International Neuropsychological Society Research Articles

Neuropsychological application of the International Test Commission Guidelines for Translation and Adapting of Tests.

The number of test translations and adaptations has risen exponentially over the last two decades, and these processes are now becoming a common practice. The International Test Commission (ITC) Guidelines for Translating and Adapting Tests (Second Edition, 2017) offer principles and practices to ensure the quality of translated and adapted tests. However, they are not specific to the cognitive processes examined with clinical neuropsychological measures. The aim of this publication is to provide a specialized set of recommendations for guiding neuropsychological test translation and adaptation procedures. The International Neuropsychological Society's Cultural Neuropsychology Special Interest Group established a working group tasked with extending the ITC guidelines to offer specialized recommendations for translating/adapting neuropsychological tests. The neuropsychological application of the ITC guidelines was formulated by authors representing over ten nations, drawing upon literature concerning neuropsychological test translation, adaptation, and development, as well as their own expertise and consulting colleagues experienced in this field. A summary of neuropsychological-specific commentary regarding the ITC test translation and adaptation guidelines is presented. Additionally, examples of applying these recommendations across a broad range of criteria are provided to aid test developers in attaining valid and reliable outcomes. Establishing specific neuropsychological test translation and adaptation guidelines is critical to ensure that such processes produce reliable and valid psychometric measures. Given the rapid global growth experienced in neuropsychology over the last two decades, the recommendations may assist researchers and practitioners in carrying out such endeavors.

A - 77 A Systematic Review of Current Diversity Representation in Neuropsychological Research

Abstract Objective This study investigated current representation of diverse samples in research published in four leading neuropsychology journals. Methods We reviewed 367 articles published in 2023 from Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Neuropsychology, Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, and The Clinical Neuropsychologist. 34 review articles and 4 editorial/announcements were excluded leaving 321 articles coded for age, education, gender/sex, race/ethnicity, and sample country. Results Overall, 89.41% of studies reported gender/sex and 50.46% reported race/ethnicity. Out of 63 original articles that included European populations (e.g., France, Sweden, Denmark, etc.), 93.65% reported gender/sex and 12.7% reported race/ethnicity. Out of 172 original articles that included United States (U.S.) samples, 95.93% reported gender/sex and 80.23% reported race/ethnicity. Studies of U.S. samples reported the following average sociodemographic variables: education 14.94 years (SD = 3.72), age 50.32 years (SD = 21.39), gender/sex 48.09% female and 51.90% male, and race/ethnicity was 65.11% White, 6.64% Black/African American, 2.18% Asian, 1.06% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 0.43% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and 24.57% unknown/other/mixed race. Additionally, 9.82% of participants were Hispanic/Latino. Conclusions Roughly half of studies did not report on race/ethnicity and this was particularly notable for European samples with more homogeneous populations. Studies with U.S. samples had equitable gender/sex representation but participants were predominantly White and older middle aged. Inconsistencies in how studies stratified race/ethnicity resulted in a large percentage of individuals being classified as unknown/other/mixed. This review highlights the need for more diverse representation in neuropsychological research as Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, and Asian groups were represented at half their actual numbers in the U.S. population (18.5%, 12.2%, and 5.9% respectively).

Toward optimizing measurement of self‐perceived cognitive function ‐ a global expert survey on behalf of the SCD‐I Working Group

AbstractBackgroundAssessment of self‐perceived cognitive decline (SCD) is relevant in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, but heterogeneity in measurement limits its interpretability and usability. Selection of optimal content for a questionnaire measuring SCD requires statistical information and expert opinion to ensure reliability as well as acceptability and feasibility. This study aims to survey experts about their perspectives on essential features of SCD measurement.MethodThe survey was distributed through the ISTAART Subjective Cognitive Decline PIA, International Neuropsychological Society’s Dementia Special Interest Group, and authors’ professional networks. Targeted experts included professionals working with older adults with SCD through research and/or clinical practice. Main topics were item content, item format, and questionnaire features. Topics were evaluated with multiple choice questions and open‐ended questions. Furthermore, experts were shown items from existing SCD questionnaires with relatively high information value as identified in a previous statistical harmonization effort using Item Response Theory analyses (see Rabin et al., 2021), and asked to select items they viewed as most relevant. Frequency analyses were performed.ResultNinety‐one experts (66% female) across four continents completed the questionnaire (Table 1). Thirty‐nine experts (43%) indicated routinely using an instrument to assess SCD (17 different instruments were mentioned). Seventy‐nine experts (87%) perceived a need for a harmonized SCD instrument. Whereas most experts (72%) responded that a questionnaire should measure both current ability and change in ability, views on the most relevant timeframe varied substantially (top choices: past year (33%) and past six months (25%)). Figure 1a and 1b show that items with the highest statistical information value were not necessarily selected as most relevant by experts. Preferred practical features of a questionnaire were availability of an informant version and coverage of multiple cognitive domains (chosen by 13% and 14% respectively). Preferred validation approaches were distinguishing psychiatric illness from neurodegenerative disorders and the correlation with neuropsychological test performance (both chosen by 20%).ConclusionDespite agreeing on the need for a harmonized SCD instrument, experts express varying views on optimal content, format, and validation approaches. The complementary information derived from statistical results and expert opinion can facilitate more comprehensive measurement of SCD.

