Neuropsychological Processing Research Articles

Neurocinematic therapy - An interdisciplinary perspective

The present article is a typical perspective paper. It neither substantiates nor confirms theories, nor does it produce robust data-driven outcomes in the context of evidence-based medicine. It rather sheds light on the emerging field of neurocinematic therapy and promotes interdisciplinary discussion. Within the broad realm of neurocinematics, neurocinematic therapy is considered a realm of applied sciences with a particular impact on clinical areas and public health systems. It does not necessarily comply with standardised diagnostic manuals but inspires a multifaceted view of notions referring to pathology. Neuropsychological processing of individual movie experiences plays a crucial role and regards the interplay between psycho-affective phenomena and central-nervous functioning of specific brain areas, network connectivities and neural principles such as brain plasticity. According to the characteristics of meta-syntheses, the article respects all kinds of relevant approaches such as neuroimaging or qualitative empirical research, and harmonises their outcomes from the perspective of scientific epistemology, meta-methodology and theory of science. From a translational medical point of view, such scientific syntheses are designed to impact clinical practice and public health. The present study identifies seven potentially therapeutic features of movie experience which suggest a preliminary scientific framework: i) change of pathological cognitive patterns and compulsive thought, ii) integration of fragmentised identities, iii) intuitive development of self-therapeutic measures, iv) re-balancing of inner calmness and dynamic lifestyles, v) biographical work and episodic exposure training, vi) synchronisation of movie rhythms, life rhythms and inner rhythms, and vii) clinical trance as well as movie-based auto-hypnosis.

Abstract TP78: Characteristics of Verbal and Non-Verbal Cognitive Function in Post-Stroke Aphasia Based on Language-Cognition Neuropsychological Processing Model

Introduction: Post-stroke aphasia (PSA) patients have different levels of phonetic, lexical, semantic, syntactic, and other linguistic domain impairment, and accompanied by non-verbal cognitive impairment. However, the association between verbal and non-verbal cognitive functions is not fully understood.In this study, we used the Chinese Aphasia Language Battery (CALB) and Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) to fully evaluate the characteristics of verbal and non-verbal cognitive function impairment in PSA patients. Methods: A total of 105 stroke patients were recruited in this study. Language and non-linguistic cognitive impairments were evaluated by CALB and LOTCA, respectively. Patients in the PSA group were subdivided into the fluent aphasia group (FAG) and the non-FAG group. Potential confounders were adjusted in the analysis of covariance. Partial correlation analysis between the subscores of CALB and LOTCA was also performed. Results: This study showed that PSA patients had worse speech analysis ability, vocabulary processing ability, semantic processing ability, syntactic structure conversion ability, and non-verbal cognitive performance(P<0.001). Moreover, the scores of phonetic decoding, phonetic vocabulary production, noun category classification, total LOTCA, orientation, visual perception, motor use, and thinking operation were lower in the non-FAG compared with the FAG (p<0.05). The total score of LOTCA was positively correlated with the aphasia quotient (r=0.637, P<0.001) and scores of speech analysis ability, vocabulary processing ability, semantic processing ability, and syntactic structure conversion ability (r>0; P<0.0005). Conclusions: Based on the language-cognition neuropsychological processing model, this study adopted a comprehensive verbal and non-verbal cognitive assessment set of tests, and found that PSA patients have extensive phonological, lexical, semantic, syntactic, and grammatical processing disorders. Moreover, PSA patients often have more extensive and serious non-verbal cognitive impairments, and the severity of aphasia is significantly positively correlated with the degree of nonverbal cognitive impairment.

