condition has been linked with cognitive deficits that may even continue in remission phases, social cognition being one potentially affected cognitive function. In our study, the Penn’s Emotional Acuity Test included in the CogtestTM battery was used to assess emotion recognition accuracy and processing speed. The Structured Clinical Interview for the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to assess the intensity of the symptomatology. A total of 48 depressed individual individuals (65% females), with a mean age of 49.8 ± 10.4 years, and 40 healthy controls (75% females), with a mean age of 35.2 ± 6.9 years were included. As compared to controls, depressive participants recorded significantly less correct answers (9.3 ± 3.8 vs. 11.2 ± 3.6, p = 0.019 – Student’s t test) and slower processing speeds (6795 ± 3366 vs. 4042 ± 1623, p 0.001 – Mann-Whitney U test) in emotion processing. Furthermore, symptom severity significantly influences only processing speed and not accuracy in emotion recognition tasks. Thus, we conclude that depressive individuals have a significant deficit in processing speed and accuracy when identifying the intensity of other peoples’ emotions.

Cognitive profile in burning mouth syndrome versus mild cognitive impairment: A comparative study.

This study aims to assess and contrast cognitive and psychological aspects of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS-MCI) and geriatric patients (G-MCI) with mild cognitive impairment, focusing on potential predictors like pain, mood disorders, blood biomarkers, and age-related white matter changes (ARWMCs). The study enrolled 40 BMS-MCI and 40 geriatric G-MCI, matching them by age, gender, and educational background. Participants underwent psychological, sleepiness, and cognitive assessment including the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE), Trail Making Test (TMT), Corsi Block-Tapping Task, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Copying Geometric Drawings Test, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Digit Cancellation Test. G-MCI patients exhibited higher ARWMCs scores in right (p = 0.005**) and left (p < 0.001**) temporal regions, which may relate to specific neurodegenerative processes. Conversely, BMS-MCI patients showed higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower MMSE scores(p < 0.001**), also struggling more with tasks requiring processing speed and executive function, as evidenced by their higher TMT-A scores (p < 0.001**). The study highlights particular deficits in global cognition and processing speed for BMS-MCI. The influence of educational background, pain levels, cholesterol, sleep disturbances, and anxiety on these cognitive assessments underscores the need for personalized therapeutic strategies addressing both cognitive and emotional aspects of MCI.

Global functional connectivity reorganization reflects cognitive processing speed deficits and fatigue in multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment (CI) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with bidirectional changes in resting-state centrality measures. However, practicable functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) biomarkers of CI are still lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the graph-theory-based degree rank order disruption index (kD) and its association with cognitive processing speed as a marker of CI in patients with MS (PwMS) in a secondary cross-sectional fMRI analysis. Differentiation between PwMS and healthy controls (HCs) using kD and its correlation with CI (Symbol Digit Modalities Test) was compared to established imaging biomarkers (regional degree, volumetry, diffusion-weighted imaging, lesion mapping). Additional associations were assessed for fatigue (Fatigue Scale for Motor and Cognitive Functions), gait and global disability. Analysis in 56 PwMS and 58 HCs (35/27 women, median age 45.1/40.5 years) showed lower kD in PwMS than in HCs (median -0.30/-0.06, interquartile range 0.55/0.54; p = 0.009, Mann-Whitney U test), yielding acceptable yet non-superior differentiation (area under curve 0.64). kD and degree in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) correlated with CI (kD/MPFC Spearman's ρ = 0.32/-0.45, p = 0.019/0.001, n = 55). kD also explained fatigue (ρ = -0.34, p = 0.010, n = 56) but neither gait nor disability. kD is a potential biomarker of CI and fatigue warranting further validation.

Improving processing speed in adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis with the Specific COgnitive REmediation plus Surround (SCORES) intervention: Study protocol.

