Objective Test Performance Research Articles

Reduced awareness of cognitive deficits in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and its change following lumbar puncture

ObjectiveAwareness of cognitive deficits is related to executive functions and may, therefore, be sensitive to the effects of lumbar puncture (LP) in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Although a reduction in awareness of cognitive deficits (RACD) has been previously described in iNPH, there is a lack of systematic, psychometrically validated reports. In this study, we investigated RACD and its LP-related changes in iNPH patients and compared them with those in clinical and healthy control groups. MethodsRACD was assessed before and after lumbar puncture (LP) in 24 patients (14 iNPH, 10 other age-associated cognitive syndromes; AACS) and compared with 23 healthy controls (HC), employing two RACD measures alongside cognitive examination. Local metacognition was measured using a visual percentile-based rating system and operationalized as the t-scaled distance between the participants' task-specific performance estimations and their objective test performance (ΔTSPE). Global metacognition, targeting broader estimates of cognitive functioning (ECF), was quantified by subtracting self- from informant-obtained sum scores on a questionnaire evaluating participants' dysexecutive problems (DEX-DS). Within-group and between-group differences in ΔTSPE and DEX-DS scores were compared non-parametrically, focusing on post-LP changes. ResultsAveraged ΔTSPE was higher in the patient groups and mirrored the groups' lower objective test performance, while averaged DEX-DS showed no group difference. Following LP, group comparisons revealed iNPH-specific decrease in both RACD measures. ConclusionOur study revealed LP-related RACD changes in iNPH patients compared to those in AACS and HC participants. The results suggest a mitigation of impaired metacognitive abilities in iNPH, possibly resulting from LP-induced improvements in (local) metacognitive performance, facilitating ECF adjustment alongside a metacognitively stimulating testing procedure.

The efficacy of animation and visualization in teaching data structures: a case study

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of an animation and visualization of data structures (AVDS) tool on both perceptions and objective test performance. The study involved a rigorous experiment that assessed the usability, acceptability, and effectiveness of the AVDS tool in solving exercises. A total of 78 participants responded to questionnaires and were exposed to the AVDS tool, after which they completed a performance test, half (39) with the AVDS tool (the experimental group) and half (39) without the tool (the control group). Findings showed that the usability of AVDS was good; the experimental group even perceived AVDS usability as excellent. The results show that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and attitudes toward usage jointly led to positive intention to use the AVDS tool. Furthermore, perceived ease of use was a key factor influencing participants’ intention to use AVDS. In addition, the AVDS system improved test results and provided flexibility in use, enhancing learning experience and performance.

Exposure to Memory-Relevant versus Memory-Irrelevant Aging Stereotypes Differentially Affects Memory Self-Perceptions and Memory Test Scores of Young, Middle, and Older Age Adults

ABSTRACT This study examined the combined influence of assimilation and contrast effects on the memory self-efficacy and objective memory of young (ages 18–25, n = 114), middle-age (ages 26–59, n = 48), and older (ages 60–98, n = 59) adults. We reminded participants that they matched positive, not negative, memory-relevant or memory-irrelevant stereotypes of aging either before (experimental conditions) or after (control condition) they completed a memory self-efficacy questionnaire and took a memory test. Participants exposed to memory-relevant aging stereotypes prior to other measures reported higher memory self-efficacy than those exposed to memory-irrelevant stereotypes; this effect did not depend on age group. In contrast, the effect of stereotype exposure on memory performance differed with age. Young and older, but not middle-aged, adults showed differences in their memory scores depending on whether they were exposed to memory-relevant, memory-irrelevant or no aging stereotypes. In general, exposure to stereotypes (particularly those relevant to memory) had a negative influence on memory that contrasted with its positive effect on memory self-efficacy. Together, these results indicate that exposure to aging stereotypes can have opposing effects on the memory self-efficacy and objective test performance of adults of various ages and that the relevance of the stereotypes to the cognitive domain being assessed matters.

B - 71 Neurocognitive and Self-Reported Psychosocial and Behavioural Functioning in Siblings of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental Conditions: a Study Using Remote Self-Administered Testing.