Autism Perceptual – Behavioural Precision Scale

The Perceptual-Cognitive-Behavioural Diagnostic Precision Scale for Autism Spectrum Disorder allows to complement the analysis of the autism diagnosis through the measurement of variables the neuropsychological processing of human information to avoid high errors over ASD diagnosis currently existing, derived from unilateral analysis of the behaviour criteria component of the actual Scales. The empirical scoring of the Scale has been verified to N= 75, being 38 participants belonging to the TEA-1 level, 24 to TEA-2 and 13 to TEA-3, has allowed find a statistical reliability of Cronbach's Alpha average greater to .91 in the ten dimensions of the Scale: 1) comprehension, 2) significant, 3) categories, 4) intercategorical 5) relationships-neural-nodes, 6) semantic recovery, 7) social interaction, 8) social communication, 9) stereotyped behaviours, and 10) restrictive behaviours. These ten dimensions have been statistically grouped around three great categories to analysis: 1) perceptual-cognitive processing, 2) social interaction, and 3) behaviour. The conclusive statistical analyses indicate that perceptual-cognitive process category explains 88.52% of total accumulated explicative variance, social category: 10.19% and behaviour: 1.28%; which shows the importance of the perceptual-cognitive dimensional factor analysis, in order to conclude with the mean percentiles of the diagnostic conclusion regarding each ASD´ level, according to International Classification of the American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 (APA, 2023).

Acquired non-specific stuttering in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease predominantly characterized by tremor, bradykinesia, and rigor. In addition to motor and non-motor manifestations of Parkinson’s disease, there are a number of symptoms, including speech disorders and other cognitive impairments. The most common speech symptoms are bradylalia, dysarthria, hypophonia and impaired prosody. Cognitive changes that occur in the prodromal phase of PD include impairment in executive functions and working memory, followed by impairment in attention and verbal fluency, and that is before the motor characteristics of PD become visible. The aim of the study is to present the case of a 74-year-old patient with Parkinson’s disease who has speech and language difficulties and atypical speech disfluency. Diagnostic processing was performed using a clinical battery of tests for speech – language assessment and neuropsychological assessment. The results of the speech – language assessment indicate significantly reduced intelligence due to non-specific speech disfluency and inaccurate articulation, difficulty in organizing spontaneous expression and understanding grammatical structures, impaired phonemic verbal fluency and difficulties in receptive vocabulary. Neuropsychological processing indicated diffuse deterioration of the examined cognitive functioning to be larger than expected when taking ito consideration the age and probably good premorbid abilities of this person.

A Retrospective Study of Demographic, Medical, and Psychological Predictors of Readiness in Service Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Given the significant number of service members who have incurred mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) over the past two decades, this study was completed to determine the relative contribution of demographic, TBI-related, and psychological factors that predict the readiness of service members with primarily mild TBI. This retrospective study included 141 service members who were evaluated at an outpatient military TBI rehabilitation clinic. Information regarding demographics, TBI-related variables, and psychological factors was collected and entered into hierarchical multinomial logistic regressions to predict military work status. Demographic predictor variables included age, race, gender, rank, service branch; TBI-specific variables including time since injury and neuropsychological variables (i.e., Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) and Processing Speed Indices; California Verbal Learning Test-IV total recall t-score); and psychiatric variables including concomitant psychiatric diagnoses and Personality Assessment Inventory indices. The outcome variable was the service member's military work status (i.e., return to duty (RTD); Medical Evaluation Board-disabled (MEB); retired) at time of discharge from the TBI clinic. Statistical analyses indicated that the total model predicted 31% of the variance in work status, with demographics predicting 16% of the variance, concomitant psychiatric diagnoses and WAIS-IV FSIQ predicting an additional 12%, and subjective somatic/psychological distress (Personality Assessment Inventory indices) predicting an additional 3%. Regarding the primary groups of interest (i.e., RTD vs. MEB), stepwise regressions indicated that those who RTD have higher intelligence and report less physical/psychological distress than the disabled group. In general, those service members who were able to RTD versus those who were classified as disabled (MEB) were of higher IQ and reported less somatic/psychological distress. Of note, traditional indices of TBI severity did not predict the ability of the sample to RTD. The results suggest the importance of treating psychological conditions and identifying possible indicators of resilience (e.g., higher intelligence) to increase the readiness of service members with mild TBI.