Invited Symposium 1: Traumatic Brain Injury: Highlighting the Contributions of Dr. Harvey S. Levin Ph.D., ABPP-CN, FACSM 1946 - 2022

Invited Symposium 1: Traumatic Brain Injury: Highlighting the Contributions of Dr. Harvey S. Levin Ph.D., ABPP-CN, FACSM 1946 - 2022

Plenary C: Developing Tools for Global Neuropsychological Assessment

Abstract & Learning Objectives:During the 20th century, neuropsychology emerged as a research and clinical specialty, predominantly—though not exclusively—in Western Europe and North America. Formation of the International Neuropsychological Society has done much to foster globalization of the discipline, though we have yet to develop neuropsychological assessment instruments that are suitable for worldwide use. Test publishers have few financial incentives to undertake the development, standardization, and normative data collection required to create cognitive tests for worldwide use. And health-related funding organizations typically prioritize disease-focused etiologic, mechanistic, and treatment research in their resource allocation. Thus, developing such tools will likely require clinical data and other contributions from the entire international community of neuropsychologists. In this address, I will focus on two approaches to developing tests and norms that are suitable to global use, along with ongoing efforts and progress to date in each. I will also appeal to every member of the international community of neuropsychologists to help turn this vision into a reality now.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to: 1.Describe two fundamental approaches to developing neuropsychological tests that are appropriate for international use.2.Explain at least one strength and limitation of each approach to global test and regression-based norms development.3.Assess how to personally engage in a project that aims to provide contributors with free access to a global neuropsychological test battery that is suitable for use worldwide in multiple languages.

Awake Hippocampal-Cortical Co-reactivation Is Associated with Forgetting.

Systems consolidation theories posit that consolidation occurs primarily through a coordinated communication between hippocampus and neocortex [Moscovitch, M., & Gilboa, A. Systems consolidation, transformation and reorganization: Multiple trace theory, trace transformation theory and their competitors. PsyArXiv, 2021; Kumaran, D., Hassabis, D., & McClelland, J. L. What learning systems do intelligent agents need? Complementary learning systems theory updated. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 20, 512-534, 2016; McClelland, J. L., & O'Reilly, R. C. Why there are complementary learning systems in the hippocampus and neocortex: Insights from the successes and failures of connectionist models of learning and memory. Psychological Review, 102, 419-457, 1995]. Recent sleep studies in rodents have shown that hippocampus and visual cortex replay the same information at temporal proximity ("co-replay"; Lansink, C. S., Goltstein, P. M., Lankelma, J. V., McNaughton, B. L., & Pennartz, C. M. A. Hippocampus leads ventral striatum in replay of place-reward information. PLoS Biology, 7, e1000173, 2009; Peyrache, A., Khamassi, M., Benchenane, K., Wiener, S. I., & Battaglia, F. P. Replay of rule-learning related neural patterns in the prefrontal cortex during sleep. Nature Neuroscience, 12, 919-926, 2009; Wierzynski, C. M., Lubenov, E. V., Gu, M., & Siapas, A. G. State-dependent spike-timing relationships between hippocampal and prefrontal circuits during sleep. Neuron, 61, 587-596, 2009; Ji, D., & Wilson, M. A. Coordinated memory replay in the visual cortex and hippocampus during sleep. Nature Neuroscience, 10, 100-107, 2007). We developed a novel repetition time (TR)-based co-reactivation analysis method to study hippocampal-cortical co-replays in humans using fMRI. Thirty-six young adults completed an image (face or scene) and location paired associate encoding task in the scanner, which were preceded and followed by resting state scans. We identified post-encoding rest TRs (± 1) that showed neural reactivation of each image-location trials in both hippocampus (HPC) and category-selective cortex (fusiform face area [FFA]). This allowed us to characterize temporally proximal coordinated reactivations ("co-reactivations") between HPC and FFA. Moreover, we found that increased HPC-FFA co-reactivations were associated with incorrectly recognized trials after a 1-week delay (p = .004). Finally, we found that these HPC-FFA co-reactivations were also associated with trials that were initially correctly recognized immediately after encoding but were later forgotten in 1-day (p = .043) and 1-week delay period (p = .031). We discuss these results from a trace transformation perspective [Sekeres, M. J., Winocur, G., & Moscovitch, M. The hippocampus and related neocortical structures in memory transformation. Neuroscience Letters, 680, 39-53, 2018; Winocur, G., & Moscovitch, M. Memory transformation and systems consolidation. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 17, 766-780, 2011] and speculate that HPC-FFA co-reactivations may be integrating related events, at the expense of disrupting event-specific details, hence leading to forgetting.