Recent preventative approaches with young people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) have focused on the remediation of the cognitive deficits that are readily apparent and predictive of future illness. However, the small number of trials using cognitive remediation with CHR-P individuals have reported mixed results. The proposed 2-phased study will test an innovative internet-based and remotely-delivered Specific COgnitive REmediation plus Surround (or SCORES) intervention that targets early processing speed deficits in CHR-P adolescents aged 14-20 years old. In the first R61 phase, a single-arm 2-year proof of concept study, 30 CHR-P individuals will receive SCORES for 10 weeks (4 h per week/40 h total) with a midpoint assessment at 20 h (5 weeks) to demonstrate target engagement and identify the optimal dose needed to engage the target. The Go/No-Go criteria to move to the R33 phase will be processing speed scores improving by a medium effect size (Cohen's d ≥ .6). The proposed package includes a set of complimentary support surround procedures to increase enjoyment and ensure that participants will complete the home-based training. In the second R33 phase, a 3-year pilot study, we will replicate target engagement in a new and larger sample of 54 CHR-P individuals randomized to SCORES (optimized dose) or to a video game playing control condition. In addition, the R33 phase will determine if changes in processing speed are associated with improved social functioning and decreasing attenuated positive symptoms. The support surround components of the intervention will remain constant across phases and conditions in the R33 phase to firmly establish the centrality of processing speed training for successful remediation. The SCORES study is a completely virtual intervention that targets a core cognitive mechanism, processing speed, which is a rate-limiting factor to higher order behaviours and clinical outcomes in CHR-P adolescents. The virtual nature of this study should increase feasibility as well improve the future scalability of the intervention with considerable potential for future dissemination as a complete treatment package.

Unusual Predominant Memory Decline in an Early-Stage CADASIL Patient: A Four-Year Longitudinal Follow-Up of Hereditary Vascular Dementia

Introduction: Deficits in executive function and processing speed have traditionally been viewed as the chief cognitive manifestation of vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia. This case study describes the longitudinal progression of cognitive symptoms in a 42-year-old Colombian woman with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), a hereditary condition leading to the early onset of cerebral small vessel disease. Because of the young age of onset of vascular cognitive impairment, CADASIL allows examining the early cognitive consequences of cerebrovascular changes in the absence of age-related comorbidities. Methods: We followed the neuropsychological progression of a non-demented and stroke-free patient carrying a CADASIL mutation, in parallel to that of 13 non-carrier control subjects. At baseline, all subjects completed detailed clinical, neurological, and neuropsychological evaluations as well as an MRI scan. After a period of four years, subjects completed a follow-up neuropsychological evaluation. Results: Examination of the patient’s baseline MRI revealed the presence of significant areas of white matter hyperintensity. The patient did not present cerebral microbleeds, lacunes, notable brain atrophy, or evidence of previous strokes. In contrast to non-carrier subjects, the patient experienced predominant memory decline, with relatively preserved executive function and processing speed. Conclusions: This case highlights the heterogeneity of cognitive deficits associated with cerebrovascular disease.

QOL-08. THE LONG-TERM UTILITY OF METHYLPHENIDATE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDHOOD SURVIVORS OF BRAIN TUMOUR

Abstract BACKGROUND Enduring neurocognitive late effects are a common consequence of childhood brain tumour survivorship. Conceptual modelling of intelligence suggests initial deficits to processing speed and attention lead to the subsequent plateauing of intellectual and academic development. The utility of methylphenidate in improving attentional and processing speed deficits within the early phase of recovery has been previously reported. The longer-term contribution of methylphenidate in preserving intellectual ability through ameliorating these early deficits is yet to be evaluated. METHODS Twenty-nine childhood survivors were matched retrospectively with a no-treatment synthetic control. Intellectual assessments were conducted prior to starting methylphenidate and a minimum of 12 months thereafter. For the no-treatment control group, intellectual data were collected retrospectively from archival records, employing a similar assessment period. Linear Mixed Models were used to assess the influence of methylphenidate on intellectual trajectories between groups and fatigue scores over time. RESULTS Methylphenidate was associated with raw score improvements across all intellectual indices compared to no-treatment controls. Linear Mixed Modelling reported a borderline significant improvement in Processing Speed (t = 1.98, p =.05) for the methylphenidate group. In comparison, a borderline significant (p =.05) within-group decrease in Working Memory scores was reported for the no-treatment group. There was a significant within-group decrease in pooled PedsQL MFS scores between assessments for the treatment group (t = -4.01, p &amp;lt;.01), with the most notable decrease observed in Sleep/Rest Fatigue (t = -10.17, p &amp;lt;.01). CONCLUSIONS Methylphenidate may pose a valuable long-term rehabilitative strategy in preserving Processing Speed in childhood survivors of brain tumour. Whilst our sample size is small, there is tentative evidence for the utility of methylphenidate in alleviating fatigue experienced by childhood survivors.