This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88years, range 11-27years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15months. NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualised prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.

Neurocognitive and self-reported psychosocial and behavioral functioning in siblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions: a study using remote self-administered testing

ABSTRACT Objective This study compared and explored the neurocognitive profiles of siblings of persons with and without neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) and associations between objective test performance and self-reported psychosocial functioning. Methods Siblings of persons with and without NDCs (64 NDC and 64 control siblings; mean age 19.88 years, range 11–27 years, 73.44% female, 75.78% White Caucasian) completed self-report questionnaires and self-administered computerized neurocognitive tests of executive functioning (EF). Using Bayesian analyses, we examined cross-sectional associations between self-reported psychosocial functioning and cognitive test performance, and predictors of EF over 15 months. Results NDC siblings had poorer working memory, inhibition, attention, and shifting compared to controls, as measured by experimental paradigms on the backward Corsi span, N-Back 2-back task, Stop Signal Task, Sustained Attention to Response Task, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (effect size δ ranging 0.49 to 0.64). Bayesian cross-sectional networks revealed negative emotion reactivity and working memory difficulties were central to the NDC sibling network. Over 15 months, poorer EF (k low test scores) was predicted by negative emotion reactivity, sleep problems, and anxiety, over and above effects of age and subclinical autistic and ADHD traits. Siblings of autistic individuals and persons with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder had higher rates of neurocognitive and psychiatric difficulties than other NDCs and controls (Bayes factors >20). Conclusions Neurocognitive difficulties were associated with transdiagnostic vulnerability to poorer wellbeing in NDC siblings. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of remote online cognitive testing and highlight the importance of individualized prevention and intervention for NDC siblings.

Equity Gaps in Literacy among Elementary School Students from Two Countries: The Negative Social Resonance Effect of Intersectional Disadvantage and the Dampening Effect of Learning Capital

Students may be members of multiple disadvantaged groups whose negative effects may reinforce each other (intersectionality). In two studies dealing with elementary students’ literacy skills, we examine one negative reinforcing effect and one dampening effect of intersectionality. In Study 1, we tested the negative social resonance effect of intersectional disadvantage, which means that disadvantages in achievement of intersecting disadvantaged groups would be stronger in social judgments of achievement than in objective measurement. This assumption was confirmed with a sample of 1926 German fourth-grade students. A MANOVA showed that the disadvantages in SES, migration background, and gender were cumulative. A path analysis revealed that the negative effects were larger in teachers’ performance assessments than in objective test performance in literacy. In Study 2, the negative social resonance effect of intersectional disadvantage was replicated with a sample of 777 students from Grades 4 and 5 in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, a dampening effect of learning capital was found. This effect was comparatively larger than the negative social resonance effect of intersectional disadvantage.

PERCEIVED AND OBJECTIVE EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION JOINTLY PREDICT BRAKING REACTION TIME IN OLDER DRIVERS

Abstract Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for older adults in the United States. Braking reaction time (BRT), how quickly a driver responds to the situational demands of driving, is a known predictor of driver fitness and hypothesized as sensitive to difficulties with executive functioning. Unclear is how BRT may vary across different levels of executive functioning, including objective test performance and perceived executive dysfunction, and if awareness of executive dysfunction in the presence of objective difficulties jointly predicts BRT. Using data from a simulated driving study, 50 adults aged 65-94 years old (49.1% female) completed computerized EF tests (inhibition [Stroop], working memory [Automated Operation Span]), the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Big Five Inventory, and a simulated drive. Multilevel modeling analyses controlling for covariates of empirical and design relevance (simulated road segment, age, gender, and neuroticism) were performed. Our results show a significant interaction between perceived executive dysfunction and objective test performance on BRT. Specifically, associations with BRT were stronger for individuals who perceived more executive dysfunction in the presence of worse inhibition (b = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.27, 1.30) and worse working memory (b = 0.94, 95%CI = 0.26, 1.62). Findings provide further justification for the role of executive functioning in monitoring driver fitness in older age. Future directions and implications are discussed.