Abstracts Presented at the Fiftieth Annual Virtual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 1–4, 2022

Abstracts Presented at the Fiftieth Annual Virtual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 1–4, 2022

Final Program Forty Ninth Annual Virtual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 2–5, 2021

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Our Friend and Colleague Alfredo Ardila

Distinguished Professor of Neuropsychology at the Florida International University in Miami and Albizu University (USA, Miami) Alfredo Ardila (4.09.1946–9.01.2021) was President of the Latin American Association of Neuropsychology, member of the Board of Governors of the International Neuropsychological Society and of the Editorial Board of the International publication Lurian Journal. A. Ardila was a leading thinker bringing and developing the ideas of A.R. Luria’s school of neuropsychology to North and Latin America. He joined the community of students and disciples of A.R. Luria in the mid-1970s while studying at Moscow State University where he earned a PhD degree under the supervision of E.D. Homskaya. In this article, dedicated to the memory of A. Ardila, the authors analyze his contribution to development of the systemic-dynamic approach in neuropsychology, and share personal memories of a lifelong friendship, recalling his memorable charm and personal modesty as well as his renewed scientific cooperation with colleagues from his alma mater in 2008–2020.

In Memoriam of Friend

The article is dedicated to the memory of Professor Alfredo Ardila (1946-2021), Doctor of Psychology, Distinguished Professor at the Albizu University (USA, Miami), Past President of the Latin American Association of Neuropsychology, Member of the Council of the International Neuropsychological Society (USA, Miami) and the Editorial Board of the International Journal Lurian Journal, student and the successor of the glorious traditions of the Lurian neuropsychological school. The author shares her personal memories of co-education at the Faculty of Psychology of Lomonosov Moscow State University in the mid-1970s, as well as scientific cooperation and friendship, which lasted until the end of Alfredos life.

Final Program 2021 Virtual Event International Neuropsychological Society June 30 – July 3, 2021

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A Frontal Account of False Alarms.

Prior research has demonstrated that the frontal lobes play a critical role in the top-down control of behavior, and damage to the frontal cortex impairs performance on tasks that require executive control [Burgess, P. W., & Stuss, D. T. Fifty years of prefrontal cortex research: Impact on assessment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 23, 755-767, 2017; Stuss, D. T., & Levine, B. Adult clinical neuropsychology: Lessons from studies of the frontal lobes. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 401-433, 2002]. Across executive functioning tasks, performance deficits are often quantified as the number of false alarms per total number of nontarget trials. However, most studies of frontal lobe function focus on individual task performance and do not discuss commonalities of errors committed across different tasks. Here, we describe a neurocognitive account that explores the link between deficient frontal lobe function and increased false alarms across an array of experimental tasks from a variety of task domains. We review evidence for heightened false alarms following frontal deficits in episodic long-term memory tests, working memory tasks (e.g., n-back), attentional tasks (e.g., continuous performance tasks), interference control tasks (e.g., recent probes), and inhibitory control tasks (e.g., go/no-go). We examine this relationship via neuroimaging studies, lesion studies, and across age groups and pathologies that impact the pFC, and we propose 11 issues in cognitive processing that can result in false alarms. In our review, some overlapping neural regions were implicated in the regulation of false alarms. Ultimately, however, we find evidence for the fractionation and localization of certain frontal processes related to the commission of specific types of false alarms. We outline avenues for additional research that will enable further delineation of the fractionation of the frontal lobes' regulation of false alarms.