Mapping the interplay of atrial fibrillation, brain structure, and cognitive dysfunction.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Understanding the cognitive sequelae and brain structural changes associated with AF is vital for addressing ensuing health care needs. We examined 1335 stroke-free individuals with AF and 2683 matched controls using neuropsychological assessments and multimodal neuroimaging. The analysis revealed that individuals with AF exhibited deficits in executive function, processing speed, and reasoning, accompanied by reduced cortical thickness, elevated extracellular free-water content, and widespread white matter abnormalities, indicative of small vessel pathology. Notably, brain structural differences statistically mediated the relationship between AF and cognitive performance. Integrating a comprehensive analysis approach with extensive clinical and magnetic resonance imaging data, our study highlights small vessel pathology as a possible unifying link among AF, cognitive decline, and abnormal brain structure. These insights can inform diagnostic approaches and motivate the ongoing implementation of effective therapeutic strategies. Highlights We investigated neuropsychological and multimodal neuroimaging data of 1335 individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) and 2683 matched controls. Our analysis revealed AF-associated deficits in cognitive domains of attention, executive function, processing speed, and reasoning. Cognitive deficits in the AF group were accompanied by structural brain alterations including reduced cortical thickness and gray matter volume, alongside increased extracellular free-water content as well as widespread differences of white matter integrity. Structural brain changes statistically mediated the link between AF and cognitive performance, emphasizing the potential of structural imaging markers as a diagnostic tool in AF-related cognitive decline.

Determinants of cognitive dysfunction in adults with sickle cell–related stroke or suspected neurological morbidity

AbstractThe prognosis of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adults is determined primarily by damage to targeted organs such as the brain. Cognitive dysfunction in SCD is a common chronic neurological manifestation, but studies remain mostly descriptive in adults. The objective of this study was to better characterize the cognitive profile and the association between cognitive dysfunction and brain lesions. We included adult patients with SCD referred for a neurological assessment. An adapted battery of neuropsychological tests was used to assess cognitive deficits. Brain or arterial abnormalities were assessed using brain magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography and a cervical and transcranial Doppler ultrasound. The cognitive profile of 96 patients was characterized by deficits in processing speed (58%), short-term memory (34%), and working memory (24%). Brain infarcts were found in 56% of patients and intracranial vasculopathy in 49%. Twenty percent of patients had no brain abnormalities. Processing speed dysfunction was associated with territorial infarcts (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; P = .03) and education outside of France (OR, 4.7; P = .02). Short-term memory dysfunction was associated with territorial infarcts (OR, 3.4; P = .01) and a low educational level (OR, 8.2; P = .01). Working memory dysfunction was associated with a low educational level (OR, 4.3; P = .05) and vasculopathy (OR, 3.7; P = .03). Cognitive dysfunction appears to be a hallmark sign of SCD, particularly for adults with sickle cell-related stroke or suspected neurological morbidity. Assessment of such dysfunction could be used in longitudinal follow-up and clinical trials.

Aperiodic and periodic components of oscillatory brain activity in relation to cognition and symptoms in pediatric ADHD

Abstract Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder show deficits in processing speed, as well as aberrant neural oscillations, including both periodic (oscillatory) and aperiodic (1/f-like) activity, reflecting the pattern of power across frequencies. Both components were suggested as underlying neural mechanisms of cognitive dysfunctions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Here, we examined differences in processing speed and resting-state-Electroencephalogram neural oscillations and their associations between 6- and 12-year-old children with (n = 33) and without (n = 33) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Spectral analyses of the resting-state EEG signal using fast Fourier transform revealed increased power in fronto-central theta and beta oscillations for the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group, but no differences in the theta/beta ratio. Using the parameterization method, we found a higher aperiodic exponent, which has been suggested to reflect lower neuronal excitation-inhibition, in the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group. While fast Fourier transform–based theta power correlated with clinical symptoms for the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder group only, the aperiodic exponent was negatively correlated with processing speed across the entire sample. Finally, the aperiodic exponent was correlated with fast Fourier transform–based beta power. These results highlight the different and complementary contribution of periodic and aperiodic components of the neural spectrum as metrics for evaluation of processing speed in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Future studies should further clarify the roles of periodic and aperiodic components in additional cognitive functions and in relation to clinical status.

Neurocognition and social cognition in youth and young adults at ultra-high-risk for psychosis and bipolar disorder