The relationship between neuropsychological dispersion, processing speed and memory after electrical injury

ABSTRACT Introduction: Previous studies of neuropsychological performance in electrical injury (EI) patients have produced evidence of deficits in various cognitive domains, but studies have yet to investigate relationships among performance in cognitive domains post-EI. This study examined whether dispersion among neuropsychological test scores was associated with injury parameters and neuropsychological performance in EI patients. Additionally, we examined whether dispersion, processing speed and/or executive abilities explain variance in episodic verbal and visual memory performance among EI patients. Method: Data from 52 post-acute EI patients undergoing outpatient evaluation with objectively-verified valid neuropsychological test performance were examined. Tests included measures of verbal and visual memory, processing speed, and executive functioning. Dispersion was calculated from executive functioning and processing speed scores. Results: Dispersion was not related to mean performance or injury characteristics, but was significantly negatively correlated with performance on a test of processing speed, suggesting that increased dispersion is associated with reduced cognitive efficiency post-EI. Delayed visual memory was related to both dispersion scores and processing speed. Stepwise regression equations predicting delayed memory determined that processing speed most significantly predicted delayed visual memory, even after controlling for immediate visual memory. No significant relationships emerged between verbal memory and non-memory neuropsychological scores. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine neuropsychological dispersion and relationships among domains of cognitive functioning in EI. Current results suggested that neuropsychological dispersion is not a marker of general functioning or severity of injury in EI patients, but may represent more specific processing speed abilities. Processing speed predicts delayed visual memory performance in EI patients, which should be considered in interpreting test scores during evaluations.

An ERP Study of the Temporal Course of Gender-Color Stroop Effect.

Pink and blue colors have been found to associate with gender stereotypes in previous Western studies. The purpose of the present study was to explore the neuropsychological processing basis of this effect in contemporary Chinese society. We presented stereotypically masculine or feminine occupation words in either pink or blue colors to Chinese college students in a modified Stroop paradigm, in which participants were asked to classify each occupation word by gender as quickly and accurately as possible. Event-related potential (ERP) signals were concurrently recorded in order to identify the temporal dynamics of gender stereotypical interference effect. The behavioral results showed that pink–masculine stimuli elicited a longer response time and lower accuracy than blue–masculine stimuli in the participants, while no such differences were observed between pink–feminine and blue–feminine conditions. The ERP results further revealed distinctive neural processing stages for pink–masculine stimuli (i.e., in comparison to the other three types of stimuli) in P200, N300, N400, and P600. Overall, our results suggested that pink but not blue was a “gendered” color in Chinese culture. Moreover, our ERP findings contributed to the understanding of the neural mechanism underlying the processing of gender–color stereotypes.

Detection of cognitive decline in metabolic syndrome

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for many vascular conditions, may be a prodromal manifestation of vascular cognitive impairment. Diagnosing early stages of cerebrovascular pathology can lead to prevention and delay of the progression of pathological conditions such as vascular cognitive impairment. Methods The objective of the study was to investigate new biomarkers for early diagnosis of MetS and cognitive decline as a follow-up. A cardiological, neuropsychological and neurological study was conducted among 75 Bulgarian participants. Beta amyloid in the blood, procalcitonin (PCT), NT-proBNP as predictors of cognitive impairment in patients with metabolic syndrome were identified. Clinical, anthropometric, biochemical, neuropsychological, cognitive and statistical data processing. Plasma amyloid beta (Aβ) levels, procalcitonin, NT-proBNP in MetS were investigated in participants with MetS and in group of healthy people. Results In the present study, plasma levels of Aβ42 and Aβ40 were found to be reduced in MetS participants. Procalcitonin concentration was significantly higher in males than in females. NT-proBNP was significantly higher in females than in males (p < 0.001). Regression analysis showed a positive relationship between NT-proBNP and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05). An inverse relation between NT-proBNP and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL cholesterol was found. Conclusions There was a positive association between PCT levels, decreased levels of Aβ42 and Aβ40, as well as elevated NT-proBNP and cognitive impairment in people with MetC. A concentration of NT-proBNP of 60 pg / ml or greater could be an indicator of metabolic abnormalities and early cognitive decline. Key messages Metabolic syndrome may be a prodromal manifestation of vascular cognitive impairment. The use of new biomarkers for diagnosis can lead to preventing and slowing the progression of complications associated with MetS.