Symptom and performance validity in neuropsychological assessments of outpatients 15-30 years of age

ABSTRACT Objective It has been suggested that performance validity tests (PVTs) assess the credibility of a patient’s objective test performance, symptom validity tests (SVTs) assess the credibility of a patient’s subjective complaints, and that PVTs and SVTs are independent measures. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis and investigate the associations of PVTs and SVTs with cognitive tests and self-reported measures. Method Patients 15–30 years of age were consecutively recruited from a neurorehabilitation outpatient clinic. The participants completed a battery of cognitive tests and self-reporting questionnaires as well as the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS). Results Forty-eight neurological patients of various etiologies were included. The TOMM (PVT) was related to cognitive tests across cognitive domains and unrelated to self-reporting measures. The SIMS (SVT) was related to other self-reported measures of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression, though also related to cognitive test of attention and processing speed. The PVT and the SVT were unrelated and hence seemed to measure two different constructs of validity. Conclusions This study supports the definition of PVTs and SVTs as two independent measures, consequently that both should be applied routinely in neuropsychological assessments.

Cognitive complaints in older adults: relationships between self and informant report, objective test performance, and symptoms of depression

ABSTRACT This study explored the relationships between objective measures of cognitive functioning, self and informant reports of cognitive problems in daily life, and depression screening in older adults who had been referred because of reported or suspected cognitive changes. We used archival data from 100, predominantly White (97%), typically educated (M = 13.25 years), older adults (M = 70.38 years) who received an outpatient neuropsychological evaluation. We characterized the cognitive performance using the CVLT–II Total score. We characterized patient and collateral reports using the BRIEF–A MI index, a normed scale of cognitive problems in daily life. We also incorporated a depression screener (PHQ–9) into our analyses. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that only the informant reported problems in daily life, using the BRIEF–A MI index, was a significant predictor of objective cognitive deficits, as defined by CVLT–II Total scores. Self BRIEF–A MI index scores were not significant predictors of CVLT–II Total performance after we accounted for depression using the patient’s PHQ–9 score. Additionally, elevated depression widened the discrepancy between raters, with elevated depression associated with worsening sself-report scores compared to informant-reported scores. As informant-reported problems were the strongest predictor of cognitive deficits, we recommend routine collection of collateral informant reports in the neuropsychological evaluation of older adults referred for cognitive concerns. We also recommend incorporating self-ratings of daily life functioning and screening for depression to contextualize patient complaints and address their concerns, even in the absence of objective cognitive dysfunction.

Self-perceived cognitive function and neuropsychological performance in women with fibromyalgia.

Cognitive dysfunction is a common complain in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). To assess the perceived cognitive function and cognitive performance in women with FM. Cross-sectional study including 100 women with FM (FMG) and 100 healthy controls (CG). Self-perceived cognitive functioning was evaluated using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognition scale (FACT-Cogv3). The neuropsychological performance was assessed with the Trail Making Test (TMT-A, TMT-B), Digit Span test (DS), Barcelona test (DS-F/B) and the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB-E), Spanish version test. The mean scores of all cognitive self-perception factors and all neuropsychological tests were lower in the FMG (p < 0.001). Over 90% of the FMG took longer than the population mean (P50) to complete the TMT-A and TMT-B tests, while in the CG, 1/3 took longer than the P50 in both tests. The minimum expected scores for the DS-F and DS-B tests were not achieved by 40 and 9% of FMG participants, respectively. According to FAB-E, 54% and 24% of FMG were categorized as fronto-subcortical deficit and fronto-subcortical dementia, respectively. Women with FM have a higher perception of cognitive dysfunction and lower cognitive performance in objective tests than healthy women. More research is needed to explore the clinical, psychosocial, and sociodemographic characteristics that predispose to cognitive deficits in this group of patients.