BackgroundSchizophrenia and bipolar disorder are associated with significant deficits in neurocognition and social cognition. Unlike the studies in chronic stages of these disorders, very limited information is available regarding neurocognitive and social-cognitive impairment before the onset of bipolar disorder. Our main aim was to investigate the differences in neurocognition and social cognition between individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR-P) and bipolar disorder (UHR-BD). MethodsThis study included 152 help-seeking individuals identified as UHR-P (n = 78) and UHR-BD (n = 74), who were compared with a healthy control group (n = 43). A comprehensive neuropsychological battery was administered to all participants. ResultsUHR-P was associated with widespread deficits in all neurocognitive and social-cognitive domains. Effect sizes (Cohen's d) of these deficits ranged from −0.57 to −1.34. UHR-BD was associated with significant deficits in processing speed, executive functions, sustained attention and social cognition (d = −0.48 to-0.70, p < 0.05). UHR-P performed significantly worse than UHR-BD in social cognition, processing speed, verbal memory and executive function domains (d = −0.39 to-0.64, p < 0.05). Negative symptoms were associated with impaired social cognition in the UHR-P group and verbal memory deficits in the UHR-BD group. Cognitive impairment was associated with functional impairment in both groups. ConclusionsWhile UHR-P is associated with more widespread cognitive impairment, deficits in processing speed, executive functions, sustained attention and social cognition might be common features of both UHR groups. In early intervention services, cognition should be considered as a target for assessment and intervention not only for individuals at high risk for psychosis but also for bipolar disorder.

Processing speed and executive functioning in relation to off-topic verbosity among young adults and older adults

Purpose Off-topic verbosity (OTV) is a tendency towards excessive, off-topic speech and has been linked with age-related deficits in executive functioning, particularly inhibition. However, there are numerous disagreements within the literature on what constitutes OTV, and there is a further lack of investigation into alternative cognitive explanations for the link between inhibition and OTV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the speech characteristics of OTV in young and older adults as well as to examine whether variations in OTV are better explained by diminished executive functioning or processing speed, as measured by the D-KEFS Stroop test. Methods Young adults (n = 65; age 18–28) and older adults (n = 85; age 60–98) completed the D-KEFS Color-Word Interference Test and provided verbal samples of autobiographical episodic and procedural speech. These speech samples were rated on three facets of OTV: tangentiality, egocentrism and quantity of speech. Results Procedural autobiographical speech was found to best measure age cohort variations in OTV, and higher OTV was associated with poorer Stroop test performance in older adults but not in young adults. In fact, young adults only displayed associations between poorer Stroop performance and a reduction in speech quantity. Finally, processing speed deficits were more associated with increased OTV in older adults than executive functioning. Conclusion These results provide support for links between age-related cognitive decline and OTV, but the results suggest that processing speed may be more implicated than executive functioning.

Processing Speed in Gifted Children: A Clinical Neuropsychological Perspective

ABSTRACT Children with gifted intellects often earn lower scores on measures of processing speed than their nongifted counterparts. However, neuropsychological research indicates such a profile of scores is likely not due to a true innate neurocognitive processing speed deficit but is rather a statistical artifact resulting from the interference of common cognitive and behavioral idiosyncrasies inherent to giftedness, such as perfectionism and an aversion to completing paper and pencil tasks. The first aim of this study is to identify and explain the relative underperformance of children with gifted intellects on measures of processing speed. The second aim is to develop a neuropsychologically informed framework for clinically assessing processing speed in children with gifted intellects using alternative measures from the WISC–V. Clinical implications are discussed as they relate to the relative disabling effects of common gifted-related idiosyncrasies on the expression of their otherwise intact neuropsychological capabilities.

Long-term trajectories of clinical staging in first-episode psychosis and their associated cognitive outcome: A 21-year follow-up study

Cognitive deficits are already present before psychosis onset but are a key feature of first-episode psychosis (FEP). The objective of this study was to investigate the cognitive outcomes of a cohort of FEP patients who were diagnosed using the clinical staging approach and were followed for up to 21 years.We analyzed data from 173 participants with first-admission psychosis who were followed-up for a mean of 20.9 years. The clinical staging assessment was adapted from the clinical staging framework developed by McGorry et al.1 Cognitive assessment was performed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MMCB) at the end of follow-up.FEP patients who were longitudinally diagnosed in the lowest clinical stages (stages 2A and 2B) showed better performance in attention, processing speed, and MCCB overall composite score than those in the highest clinical stages (stages 4A and 4B). There was a significant linear trend association between worsening of all MCCB cognitive functions and MCCB overall composite score and progression in clinical staging. Furthermore, the interval between two and five years of follow-up appears to be associated with deficits in processing speed as a cognitive marker.Our results support the validation of the clinical staging model over a long-term course of FEP based on neuropsychological performance. A decline in some cognitive functions, such as processing speed, may facilitate the transition of patients to an advanced stage during the critical period of first-episode psychosis.