Introduction to JINS Special Issue: Clarifying the Complexities of Cannabis and Cognition

Given the different goals of recreational cannabis users and medical patients, which drive cannabis product choice and use patterns, it is likely that those who use cannabis for medical purposes may experience differential effects on cognition. Potential moderators of cannabis-related effects One explanation for inconsistencies in the literature regarding neurocognitive effects of cannabis is that there are moderating factors that remain understudied. For decades, the effects of cannabis on neurocognition were largely investigated by comparing chronic, heavy, cannabis users with those who do not use cannabis. Based on the premise that heavier cannabis users are associated with greater cognitive declines, the authors also divided the cannabis users based on severity of cannabis use. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Addressing neuropsychological diagnostics in adults with epilepsy: Introducing the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders in Epilepsy: The IC CODE Initiative.

This paper addresses the absence of an international diagnostic taxonomy for cognitive disorders in patients with epilepsy. Initiated through the 2020 Memorandum of Understanding between the International League Against Epilepsy and the International Neuropsychological Society, neuropsychological representatives from both organizations met to address the problem and consequences of the absence of an international diagnostic taxonomy for cognitive disorders in epilepsy, overview potential solutions, and propose specific solutions going forward. The group concluded that a classification of cognitive disorders in epilepsy, including an overall taxonomy and associated operational criteria, was clearly lacking and sorely needed. This paper reviews the advantages and shortcomings of four existing cognitive diagnostic approaches, including taxonomies derived from the US National Neuropsychology Network, DSM‐V Neurocognitive Disorders, the Mild Cognitive Impairment classification from the aging/preclinical dementia literature, and the Research Domain Criteria Initiative. We propose a framework to develop a consensus‐based classification system for cognitive disorders in epilepsy that will be international in scope and be applicable for clinical practice and research globally and introduce the International Classification of Cognitive Disorders in Epilepsy (IC‐CODE) project.

Final Program 2020 Virtual Event International Neuropsychological Society July 1-2, 2020

Objective: Both auditory and visual hypersensitivity are clinical features of mental fatigue after acquired brain damage or in neurological disorders. Both types of hypersensitivity are also associated with attention deficits, especially in neurodevelopmental syndromes. The aim of this study was to examine auditory and visual hypersensitivity, and associations to attention, in a group of children and adolescents treated for paediatric brain tumours (PBTs).Participants and Methods: Included in the study were 34 survivors of PBTs, 8–18 years of age (M: 13.6, SD: 3.0). Eighteen participants were female and 16 were male. Mean time since diagnosis was 4.2 years (SD: 2.2). Auditory and visual hypersensitivity were assessed using two items from the questionnaire Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS), scored on a 7-point Likert scale from 0 – 3. Scores above 1 indicate hypersensitivity. Attention was assessed using Conners Continuous Performance Test 3 (detectability, commissions, variability), and T-scores above 60 were considered impaired. Spearman correlations were conducted between the performance-based and self-report measures.Results: Results from the MFS revealed that 53% of the survivors experienced auditory and 18% visual hypersensitivity as a sequela. Regarding attention, elevated scores were more common for detectability (18%) and variability (21%) than commissions (8%). Visual hypersensitivity was not significantly associated with any of the attention measures, whereas auditory hypersensitivity was significantly associated with detectability (r=.42, p=0.013) and variability (r=.57, p<0.001).Conclusions: These results suggest that auditory hypersensitivity is common after treatment for PBT, and that it is associated with decreased attention. This relationship should be taken into consideration when assessing survivors of PBTs.

Final Program Addendum 2020 Virtual Event International Neuropsychological Society July 1-2, 2020

Final Program Addendum 2020 Virtual Event International Neuropsychological Society July 1-2, 2020

The Role of Quality of Education in Neurocognitive Functioning in a Diverse Sample with Chronic Opioid Use Disorder