Prospective investigation of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome in a previously non-demented population of acute cerebellar stroke

ObjectiveIn this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the presence and evolution of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome in a cohort of isolated cerebellar stroke with no known cognitive or psychiatric impairment. We tried to distinguish the unconfounded effect of cerebellar lesions on neuropsychological processing. MethodsAfter a meticulous exclusion procedure based on possible confounders, we recruited 14 patients and 13 age-matched healthy controls to the study, prospectively. All of the patients had a detailed initial neuropsychological assessment at the first week and a follow-up assessment at the 4th month after stroke. ResultsThe prevalence of cognitive or behavioral-affective abnormalities in our cohort were 86% and 64% respectively. The patients exhibited mild and transient affective-behavioral abnormalities except for depressive symptoms that persisted in the subacute stage. They scored lower in general cognitive performance as revealed by mini mental test (p=0.001). Memory, executive functions, attention and working memory, central processing speed, and linguistic abilities were impaired (p<0.001; p=0.001; p=0.007; p=0.05; p<0.001 respectively). Improvement was evident only in memory domain of the cognitive functions in the subacute stage. Cognitive impairment was more likely with a medial or posterolateral infarct (p=0.014). Behavioral-affective abnormalities were not associated with a specific location in our cohort. Age seemed to negatively correlate with the recovery in general cognitive performance on the follow-up. ConclusionsThese findings show that acute denervation of cerebellocortical projections leads to mild affective-behavioral abnormalities, and full-blown cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome is rare. However, cognition was significantly affected after an acute cerebellar infarct even in a previously healthy, non-demented pure population.

Behavioral Indices of Neuropsychological Processing Implicated in Moral Domain Reasoning amongst Children and Adolescents.

Moral domain theory posits that moral knowledge is organized in separate domains related to moral and socio-conventional rules, with the latter being reliant on a statement made by authority. Domains may be contingent on different neuropsychological processing that may vary with age. Behavioral indices were measured in three age groups, to detect differences in the neuropsychological processing allegedly involved in the evaluation of rule transgressions in different domains. Acceptance of the transgressions was also investigated. Twenty-four children, 32 early adolescents, and 31 adolescents judged acceptability of rule transgressions when an authority figure allowed the transgression. Across age, moral-rule transgressions were less accepted and took significantly longer to be evaluated. In evaluating moral rule scenarios, children had the longest reaction times. Older adolescents took the least amount of time evaluating socio-conventional rule scenarios. Results suggest differences in the neuropsychological processing underlying decision making for moral and socio-conventional domains and that rule comprehension and distinction amongst domains increase by age.

Cognitive and affective Theory of Mind in adolescence: developmental aspects and associated neuropsychological variables

Theory of Mind (ToM) is the ability to represent and attribute mental states to oneself and others. So far, research regarding ToM processing across adolescence is scarce. Existing studies either yield inconsistent results or did not or not thoroughly investigate aspects like higher order ToM and associated neuropsychological variables which the current study tried to address. 643 typically developing early, middle, and late adolescents (age groups 13–14; 15–16; 17–18) performed cognitive and affective ToM tasks as well as neuropsychological tasks tapping the cognitive or affective domain. Regarding both ToM types, 15- to 16-year-olds and 17- to 18-year-olds outperformed 13- to 14-year-olds, whereas females were superior regarding cognitive ToM. Across adolescence, cognitive and affective ToM correlated with attention and affective intelligence, whereas working memory, language comprehension, and figural intelligence additionally correlated with cognitive ToM. In early adolescence, attention correlated with both ToM types, whereas cognitive ToM further correlated with language comprehension and affective ToM with verbal intelligence, verbal fluency, and verbal flexibility. In middle and late adolescence, affective intelligence correlated with both ToM types, whereas cognitive ToM additionally correlated with working memory, language comprehension, and figural intelligence. The current study shows a developmental step regarding cognitive and affective ToM in middle adolescence as well as gender differences in cognitive ToM processing. Associations between neuropsychological variables and ToM processing were shown across adolescence and within age groups. Results give new insights into social cognition in adolescence and are well supported by neuroscientific and neurobiological studies regarding ToM and the integration of cognitive and affective processes.Graphic abstract