A-206 Memory Complaints in Older Adults: Relationships Between Self and Informant Report, Objective Test Performance and Symptoms of Depression

Abstract Objective: We explored the relationships between objective memory performance, self and informant reports of problems in daily life, and depression in elderly patients with dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subjective memory complaints (SMC). Method: We used archival data from 100 individuals referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation because of memory concerns. The sample was largely White (97%), female (53%), with typical educational attainment (M= 13.25). CVLT–II Total scores characterized memory performance. BRIEF—A Metacognitive Index (MI) scores characterized examinee and informant perspectives on problems in daily life, allowing calculation of a discrepancy score between raters. PHQ—9 scores (raw) characterized depression symptom severity. Patient groups included dementia (n = 31), MCI (n = 34), and SMC (n= 35). Chi-square and ANOVA tests were the primary analyses of group relationships. Results: There was a significant difference between the dementia and SMC groups on the BRIEF–A (p &amp;lt; .01). Informants reported greater problems than patients in the dementia group, whereas this pattern was reversed in the SMC group. Ratings in the MCI group were minimally discrepant. Elevated depression correlated with greater self-reported cognitive dysfunction (p &amp;lt; .002), with depression most prominent in the SMC group. Across the sample, only informant’s report of greater problems in daily life was associated with worse CVLT–II performance (p &amp;lt; .001). Conclusions: We conclude that adding standardized rating scales alongside objective memory testing is informative in evaluations of memory loss concerns. Beyond collecting both patient and informant ratings of daily functioning, screening for depression is also necessary to put self-reported difficulties into context.

Neurocognitive screening in patients following SARS-CoV-2 infection: tools for triage

BackgroundCognitive complaints are common in patients recovering from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), yet their etiology is often unclear. We assess factors that contribute to cognitive impairment in ambulatory versus hospitalized patients during the sub-acute stage of recovery.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, participants were prospectively recruited from a hospital-wide registry. All patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection using a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase-chain-reaction assay. Patients ≤ 18 years-of-age and those with a pre-existing major neurocognitive disorder were excluded. Participants completed an extensive neuropsychological questionnaire and a computerized cognitive screen via remote telemedicine platform. Rates of subjective and objective neuropsychological impairment were compared between the ambulatory and hospitalized groups. Factors associated with impairment were explored separately within each group.ResultsA total of 102 patients (76 ambulatory, 26 hospitalized) completed the symptom inventory and neurocognitive tests 24 ± 22 days following laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Hospitalized and ambulatory patients self-reported high rates of cognitive impairment (27–40%), without differences between the groups. However, hospitalized patients showed higher rates of objective impairment in visual memory (30% vs. 4%; p = 0.001) and psychomotor speed (41% vs. 15%; p = 0.008). Objective cognitive test performance was associated with anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain in the ambulatory but not the hospitalized group.ConclusionsFocal cognitive deficits are more common in hospitalized than ambulatory patients. Cognitive performance is associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in ambulatory but not hospitalized patients. Objective neurocognitive measures can provide essential information to inform neurologic triage and should be included as endpoints in clinical trials.

The association between subjective memory complaints and objective memory performance in older adults with mood disorders