Abstract Objective Literacy is a proxy for quality of education (QoE) and mediates ethnicity-related differences in neurocognitive (NC) performance in some populations (Manly et al., 2002; Rivera Mindt et al., 2008). However, it is unknown whether this relationship exists in the context of chronic opioid use disorder (OUD). This study examined the role of ethnicity, QoE, opioid use severity, and depression in predicting NC performance in a diverse sample of persons with OUD. Participants and Method This cross-sectional study included 74 adults with OUD (Age M = 40.3 [SD = 10.5]; Education M = 11.3 [2.5]; 24% female; 68% Latinx and 32% Non-Latinx White [NLW]). All participants completed comprehensive NC testing and psychiatric/substance use questionnaires. Variables included ethnicity (Latinx vs. Non-Latinx White), years of education, QoE (Wide Range Achievement Test, Third Edition; WRAT-3 Reading Standard Scores), opioid use severity (high vs. low OAT dose), current depression (Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition; BDI-II Total Score), and demographically-corrected NC T-scores were computed and used for average domain T-scores (e.g., learning, memory, verbal fluency, executive function). Bivariate and ANCOVA analyses were used to compare ethnic groups. Results There were no significant group differences on opioid use severity or current depression (p’s &amp;gt; .05). However, compared to the NLW group, the Latinx group had lower years of education (M = 10.9 [SD = 1.7] vs. M = 12.2 [SD = 3.5]; t[72)] = 2.1, p &amp;lt; .05), QoE (M = 83.1 [SD = 13.6] vs. M = 94.8 [SD = 9.4]; t[72] = 3.8, p &amp;lt; .001), executive functioning (M = 42.0 [SD = 6.5] vs. M = 45.8 [SD = 8.5]; t[72) = 2.1, p &amp;lt; .05), and learning (M = 32.2 [SD = 8.2] vs. M = 37.8 [SD = 8.7]; t[72)] = 2.7, p &amp;lt; .05), with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d &amp;gt; .50). The overall effect of ethnicity became non-significant for executive functioning after accounting for QoE (F[2,70] = 10.0, p = .002) and years of education (F[2,70)] = 16.8, p &amp;lt; .001). Conclusions The current study found that accounting for years of education and QoE attenuates some differences in NC performance between Latinx and Non-Latinx participants. References Manly, J. J., Jacobs, D. M., Touradji, P., Small, S. A., &amp; Stern, Y. (2002). Reading level attenuates differences in neuropsychological test performance between African American and White elders. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8(3), 341-348. Mindt, M. R., Arentoft, A., Germano, K. K., D’Aquila, E., Scheiner, D., Pizzirusso, M., ... &amp; Gollan, T. H. (2008). Neuropsychological, cognitive, and theoretical considerations for evaluation of bilingual individuals. Neuropsychology review, 18(3), 255-268.

B-17 Examining Driving Abilities in Autistic Young Adults

Abstract Objectives A single white 27 year-old male with autism was referred for an evaluation of his neurocognitive skills for driver’s training competency. Typically, the following criteria are required for special needs individuals to be issued a driver’s license: 1) Must pass neuropsychologist evaluation, 2) Must be cleared by occupational therapist, and 3) must be approved by primary care physician; Schultheis presented a symposium on this topic at the International Neuropsychology Society meeting in Portland, Oregon in 2007. As driving is one of the primary methods of achieving independence in our society, most teens and young adults, regardless of diagnosis, strive to obtain a license. Methods This case presentation will profile the results of this individual’s neurocognitive driving skills. This neuropsychological evaluation included the Cognitive Behavioral Driver’s Inventory (CBDI). Results Significant results included: Average to low average intellectual skills, high average to average memory and attentional skills, weakness in math, multi-tasking perceptual motor difficulties, visual spatial/constructional difficulties, normal affective functioning, and positive personality profile. This individual had a “clearly failing” CBDI score of 91, with weaknesses in the following areas: Visual scrutiny and attention to detail, Visual motor coordination and fine motor speed, attention and concentration, rapid decision-making, distractibility, and mental flexibility, and consistency of performance. Although previously diagnosed with ADD, results of objective testing (TOVA) did not support this diagnosis. Conclusions Outpatient occupational therapy program to include visual spatial and rapid decision-making skills was recommended. Upon completion of this program, a re-administration of the CBDI is recommended.

Use It or Lose It? A 5-Year Follow-up Study of Goal Management Training in Patients with Acquired Brain Injury.

To determine the perceived 5-year outcome of Goal Management Training (GMT) for individuals with chronic acquired brain injury and executive dysfunction, when compared to a nonspecific psychoeducational intervention (Brain Health Workshop, BHW). Of the 67 subjects in the initial randomized controlled trial [Tornås et al. (2016). Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-17], 50 (GMT, n = 21; BHW, n = 29) subjects returned written consent and questionnaires (54% male, age 45.8 ± 10.9 years). The 5-year follow-up consisted of two questionnaires, including the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for daily life executive function (EF) and Quality of Life after Brain Injury to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Changes related to daily life EF and HRQoL were assessed pre-treatment, post-treatment, 6-month follow-up, and 5-year follow-up. Data were analyzed using a 2 × 4 mixed-design ANOVA. The findings indicate that GMT is efficacious in improving EF and HRQoL 6-month post-treatment. However, these changes failed to remain significant at 5-year follow-up. Data from 50 participants receiving either GMT or BHW suggested that the significant GMT-related improvements on perceived EF and HRQoL observed at 6-month follow-up were no longer present at 5-year follow-up. These findings indicate a need to promote maintenance of interventions post-treatment.

Final Program Addendum Forty Seventh Annual Meeting International Neuropsychological Society February 20-23, 2019 New York, New York, USA.

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