Letter-Number Sequencing Research Articles

Verbal Working Memory Error Patterns and Speech-Language Outcomes in Youth With Cochlear Implants.

Verbal working memory (VWM) delays are commonly found in prelingually deaf youth with cochlear implants (CIs), albeit with considerable interindividual variability. However, little is known about the neurocognitive information-processing mechanisms underlying these delays and how these mechanisms relate to spoken language outcomes. The goal of this study was to use error analysis of the letter-number sequencing (LNS) task to test the hypothesis that VWM delays in CI users are due, in part, to fragile, underspecified phonological representations in short-term memory. Fifty-one CI users aged 7-22 years and 53 normal hearing (NH) peers completed a battery of speech, language, and neurocognitive tests. LNS raw scores and error profiles were compared between samples, and a hierarchical regression model was used to test for associations with measures of speech, language, and hearing. Youth with CIs scored lower on the LNS test than NH peers and committed a significantly higher number of errors involving phonological confusions (recalling an incorrect letter/digit in place of a phonologically similar one). More phonological errors were associated with poorer performance on measures of nonword repetition and following spoken directions but not with hearing quality. Study findings support the hypothesis that poorer VWM in deaf children with CIs is due, in part, to fragile, underspecified phonological representations in short-term/working memory, which underlie spoken language delays. Programs aimed at strengthening phonological representations may improve VWM and spoken language outcomes in CI users.

Narcissistic Traits and Executive Functions.

Several personality disorders have been associated with cognitive impairment, including executive functions like working memory. Yet, it is unclear whether subclinical expression in non-clinical persons is associated with cognitive functioning. Recent studies indicate that non-clinical subjects might, in fact, perform better with increasing moderate to mild expressions of narcissistic features. We tested working memory performance in a cohort of n=70 psychiatrically and neurologically healthy subjects using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS/WIE) subtests Arithmetic, Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing, and assessed narcissistic features using three different inventories: the widely used Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), as well as two clinically used measures of narcissistic traits and states, respectively, derived from schema-focused therapy, i.e., the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) entitlement/grandiosity subscale and the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) self-aggrandizer subscale. In accordance with our hypothesis, we found nominally significant positive correlations of WIE Arithmetic performance with NPI total score (Spearman’s rho=0.208; p=0.043) and SMI self-aggrandizer scale (Spearman’s rho=0.231; p=0.027), but findings did not survive false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment for multiple comparisons (pFDR=0.189 and pFDR=0.243, respectively). While our findings add to recent studies on cognitive performance in subclinical narcissism, they fail to demonstrate an association of cognitive performance with narcissistic traits across multiple working memory tests, indicating the need for additional study, including complementary executive functions in larger cohorts and ranges of phenotype expression.

Cognitive Measures and the Acceptable Noise Level.

The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the acceptable noise level (ANL) and cognitive measures of auditory attention and working memory. Young adults were administered the following tests: the ANL, the Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition, the Auditory Attention subtest from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), and the operation span (OSPAN) test. A correlation matrix was constructed using Pearson coefficients. Twenty-four young adults aged 20-29 years with normal hearing participated in the study. No significant relationships were found among the ANL and the different cognitive tasks, nor was there a significant relation found between the ANL and the HINT. However, significant relationships were found between individual cognitive tasks. There was a significant relation found between selective attention and the most comfortable level of presentation of a story. Selective attention may be a key cognitive function in acceptance of background noise.

Easy Abacus Calculation in Early Childhood to Support Executive Function: An Educational Pilot Case Study of Comparing Brain Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex

The development of executive functions is remarkable in early childhood. Therefore, research on how to support the development of executive functions is actively being conducted. It has already been indicated that executive functions are related to the prefrontal cortex. Recent evidence suggests that the prefrontal cortex is involved in mental abacus (MA). Further, the study of the abacus—the base of MA—is good for not only mathematics but also nurturing the brain. However, although the abacus is easy to learn, learning opportunities have shrunk because of the widespread use of calculators. Through this educational pilot case study, I examined whether it is possible that even easy calculations during the introduction of abacus calculation in early childhood may have an effect on executive function support. I measured the activation of cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex of a young child while he worked on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV; Working Memory Index tasks (forward digit-span task, backward digit-span task, and letter–number sequencing task); and the abacus calculation task using HOT-2000 (NeU, Japan), a two-channel wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy device. The results revealed a significant difference between the abacus calculation task and the forward digit-span task; however, there was no significant difference between the abacus calculation task and other tasks. In other words, the brain in the prefrontal cortex was more activated in the abacus task than in the forward digit-span task. Difficulty levels were found to be in the order of the forward digit-span task, backward digit-span task, and letter–number sequencing task. Thus, there is a possibility that even simple abacus calculation has a positive effect on executive functions, especially working memory support, in early childhood. This study’s results provide a breakthrough in cognitive psychology, educational psychology, neuropsychology, and other fields related to child support, which are struggling to find valuable, practical practices for children in the field (i.e., schools and homes) beyond the laboratory.

Visual and Verbal Working Memory and Processing Speed Across the Adult Lifespan: The Effect of Age, Sex, Educational Level, Awakeness, and Hearing Sensitivity.

Objective: To strengthen future methodological choices regarding the measurement of cognition within the field of audiology, the current study aimed to examine the effect of, among other things, hearing sensitivity on the backward corsi tapping task (i.e., visual working memory and processing speed) and the letter-number sequencing task (i.e., verbal working memory and processing speed).Design and Study Sample: The backward corsi tapping task and the letter-number sequencing task were administered to 184 participants, aged between 18 and 69 years. The effect of age, sex, educational level, awakeness, and hearing sensitivity on verbal and visual working memory and processing speed was assessed using stepwise multiple regression analyses.Results: For all outcome variables, a decrease in performance was observed with increasing age. For visual and verbal working memory, males outperformed females, whereas no clear sex effect was observed for visual and verbal processing speed. Hearing sensitivity had only a significant impact on visual processing speed.Conclusion: The importance to evaluate cognitive construct validity within audiological research was highlighted. Further research should focus on investigating the associations between speech understanding on the one hand and the backward corsi tapping task and letter-number sequencing task on the other hand.

Working Memory Deficits Related to Brain Atrophy in Early Stage Parkinson's Disease

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To explore the relationship between attention/working memory (WM) performance and grey matter volume in the dorsal attention network (DAN), a neural network in the brain that supports encoding and maintenance of external information. <h3>Design</h3> Observational. <h3>Setting</h3> Data obtained from the Parkinson's Progression Marker Initiative (PPMI; www.ppmi-info.org), an international longitudinal multisite study. <h3>Participants</h3> Participants with persistent WM impairment (n= 10) and persistent normal WM performance (n=10) were compared. WM was measured using the Letter Number Sequencing (LNS) test. Persistent impairment was defined by a standardized test score of 8 or less for 4 consecutive years since baseline imaging. Normal WM performance was defined by a standardized test score of 10 or more for 4 consecutive years since baseline imaging. Groups were matched on sex, age, years of education, and disease duration. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not Applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Grey matter volume was measured using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) through SPM12 and CAT12. Region of interest analysis within the DAN (Schaeffer et al., 2018 100-parcel atlas), was conducted. Whole brain cluster analysis was conducted for confirmatory evidence. Significant clusters within a DAN mask (Schaeffer et al., 2018 100-parcel atlas) are reported with a FDR (p=0.05). <h3>Results</h3> For ROI analysis, grey matter atrophy in the bilateral visuomotor cortex (p=0.005), bilateral intraparietal sulcus (p=0.04), and right superior parietal lobule (p=0.021) was found in the impaired WM group compared to the normal WM group. Between groups, differences in several clusters within the DAN masks were observed. <h3>Conclusions</h3> These promising preliminary findings support the notion that changes in grey matter volume within cognitive neural networks, such as the DAN, can be a biomarker for decline in cognitive function, as well as treatment responsiveness in people living with PD. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> None.