<h3>Introduction</h3> The relationship between subjective memory complaints (SMCs) and objective memory performance is not always clear-cut, which in turn can complicate the assessment of potential memory decline in older adults. Although previous research suggests that the presence of certain state-related factors, including mood and anxiety symptoms, are associated with higher SMCs, whether these factors play a mediating or moderating role in the relationship between SMCs and objective memory performance isn't as clear. In addition, scant research has explored this relationship in older adults with mood disorders. This is an important target of investigation, as accounting for mood state is critical when interpreting the clinical significance of one's SMCs and objective test performance. Thus, the current study aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between SMCs and concurrent performance on memory testing in older adults with mood disorders compared to healthy controls (HCs), and (2) determine if the relationship between SMCs and objective memory performance varies as a function of depression and/or anxiety symptom severity within the mood disorder group. <h3>Methods</h3> We conducted multilevel regression analyses of cross-sectional data from a total of 36 older adults (aged 56-89) who were enrolled in the Geriatric Mood Disorders Database study at McLean Hospital. Our sample included 21 older adults with major mood disorders (depressive and bipolar spectrum disorders) and 15 older adults without any psychiatric diagnoses (HCs). All participants completed self-report scales that assessed current mood/anxiety symptom severity (Geriatric Depression Scale, GDS; Geriatric Anxiety Scale, GAS-2) and subjective memory concerns (Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire, MMQ), as well as objective memory testing using the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II). Aim 1 analyses used group (HCs vs mood), SMCs (total MMQ score), and their interaction term (group x SMCs) as predictors, with three CVLT-II metrics representing memory encoding/registration, retrieval, and storage/retention as outcome variables. Aim 2 analyses were performed within the mood group only and used SMCs (total scores from the MMQ), GDS/GAS-2, and their interaction term (SMCs x GDS and SMCs x GAS-2, respectively) as predictors, with the same CVLT-II scores as outcome variables. All analyses included age and sex as covariates. <h3>Results</h3> Mood group and control group did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) in participant's age, sex, race/ethnicity, SMCs, and three categories of objective memory testing (memory encoding/registration, retrieval, and storage/retention). As expected, the groups did differ significantly in mean severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms. For aim 1, the results from regression analyses indicated that SMCs did not significantly predict memory encoding/registration (Β = .332, <i>p</i> = .16), memory retrieval (Β = .063, <i>p</i> = .40), and memory storage/retention (Β = .189, <i>p</i> = .231). Moreover, being in a mood vs. control group did not significantly moderate any of the association between SMCs and objective memory performances (i.e., memory encoding/registration (Β = -.32, <i>p</i> = .231); retrieval (Β = -.055, <i>p</i> =.514); and storage/retention (Β =-.187, <i>p</i> = .295). For aim 2, results suggested that, within the mood disorder group, the severity of depressive symptoms did not significantly moderate the association between SMCs and each of the objective memory performance variables: encoding/registration (Β = .022, <i>p</i> =.272); retrieval (Β = .007, <i>p</i> =.336); and storage/retention (Β = .02, <i>p=</i>.212). Additionally, results demonstrated that severity of anxiety symptoms was not a significant moderator for the association between SMCs and memory performance within older adults with mood disorders (i.e., Β =.003, <i>p</i> =.583 for encoding/registration; Β = .002, <i>p</i> =.454 for retrieval; and Β = .007, <i>p=</i>.261 for storage/retention). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The current results indicate that the association between SMCs and concurrent objective memory performance did not differ between healthy older adults and those with major mood disorders. In addition, the strength of this association did not vary as a function of current depression or anxiety symptom severity within the mood disorder group. Collectively, these findings suggest that, amongst older adults, neither the presence of an endogenous mood disorder nor the severity of active depression/anxiety symptoms impacts the subjective appraisal of memory functioning in relation to objective performance on concurrent memory testing. Further, those with mood disorders did not differ significantly from HCs in their subjective appraisal of memory concerns. These findings are surprising, as prior literature suggests that those with more severe mood symptoms also have higher SMCs. Our analysis is limited by a small sample size, and further investigations should be conducted with larger samples to confirm the strength of these findings. <h3>This research was funded by</h3> This study is funded by the Rogers Family Foundation.

Objective cognitive performance and informant‐rated dysexecutive symptoms in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundOlder adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) often exhibit memory and executive deficits on objective cognitive tests. Meanwhile, significant others often report observing symptoms of a dysexecutive nature while labeling them as “memory” difficulties. Our study examined whether objective test performances were predictive of informant‐rated executive symptoms in healthy aging, MCI, and AD.MethodParticipants included healthy older controls (n=71), individuals with MCI [n=98 (amnestic MCI n=52; non‐amnestic MCI n=43)], and persons with AD (n=40). Objective cognitive performances were measured using a standardized executive composite (Trail Making Test B and Stroop Color‐Word Interference) and a standardized memory composite (delayed recall scores from the California Verbal Learning Test‐II and Visual Reproduction‐II). Study partners completed the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX), which assesses executive behaviors and symptoms.ResultMultiple regression analyses revealed that objective memory performance predicted informant‐rated dysexecutive symptoms in the AD group and in the MCI group as a whole. In contrast, objective executive performance did not predict DEX scores in any of the groups. As expected, objective cognitive performance and DEX scores were not significantly associated in the control group.ConclusionInterestingly, we found that objective memory performance predicted informant‐rated dysexecutive symptoms in MCI and AD, while objective executive performance did not. This finding suggests that in everyday life, patient behaviors labeled as “dysexecutive” may be driven by memory deficits. For example, the DEX reviews behaviors that involve attentional difficulties and perseverative thinking, which can be assessed in both memory and executive tests. Overall, these findings underline the importance of integrating objective test performance with reports of patient symptoms in the real world.