Towards a Coherent Application of the Beck-Eccles Quantum Trigger

Prior to the 20th century, the strictly deterministic laws of classical Newtonian physics made the integration of a non-physical entity such as volition into a scientific model of brain dynamics a seemingly impossible task. However, the probabilistic laws of quantum physics discovered in the 1920’s have provided researchers with a valuable new tool, allowing them to account for non-physical entities like volition while still maintaining scientific rigor. One of the greatest challenges that researchers in this field have faced is the application of the atomic-level laws of quantum physics to the study of macroscopic objects. This paper contributes to this line of research by examining the Beck-Eccles quantum trigger model from a neuropsychological processing perspective. Specifically, experimental results from several recent studies of the effects of mindfulness meditation on attentional skills are considered. These results strongly suggest that volition can be used to induce significant changes in the brain’s ability to maintain focus on a single stimulus. In addition, it is shown that the gradual nature of the induced changes is very much consistent with the contention that the Beck-Eccles trigger functions only at an atomic level, and that nonlinear dynamics, and more specifically the principle of self-organization, are needed to apply the trigger’s effects coherently on a macroscopic level.

SU32. Impact of Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase Polymorrphism on Cognition and Information Processing in Schizophrenia Using Novel MBIAL Computerized Battery—A Case-Control Study

Abstract Background: Frontal executive dysfunction have been robustly demonstrated in schizophrenia. Several fundamental information processing deficits were reported in schizophrenia underlying the various symptom dimensions. Results of previous studies of neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia were inconsistent. Association between COMT allele type and cognition was not confirmed in all studies. This study attempted to assess the neuropsychological performance on a hypothesis-driven MBIAL-computerized neuropsychological battery in a sample of schizophrenia subjects and matched healthy comparison subjects and its relationship with the gene polymorphism. Methods: Total 34 patients and 30 matched healthy controls were recruited after obtaining informed consent. An HMSE was applied to exclude those with scores <23. The matrix reasoning module of WAIS-III was applied to obtain an estimate of their perceptual organization index as a reflection of their intellectual abilities, independent of verbal abilities. A novel MBIAL Computerized neuropsychological battery consisting of 6 tests was applied on all the subjects. Later, both the groups were assessed for symptom severity using PANSS. All Neuropsychological tests and PANSS Interviews using SCI-PANSS were Video and Audio recorded. Genotyping for COMTval158met polymorphism was accomplished by PCR-RFLP method. Genotype frequencies across groups were noted using chi-square test and later were compared using ANCOVA as we had WAIS III and HMSE as covariates. Results: Schizophrenia patients performed significantly poorly on most of the neuropsychological tests as compared with healthy matched controls. Negative symptom severity was associated with significant impairment in neuropsychological deficits as compared to positive symptoms. Separate analysis of association of gene polymorphism on these cognitive tests done on patients and controls did not reveal much results. But on pooled data, we found Val-Carriers performed poorly on most of the Neuropsychological and Information processing tasks and have high threat perception compared to Non-Val Carriers. Conclusion: Hypothesis-driven neuropsychological battery was used in schizophrenia that incorporated tests for frontal executive functioning; rostral prefrontal functioning; threat perception (aberration of which is postulated to underlie delusion formation); and cross-modal sensory integration (aberration of which is postulated to underlie development of hallucinations). The MBIAL battery is sensitive in detecting differences between patients and controls in the adult population. We suggest here that Val158Met polymorphism rather exerts a modifying influence on brain activation in general than impacts directly on performance of the particular neuropsychological task.