An Examination of Cognitive Heterogeneity in Parkinson disease: The Dual-Syndrome Hypothesis

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate whether individuals with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) are differentiated by early evidence of predominant fronto-striatal or posterior cortical impairment as proposed by the Dual-Syndrome Hypothesis (Kehagia et al., 2013). <h3>Design</h3> Retrospective inception cohort of de novo PD. Participants completed neuropsychological tests, including the Letter Number Sequencing Test (LNS), Benton Judgement of Line Orientation (JoLO), Semantic Fluency Task, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). <h3>Setting</h3> Data used in the preparation of this study were obtained from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database (www.ppmi-info.org/data). For up-to-date information on the study, visit www.ppmi-info.org. <h3>Participants</h3> 312 individuals with PD (< 2 years of diagnosis) with data available from the baseline visit of the PPMI study and evidence of dopaminergic denervation on a dopamine transporter SPECT scan. <h3>Interventions</h3> Not applicable. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The fronto-striatal profile was based on impaired performance on the LNS and attention and executive tasks of the MoCA, with relative preservation of semantic fluency and visuospatial functioning. The posterior-cortical profile was based on impaired performance on the JoLO, semantic fluency task, and visuospatial tasks of the MoCA. A priori criteria based on normative data were utilized to group participants into the fronto-striatal or posterior cortical profile. <h3>Results</h3> At baseline, 4.49% of participants met the strict inclusion criteria for the fronto-striatal profile and 32.30% for the posterior cortical profile. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The Dual-Syndrome Hypothesis is a comprehensive theory explaining cognitive heterogeneity in PD. The current study suggests that cognitive profiles may emerge early in the de novo PD stage. Identification of the posterior cortical profile has important clinical implications as it is associated with a higher risk of dementia. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have no conflicts of interest.

A-159 Attention and Executive Function Predict Immediate and Delayed Verbal Memory in Healthy Youth: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract Objective Previous neuropsychological assessments have sought to understand the interrelatedness of cognitive functions when interpreting neuropsychological test performance (e.g., Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System; DKEFS), given that they rarely function in isolation. Test results may be misinterpreted if not contextualized within individuals’ overall cognitive profiles; therefore, the present study evaluated the impact of attention and executive function (EF) on verbal learning and memory (VLM) in a sample of healthy youth. Method Participants (n = 166, M age = 12.0 years, 79.5% male, M FSIQ = 109.6) completed a two-hour neuropsychological battery, including the Wide Range Assessment of Learning and Memory, 2nd Edition List Learning (LL), DKEFS Trail Making Test (TMT), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition Digit Span (DS) and Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the impact of attention and EF on immediate and delayed VLM. Results Latent factors were estimated for attention/EF (DS Forward, DS Backward, LNS, and TMT Condition 4) and VLM (LL Trials 1–4), and the model converged with adequate model fit statistics (RMSEA = 0.064; CFI = 0.975; TLI = 0.963, SRMR = 0.039). Attention and EF predicted performance on both immediate and delayed VLM (ps &amp;lt; 0.001) when accounting for age. Conclusions The results demonstrated that attention and EF predicted immediate and delayed VLM in youth, suggesting that participants’ performance on VLM may be impacted by weaknesses in attention and EF. As a result, clinicians are recommended to examine patterns of performances across multiple cognitive domains when interpreting individual test scores. This is especially important in pediatric populations given the developmental changes the brain undergoes during childhood and adolescence.

A-3 Cingulo-Opercular and Frontoparietal Control Network Connectivity and Executive Functioning in Older Adults