Neurocognitive Outcome Following Recovery from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1).

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness associated with hypoxia and dyspnea. Many of those who contracted and recovered from SARS during the 2002-2003 outbreak reported persistent physical, psychological, and cognitive difficulties. Here, we investigated the residual influences of SARS on cognition for a subset of healthcare professionals who recovered and were referred for neuropsychological evaluation through their workplace insurance. Twenty-eight healthcare professionals were evaluated on neuropsychological and mood functioning approximately 1.5 years post-recovery from a severe respiratory illness. Test scores were compared with age-matched normative data, and correlations were examined between mood, self-report memory scales, subjective complaints (e.g., poor concentration, pain, fatigue), illness severity (i.e., length of hospitalization, oxygen use during hospital stay), and cognitive performance. Participants performed within age expectations on the majority of cognitive measures including overall memory ability. Although processing speed was generally within normal limits, 43% showed significant speed-accuracy trade-offs favoring accuracy over maintaining speed. Deficits were observed on measures of complex attention, such as working memory and the ability to sustain attention under conditions of distraction. Participants endorsed poorer memory ability than same-age peers on a meta-memory measure and mild to moderate depression and anxiety symptoms. Objective test performance was largely uncorrelated with self-reports, mood, or illness severity, except for moderate correlations between complex attention and participants' subjective ratings of Everyday Task-Oriented Memory. These findings demonstrate specific long-term cognitive deficits associated with SARS and provide further evidence of the cognitive effects of hypoxic illnesses.

Using a Meta-cognitive Wisconsin Card Sorting Test to measure introspective accuracy and biases in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

People with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) have challenges in self-evaluation of their cognitive and functional performance (introspective accuracy). They also manifest response biases, with tendencies toward overestimation. This study aimed to examine objective test performance, momentary judgments of performance, momentary confidence, and subsequent global judgments of performance on a metacognitive version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). This sample included 99 participants with SCZ and 67 with BD. After each of the 64 WCST trials, participants reported whether they believed their sort was correct and how confident they were in that judgment, they then received performance feedback. After completion of the entire task, participants generated a global performance judgment. On average, the SCZ group got 31 sorts correct, reporting being correct on 49 whereas the BD group got 37 trials correct but reported being correct on 53. For participants with BD, sorting performance correlated with trial x trial accuracy judgments, confidence, and predicted global judgments. For SCZ participants, performance minimally correlated with trial x trial accuracy judgments, confidence, and global judgments, while trial x trial confidence was strongly associated with trial x trial accuracy judgments (r = 0.58). Our findings suggest that confidence in participants with BD is correlated with task performance, whereas in SCZ confidence was entirely associated with self-generated performance judgments. SCZ participants manifested challenges with utilization of feedback. Global judgments of performance were predicted by task performance and confidence for BD participants, with performance and confidence judgments occurring prior to generation of the global performance judgments.

What you see is what you want to get: Perceived abilities outperform objective test performance in predicting mate appeal in speed dating

Are intelligent, creative, and emotionally competent people more desirable? Evolution-based theories and studies on the ideal partner suggest that they are. We aimed to assess whether verbal, numerical, and spatial intelligence, creativity, and intra- and interpersonal emotional competence are associated with higher real-life mate appeal. In speed dates, 87 women and 88 men met up to 14 members of the opposite sex (2188 observations). While only one measured ability—women’s creativity—was significantly associated with mate appeal, ability perceptions by speed-dating partners could broadly predict mate appeal. Effects of perceived and measured abilities were substantially reduced after controlling for physical attractiveness. These results suggest that the investigated abilities play a lesser role in initial attraction than proposed in the past.