A randomized trial of videoconference-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for survivors of breast cancer with self-reported cognitive dysfunction.

Long-term chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction (CRCD) affects a large number of cancer survivors. To the authors' knowledge, to date there is no established treatment for this survivorship problem. The authors herein report results of a small randomized controlled trial of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (MAAT), compared with an attention control condition. Both treatments were delivered over a videoconference device. A total of 47 survivors of female breast cancer who reported CRCD were randomized to MAAT or supportive therapy and were assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at 2 months of follow-up. Participants completed self-report measures of cognitive symptoms and quality of life and a brief telephone-based neuropsychological assessment. MAAT participants made gains in perceived (self-reported) cognitive impairments (P = .02), and neuropsychological processing speed (P = .03) compared with supportive therapy controls. A large MAAT effect size was observed at the 2-month follow-up with regard to anxiety concerning cognitive problems (Cohen's d for standard differences in effect sizes, 0.90) with medium effects noted in general function, fatigue, and anxiety. Survivors rated MAAT and videoconference delivery with high satisfaction. MAAT may be an efficacious psychological treatment of CRCD that can be delivered through videoconference technology. This research is important because it helps to identify a treatment option for survivors that also may improve access to survivorship services. Cancer 2016;122:1782-91. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

A brief neurocognitive assessment of patients with psychosis following traumatic brain injury (PFTBI): Use of the Repeatable battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS)

Patients who develop psychosis following a traumatic brain injury (PFTBI) show impaired neurocognition; however, the degree of impairment has not been empirically investigated using a standardised battery. We administered the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to patients with PFTBI (n=10), and to three groups of controls: traumatic brain injury (TBI) (n=10), schizophrenia (n=23), and nonclinical controls (n=23). The results confirmed that the cognitive neuropsychological profile of dually-diagnosed patients with PFTBI is significantly and substantially impaired. Seventy per cent of patients with PFTBI received a neuropsychological classification between the “extremely low” and “low average” ranges. Group-wise analyses on the RBANS indices indicated that patients with PFTBI had the lowest (Immediate Memory, Attention, Delayed Memory, Total Score), or equal lowest (visuospatial, equivalent with schizophrenia patients) scores, with the exception of the Language Index where no group differences were shown (however, the mean PFTBI score on the Language Index was two standard deviations below the RBANS normative score). These findings provide novel evidence of impaired cognitive neuropsychological processing in patients with PFTBI using a standardised and replicable battery.

Is inefficient cognitive processing in anorexia nervosa a familial trait? A neuropsychological pilot study of mothers of offspring with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa

Objectives: Inefficient set shifting and poor global processing are thought to be possible traits in anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological processing style of unaffected mothers of offspring with AN (unaffected AN mothers). Methods: The performance of 21 unaffected AN mothers were compared to 20 mothers of healthy control offspring on neuropsychological measures of set shifting (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) and central coherence (Fragmented Pictures Task, FPT, and Rey Osterrieth Complex Figures Task, ROCFT). Associations between neuropsychological performance and clinical measures were examined in the unaffected AN mothers group. Results: There were significant differences in perseverative errors on the WCST (P≤0.01), with the unaffected mothers displaying a more inflexible thinking style compared to the control group. There were also significant differences on the FPT (P ≤ 0.01) and the ROCFT (P ≤ 0.01), whereby unaffected AN mothers showed lower levels of global processing. Conclusions. The results of this study support the idea of the familial nature of cognitive styles in AN. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Do Children and Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa Display an Inefficient Cognitive Processing Style?