Abstract Objective Executive functioning is a cognitive domain that typically declines with normal aging. Age-related disrupted connectivity in cingulo-opercular (CON) and frontoparietal control (FPCN) resting-state networks is associated with worse performance across various executive functioning tasks. This study examines the relationships between CON and FPCN connectivity and executive functioning performance in older adults across three subdomains: working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting. Methods 274 healthy older adults (age M = 71.7, SD = 5.1; 87% Caucasian) from a clinical trial at the University of Florida and University of Arizona completed tasks of working memory (Digit Span Backwards [DSB]; Letter Number Sequencing [LNS]), inhibition (Stroop), and set-shifting (Trail Making Test Part B [TMT-B]). Participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. CONN Toolbox (18b) was used for extracting average within-network connectivity of CON and FPCN. Multiple linear regressions were conducted with average network connectivity predicting performance, controlling for age, sex, education, and scanner. Results Greater average CON connectivity was associated with better performance on DSB (β = 0.26, p &amp;lt; 0.001), LNS (β = 0.23, p &amp;lt; 0.001), Stroop (β = 0.24, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and TMT-B (β = −0.26, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Greater average FPCN connectivity was associated with better performance on DSB (β = 0.22, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and LNS (β = 0.18, p = 0.002). Conclusions CON connectivity was significantly associated with working memory, inhibition, and set-shifting. FPCN connectivity was significantly associated with working memory. Future research should conduct regional connectivity analyses within these networks to identify intervention targets to improve executive functioning in older adults.

Latent Profile Analysis of Cognition in a Non-Demented Diverse Cohort: A Focus on Modifiable Cardiovascular and Lifestyle Factors.

Cognitively-defined subgroups are well-documented within neurodegeneration. We examined such profiles in diverse non-demented older adults and considered how resulting subgroups relate to modifiable factors associated with neurodegeneration. 121 non-demented (MMSE = 28.62) diverse (46%non-Latino Black, 40%non-Latino White, 15%Latino) community-dwelling adults (age = 67.7 years) completed cognitive, cardiovascular, physical activity, and diet evaluations. Latent profile analyses (LPA) employed six cognitive scores (letter fluency, letter-number sequencing, confrontational naming, 'animal' fluency, list-learning delayed recall, and recognition discriminability) to characterize cognitively-defined subgroups. Differences between resulting subgroups on cardiovascular (composite scores of overall health; specific health components including fasting blood levels) and lifestyle (sedentary behavior; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; Mediterranean diet consumption) factors were examined using ANCOVAs adjusting for relevant confounders. Based on sample means across cognitive scores, LPA resulted in the following cognitive subgroups: 1) high-average cognition, 55%non-Latino White and 64%female participants; 2) average cognition, 58%non-Latino Black and 68%male participants; 3) lower memory, 58%non-Latino Black participants; and 4) lower executive functioning, 70%Latinos. The high-average subgroup reported significantly higher Mediterranean diet consumption than the average subgroup (p = 0.001). The lower executive functioning group had higher fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c than all other subgroups (p-values<0.001). LPA revealed two average subgroups reflecting level differences in cognition previously reported between non-Latino White and Black adults, and two lower cognition subgroups in domains similar to those documented in neurodegeneration. These subgroups, and their differences, suggest the importance of considering social determinants of health in cognitive aging and modifiable risk.

Association of cognitive impairment with sleep quality, depression and cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross sectional study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of cognitive impairment with sleep quality, depression, and cardiometabolic risk factors among participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects underwent clinical interview to capture socio-demographic details, medical history, sleep quality, presence of depression, along with anthropometric and biochemical measurements. A detailed neuropsychological assessment [Montreal cognitive assessment scale (MoCA), Trail making A and B, Digit span, Spatial span, Letter Number Sequencing] was done. Cognitive impairment was defined as MoCA score of <23. Participants (n=250, 50% women, 63.6% middle-age) had a mean (±SD) age of 53.6 (±9.1) years and HbA1c of 55.1±6.8mmol/mol (7.2±0.6%). Cognitive impairment was present in 57 (22.8%) participants. In the middle-age subgroup, cognitive impairment was higher (23.9%) than those in the fourth decade (6.3%), but comparable (24.0%) to the older age (60-70years) individuals. Diabetes-related vascular complications [Odds ratio (95% CI) 2.03 (1.05, 3.94)]; hypertension [2.00 (1.04, 3.84)], depression [2.37 (1.24, 4.55)] and lower education [2.73 (1.42, 5.23)] had a significant association with cognitive impairment on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The high burden of cognitive impairment calls for an urgent need to establish longitudinal cohorts in midlife to understand this population's cognitive trajectories and see the influence of various bio-psychosocial variables.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition Profiles of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Classification and Regression Trees Analysis