Subjective cognitive complaints in patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder: a cross sectional study

BackgroundStress-related exhaustion is associated with cognitive impairment as measured by both subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) and objective cognitive test performance. This study aimed to examine how patients diagnosed with exhaustion disorder differ from healthy control participants in regard to levels and type of SCCs, and if SCCs are associated with cognitive test performance and psychological distress.MethodsWe compared a group of patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder (n = 103, female = 88) with matched healthy controls (n = 58, female = 47) cross-sectionally, concerning the type and magnitude of self-reported SCCs. We furthermore explored the association between SCCs and cognitive test performance as well as with self-reported depression, anxiety and burnout levels, in the patient and the control group, respectively.ResultsPatients reported considerably more cognitive failures and were more likely than controls to express memory failures in situations providing few external cues and reminders in the environment. In both groups, SCCs were associated with demographic and psychological factors, and not with cognitive test performance.ConclusionOur findings underline the high burden of cognitive problems experienced by patients with exhaustion disorder, particularly in executively demanding tasks without external cognitive support. From a clinical perspective, SCCs and objective cognitive test performance may measure different aspects of cognitive functioning, and external cognitive aids could be of value in stress rehabilitation.Trial registrationParticipants were recruited as part of the Rehabilitation for Improved Cognition (RECO) study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03073772). Date of registration: 8 March 2017

Intelligibility Enhancement Via Normal-to-Lombard Speech Conversion With Long Short-Term Memory Network and Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model

Speech communications and interactions frequently occur in a variety of environments. Noise in the environment significantly degrades speech intelligibility when speaking and listening. Especially in the listening stage, even if the multimedia terminal outputs clean speech, it is still difficult for listeners to obtain information. Intelligibility enhancement (IENH) of speech is a technique for overcoming the environmental noise in the listening stage. It implements a perceptual enhancement of non-noisy speech. This study focuses on IENH via normal-to-Lombard speech conversion, inspired by a well known acoustic mechanism named the Lombard effect. Our method combines the long short-term memory (LSTM) network and Bayesian Gaussian mixture model (BGMM) to build a conversion architecture. Compared with baselines, it has three main advantages: 1) an LSTM network is used for spectral tilt mapping with fully considering short-term correlations and high-dimensional expression abilities; 2) the aperiodicity (AP) is mapped together with the fundamental frequency ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F_0$</tex-math></inline-formula> ) by a BGMM, which considers their relevance constraints and the importance of APs; 3) the gender-dependent mapping is used for <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$F_0$</tex-math></inline-formula> and APs to consider distribution differences between genders. Experiments indicate that our method gets better performance in both objective and subjective tests.

Association between the brief inventory of neurocognitive impairment (BINI) and objective cognitive testing among persons with opioid use disorders in drug treatment

The current study examined the association between subjective cognitive dysfunction and objective test performance in persons enrolled in drug treatment and stabilized on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). A total of 177 participants completed the self-reported brief inventory of neurocognitive impairment (BINI) and NIH Toolbox test battery. In participants with neurocognitive dysfunction, scores on all BINI subscales were negatively associated with objective performance on the NIH Toolbox (BINI Global r = −0.26, p = 0.01; BINI Subscales ranging −0.22 to −0.32, all p’s < 0.03). Using cutoff scores, results showed participants who scored above the cutoff on the BINI Learning subscale demonstrated significant evidence of objective neurocognitive dysfunction on the NIH Toolbox (65% vs. 35%; χ 2 = 6.57, p = 0.02), suggesting possible clinical utility. Future studies are needed to determine the feasibility of using the BINI to inform the accommodation of patients with specific neurocognitive profiles to optimize treatment outcomes.