The effect of processing speed on verbal and visual memory of adults with a chronic acquired brain injury

ABSTRACT Objective Memory problems are among the most frequently reported cognitive complaints by individuals with an acquired brain injury (ABI). Processing speed and working memory deficits are often the result of ABI. These cognitive deficits significantly impact the acquisition and retention of information necessary for memory formation. This study investigated the influence of processing speed and working memory on immediate and delayed recall for verbal and visual memory, as well as overall memory recall in adults living with a chronic ABI. Methods Sixty-three participants living with a chronic ABI, who were at least one-year post-injury, were cognitively assessed with the CNS-Vital Signs (CNS-VS) computerized cognitive battery and Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. Results The CNS-VS Processing Speed significantly predicted delayed recall for verbal memory and overall memory performance. The CNS-VS Working Memory was not a significant predictor of memory recall. Conclusions Processing speed deficits negatively impact memory in individuals with a chronic ABI. These findings suggest the memory recall of adults with a chronic ABI is associated with poor processing speed and poor acquisition of information. Therefore, cognitive rehabilitation that improves processing speed should be the focus for individuals with ABI to improve memory performance as well as impaired processing speed.

Speed of processing in Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): The case of real-time grammatical processing.

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) impacts various aspects of children's language abilities, including the processing of inflectional morphology. Prior research suggests that children with DLD exhibit deficits in processing speed and sensitivity to grammatical inflections, yet the relationship between these deficits remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between processing speed and sensitivity to inflectional morphology in children with DLD, focusing on their real-time processing abilities in response to regular past tense, third person singular, and regular plural inflections at different rates of sentence articulation. Eighteen children with DLD and 18 age-matched controls underwent word monitoring tasks that assessed sensitivity to grammaticality of inflections in sentences presented at normal and slow rates of articulation. At a normal rate of articulation, children with DLD demonstrated slower response times and reduced sensitivity to grammaticality across all inflections compared to controls. When the articulation rate was slowed, children with DLD showed improved sensitivity, particularly to regular plural and third person singular inflections, although deficits in processing the regular past tense persisted. The findings suggest a significant relationship between processing speed and inflectional morphology sensitivity in children with DLD. Slower articulation rates improved grammatical sensitivity for certain inflections, highlighting the potential of tailored interventions that consider processing speed limitations. Persistent difficulties with the regular past tense inflection indicate the need for targeted support for children with DLD in this area. What is already known on this subject Children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) have a wide range of language difficulties, but deficits in inflectional morphology are regarded as a 'hallmark' of the disorder. Children with DLD are also very likely to show deficits in speed of processing, although it is not known if a 'slowness to process' can causally explain the language difficulties these children experience. What this study adds to existing knowledge When grammatical sensitivity was measured using an online real-time task, children with DLD showed widespread inflectional deficits when sentences were spoken at a normal conversational rate. When sentence articulation rate was slowed down, children with DLD were faster, more accurate and more sensitive to the grammaticality of constructions. However, deficits in the regular past tense remained persistent, even in this slow-rate condition. What are the clinical implications of this work? This study has implications for clinical and educational practices that work with children with DLD to improve their language skills. The findings of this study show that when children with DLD are given more time to process incoming information, their grammatical skills significantly improve. This study also shows that deficits in the regular past tense are persistent, and children are likely need extensive and intensive support with this particular grammatical feature.

Neuroimaging features of cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.

Cognitive dysfunctions are one of the key symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ) and major depressive disorder (MDD), which exist not only during the onset of diseases but also before the onset, even after the remission of psychiatric symptoms. With the development of neuroimaging techniques, these non-invasive approaches provide valuable insights into the underlying pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and information of cognitive remediation interventions. This review synthesizes existing neuroimaging studies to examine domains of cognitive impairment, particularly processing speed, memory, attention, and executive function in SZ and MDD patients. First, white matter (WM) abnormalities are observed in processing speed deficits in both SZ and MDD, with distinct neuroimaging findings highlighting WM connectivity abnormalities in SZ and WM hyperintensity caused by small vessel disease in MDD. Additionally, the abnormal functions of prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe are found in both SZ and MDD patients during various memory tasks, while aberrant amygdala activity potentially contributes to a preference to negative memories in MDD. Furthermore, impaired large-scale networks including frontoparietal network, dorsal attention network, and ventral attention network are related to attention deficits, both in SZ and MDD patients. Finally, abnormal activity and volume of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and abnormal functional connections between the DLPFC and the cerebellum are associated with executive dysfunction in both SZ and MDD. Despite these insights, longitudinal neuroimaging studies are lacking, impeding a comprehensive understanding of cognitive changes and the development of early intervention strategies for SZ and MDD. Addressing this gap is critical for advancing our knowledge and improving patient prognosis.