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC) are the most widely used instrument in assessing cognitive ability, especially with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous literature on the WISC has demonstrated a divergent pattern of performance on the WISC for children ASD compared to their typically developing peers; however, there is a lack of research concerning the most recent iteration, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Due to the distinctive changes made to the WISC-V, we sought to identify the pattern of performance of children with ASD on the WISC-V using a classification and regression (CART) analysis. The current study used the standardization sample data of the WISC-V obtained from NCS Pearson, Inc. Sixty-two children diagnosed with ASD, along with their demographically matched controls, comprised the sample. Results revealed the Comprehension and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests were the most important factors in predicting group membership for children with ASD with an accompanying language impairment. Children with ASD without an accompanying language impairment, however, were difficult to distinguish from matched controls through the CART analysis. Results suggest school psychologists and other clinicians should administer all primary and supplemental subtests of the WISC-V as part of a comprehensive assessment of ASD.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor as a potential novel biomarker for cognitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

Cognitive impairment is prevalent in schizophrenia. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor which is released into the circulation under stress or inflammation, is associated with cognition and also plays an important role in immunity. However, no study has investigated the relationship between macrophage migration inhibitory factor and cognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia patients at baseline or after treatment. This study investigated the pre- and post-risperidone treatment correlations between serum macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels and cognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia patients. A total of 83 first-episode schizophrenia patients who received risperidone monotherapy and 57 healthy controls - matched for sex, age, smoking status, education (years), marital status and waist-to-hip ratio - were included. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels were measured before and 10 weeks after treatment in the patient group and at baseline in the controls. Pre- and post-treatment cognitive functions in patients were assessed using the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. At baseline, macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels were significantly higher in first-episode schizophrenia patients than those in healthy controls (p < 0.01) and decreased in patients after 10 weeks of risperidone treatment compared with baseline (p < 0.05). The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery total score and the sub-scores for the Trail Making Test, Symbol Coding, Letter Number Sequence, Maze and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised improved significantly after risperidone treatment. After controlling for age, sex, education, waist-to-hip ratio and smoking status, partial correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between baseline macrophage migration inhibitory factor levels and patients' baseline MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery verbal memory scores (r = 0.29, p = 0.01). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor changes correlated negatively with verbal memory changes (r = -0.26, p = 0.04). Multiple linear regression analysis identified a definite correlation between the changes in word memory test score and macrophage migration inhibitory factor level (β = -0.09, p = 0.04). Macrophage migration inhibitory factor may be involved in the process of cognitive impairment in first-episode schizophrenia and repair mechanisms following risperidone treatment.

Cannabidiol and Amisulpride Improve Cognition in Acute Schizophrenia in an Explorative, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a principal phytocannabinoid constituent, has demonstrated antipsychotic properties in recent clinical trials. While it has also been suggested a promising candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, it failed to demonstrate efficacy in cognitive impairments associated with schizophrenia as an add-on treatment (600 mg/day for 6 weeks) in 18 chronically ill patients co-treated with a variety of psychopharmacologic drugs. Here, we report on the results of parallel-group, active-controlled, mono-therapeutic, double-blind, randomized clinical trial (CBD-CT1; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00628290) in 42 acute paranoid schizophrenic patients receiving either CBD (up to 800 mg/day) or amisulpride (AMI, up to 800 mg/day) for four weeks in an inpatient setting with neurocognition as a secondary objective. Twentynine patients (15 and 14 in the CBD and AMI group, respectively) completed two cognitive assessments at baseline and the end of the treatment period. We investigated the following cognitive domains: pattern recognition, attention, working memory, verbal and visual memory and learning, processing speed, and verbal executive functions. When applying the Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, p < 0.0004 would indicate statistical significance. There was no relevant difference in neurocognitive performance between the CBD and the AMI group at baseline, and we observed no post-treatment differences between both groups. However, we observed improvements within both groups from pre-to post-treatment (standardized differences reported as Cohen’s d) in visual memory (CBD: 0.49, p = 0.015 vs. AMI: 0.63, p = 0.018) and processing speed (CBD: 0.41, p = 0.004 vs. AMI: 0.57, p = 0.023). Furthermore, CBD improved sustained attention (CBD: 0.47, p = 0.013, vs. AMI: 0.52, p = 0.085), and visuomotor coordination (CBD: 0.32, p = 0.010 vs. AMI: 0.63, p = 0.088) while AMI led to enhanced working memory performance in two different paradigms (Subject Ordered Pointing Task–AMI: 0.53, p = 0.043 vs. CBD: 0.03, p = 0.932 and Letter Number Sequencing–AMI: 0.67, p = 0.017 vs. CBD: 0.08 p = 0.755). There was no relevant correlation between changes in neurocognitive parameters and psychotic symptoms or anandamide serum levels. This study shows that both CBD and AMI improve neurocognitive functioning with comparable efficacy in young and acutely ill schizophrenia patients via an anandamide-independent mechanism.