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine neuropsychological processing in children and adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The relationship of clinical and demographic variables to neuropsychological functioning within the AN group was also explored.MethodThe performance of 41 children and adolescents with a diagnosis of AN were compared to 43 healthy control (HC) participants on a number of neuropsychological measures.ResultsThere were no differences in IQ between AN and HC groups. However, children and adolescents with AN displayed significantly more perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and lower Style and Central Coherence scores on the Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure Test relative to HCs.ConclusionInefficient cognitive processing in the AN group was independent of clinical and demographic variables, suggesting it might represent an underlying trait for AN. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Neuroticism modulates the effects of intranasal vasopressin treatment on the neural response to positive and negative social interactions

Neuroticism is a fundamental personality trait associated with proneness to feel negative affect. Here we ask how Neuroticism influences the neural response to positive and negative social interactions and how Neuroticism modulates the effect of intranasal oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) on the neural response to social interactions. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 153 male participants were randomized to receive 24IU intranasal OT, 20 IU AVP or placebo. Afterwards, they were imaged with fMRI while playing an iterated Prisoner's Dilemma Game. On a different day, subjects completed the NEO personality inventory to measure Neuroticism. Neuroticism was positively correlated with the neural response to negative social interactions in the anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex and with the neural response to positive social interactions in the insula, indicating that Neuroticism modulates neuropsychological processing of both negative and positive social interactions. Neuroticism did not modulate the effect of intranasal OT treatment on the neural response to either positive or negative social interactions. On the other hand, AVP treatment significantly interacted with Neuroticism to modulate the BOLD response to both positive and negative social interactions. Specifically, AVP increased anterior cingulate cortex/medial prefrontal cortex and lateral temporal lobe responses to negative social interactions to a greater extent in participants scoring high rather than low on Neuroticism. AVP also increased the insula response to positive social interactions to a greater extent in participants scoring high rather than low on Neuroticism. These results imply that AVP may increase emotion regulation in response to negative social interactions and the salience of positive social interactions to a greater extent in individuals high compared to low in Neuroticism. The current findings urge caution against uniform clinical application of nonapeptides and suggest that their efficacy may vary as a function of personality.

Neuropsychological Profiles of Written Expression Learning Disabilities Determined by Concordance-Discordance Model Criteria

Children with specific learning disabilities (SLD) have disparate neuropsychological processing deficits that interfere with academic achievement in spelling, writing fluency, and/or written expression (WE). Although there are multiple potential causes of WE SLD, there is a paucity of research exploring this critical academic skill from a neuropsychological perspective. This study examined the neuropsychological profiles of WE SLD subtypes defined using the concordance-discordance model (C-DM) of SLD identification. Participants were drawn from a sample of 283 children (194 boys, 89 girls) aged 6 years to 16 years old (Mage = 9.58 years, SD = 2.29 years) referred for comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations in school settings and subsequently selected based on C-DM determined spelling, writing fluency, and WE SLD. WE SLD subtypes differed on several psychomotor, memory, and executive function measures (F range = 2.48–5.07, p range = .049 to <.001), suggesting that these children exhibit distinct patterns of neuropsychological processing strengths and weaknesses. Findings have relevance for differential diagnosis of WE subtypes, discriminating WE SLD subtypes from low WE achievement, and developing differentiated evidence-based instruction and intervention for children with WE SLD. Limitations and future research will be addressed.

Relationship status and sex differences in emotion lateralisation: An examination contrasting the processing of emotional infant and adult faces

When processing facial emotion, most individuals are right hemisphere dominant; however there is variability in this pattern with males typically being more strongly lateralised than females. Relationship status has been found to influence the processing of facial stimuli in women, and therefore, in this research the lateralised processing of facial emotion is considered whilst taking into account the participant’s relationship status and sex. Using the chimeric faces test, with both infant and adult facial stimuli, it was shown that partnered participants, but not single participants, were more strongly lateralised for the processing of adult stimuli than infant stimuli, and that partnered women did not show any hemispheric bias. These findings suggest that the neuropsychological processing of emotion may change dependent on an individual’s relationship status, and are discussed in terms of the possible evolutionary significance of infant faces for individuals who are in a relationship and who wish to have children.