Association between secondhand smoke exposure at home and cognitive performance among rural primary school children in Malaysia.

INTRODUCTIONSecondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is linked to a series of serious health problems. Children may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of SHS exposure at home. This study aimed to determine the association between SHS exposure at home and cognitive performance in school children.METHODSA multistage sampling was performed across rural primary schools in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and the children aged 10–11 years (n=312) were subjected to cognitive tests including digit span, letter-number sequencing, coding, and symbol search. Cognitive performance was tested using subscales derived from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.RESULTSThe prevalence of SHS exposure at home was 55.8%, where 11.9% of children lived with one smoker, while 43.9% of children lived with ≥2 smokers. There was a significant difference in the mean score of the combined cognitive tests between SHS-exposed and non-exposed children after adjustment for sex, parental educational level, family income and academic performance [Pillai’s Trace=0.084, F statistic (df)=6.803 (4302), p<0.001].CONCLUSIONSMore than half of the primary school children in rural Kuala Krai were exposed to SHS from at least one smoker at home. There was a significant association between SHS exposure at home and cognitive performance.

Self-reported executive function, and not performance-based measures, strongly associates with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Introduction. Premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMS/PMDD) may be neuropsychologically understood as impairments of executive functions (EF), since these are related to the regulation of complex behavior and cognition. Objective. To test the utility of self-report of EF versus performance-based measures, for the understanding of PMS/PMDD, and to analyze interactive effects between symptoms of these pathologies and EF on daily-life functionality. Method. Mexican women were recruited through non-probabilistic procedures. The Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST) was used to determine severity of symptoms and functional impairment in daily-life activities, and the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions-Adults (BRIEF-A) (short Spanish-translated version) adapted to collect information on EF during luteal versus follicular phases. Performance was evaluated with Stroop, Trail Making Test and Letter-Number Sequencing. Results. A total of 157 were analyzed. Three groups were formed: No diagnosis (n = 78); PMS (n = 67) and PMDD (n = 12). Between-group differences were observed for both BRIEF-A-Luteal and BRIEF-A-Follicular. Bivariate correlations between these measures and the PSST were found, with double the magnitude relative to BRIEF-A-Luteal. Only two indicators of performance-based measures were weakly associated to the PSST. The regression model showed high multicollinearity between self-reported EF and PMS/PMDD symptoms, and no interaction was found. Discussion and conclusion. Self-report probed a better association than based-performance tests for the assessment of EF in PMS/PMDD. EF deficits and PMS/PMDD symptoms, particularly during luteal phase, may be as closely link as to allow for the consideration of these diagnoses as partial forms of dysexecutive syndrome.

Association between the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III and early return to work after traumatic brain injury.

Residual capacity evaluation via neuropsychological testing can facilitate the development of a rehabilitation plan in patients following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to confirm the tasks that patients must perform well for early return to work (RTW) following TBI using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III). In total, 40 male and 13 female patients who suffered from neurobehavioral disabilities following TBI were recruited and classified into two groups: the successfully returned to work group (SRTW-G; n = 22) and the unsuccessfully returned to work group (USRTW-G; n = 31). The outcomes assessed by WAIS-III and the time to RTW were compared between the SRTW-G and USRTW-G groups. Multiple logistic regression, multiple regression analysis, and Cox regression were employed to assess differences between the groups. The Comprehension and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests of the WAIS-III were significantly correlated with early RTW more than the other subtests. We found that, as reflected in the two subtests, patients with TBI must be able to perform well in the following tasks for early RTW: Retention of information for short time periods, information processing, and social judgment based on the knowledge of the patient's experience.

Remote Assessment of Verbal Memory in Youth With Cochlear Implants During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose Youth with cochlear implants (CIs) are at risk for delays in verbal short-term memory (STM)/working memory (WM), which adversely affect language, neurocognitive, and behavioral outcomes. Assessment of verbal STM/WM is critical for identifying and addressing these delays, but standard assessment procedures require face-to-face (FTF) administration. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and validity of remote testing methods (teleassessment) of verbal STM/WM in youth with CIs as a method of addressing COVID-19-related restrictions on FTF test administration. Method Tests of verbal STM/WM for nonwords, digit spans, letter-number sequences, sentences, and stories were individually administered by speech-language pathologists over a teleassessment platform to 28 youth (aged 9-22 years) with CIs and 36 same-aged normal-hearing peers. Examiners, parents, and participants completed quality and satisfaction ratings with the teleassessment procedure. Teleassessment scores were compared to results of tests obtained at FTF visits an average of 1.6 years earlier. Results Quality and satisfaction ratings for teleassessment were high and in almost all cases did not differ between the CI and normal-hearing samples. Youth with CIs scored lower than normal-hearing peers on measures of verbal STM/WM, and scores for digit span and letter-number sequencing did not differbetween teleassessment and FTF methods. Correlations across teleassessment and FTF visits were strong for digit span, letter-number sequencing, and sentence memory, but were more modest for nonword repetition. Conclusion With some caveats, teleassessment of verbal STM/WM was feasible and valid for youth with CIs.

Executive Functions in Tobacco Use Disorder: New Challenges and Opportunities.

There is increasing evidence that executive functions have significative effects on nicotine abuse. An unresolved challenge for smoking cessation interventions is the detection of factors associated with nicotine use. In order to understand how cognition is affected by nicotine abuse, this study was designed to determine the relationship between years of smoking addiction and several variables of executive functions. The sample was composed of 174 smokers, whose age ranged between 27 and 69 years old (M = 47.44; SD = 8.48). Smokers were assessed at baseline with measures of cognitive inhibition [Go/No Go Task and Five Digit Test (FDT)], updating [Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Letter-Number Sequencing (WAIS IV)] and shifting [Delay Discounting Task (DDT) and Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)] while the outcome measure was years of smoking. The linear regression and correlation analysis highlighting that the variable which has the strongest association with years of smoking is updating. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) followed by Tukey post-hoc tests revealed significant differences such that heavy smoking indicated worse performance than light smoking on updating tasks. These findings report the ability of working memory to predict years of smoking and suggest that cigarette packaging warning may experience a loss of effectiveness in heavy smokers.

Impact of neuropsychological disorders on clinical aspects of smoking.

Studies examining associations between cognitive measures and clinical aspects of smoking are scarce and generally limited to predicting risk profiles or relapses. However, it is essential to understand the influence of several measures of executive function in nicotine addiction in order to investigate factors associated with smoking maintenance. This study examined the ability of working memory and delay discount to predict years of smoking. The sample consisted of 180 smokers who were assessed at baseline with measures of cognitive impulsivity (Delay Discounting Task) and working memory [Visual Search and Attention Test (VSAT) and Letter-Number Sequencing (WAIS III)] while the outcome measure was years of smoking. Consistent with predictions, working memory evaluated with Visual Search and Attention Test was a statistically significant factor in predicting years of nicotine addiction. These findings suggest that working memory is clinically relevant in nicotine dependence and proposes a pattern of executive functioning associated with smoking.