Phonemic Verbal Fluency Test Research Articles

Effect of Modified Bifrontotemporal Electroconvulsive Therapy on Executive Function in Patients With Psychiatric Illness: A Longitudinal Observational Study.

The study was conducted to compare the pre-electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and post-ECT status of the executive functions of patients and report any deficits found at long-term follow-up. The secondary objective of the study was to compare the performance at executive function tests after ECT with patient characteristics and ECT parameters. In a prospective longitudinal observational study, 50 patients in the age group of 18 to 65 years who were receiving modified bifrontotemporal ECT for the first time and admitted in psychiatry ward of a tertiary care hospital from July 2015 to June 2016 were assessed for executive functions using a neuropsychological battery consisting of digit span forward, digit span backward, spatial span forward, spatial span backward, phonemic verbal fluency test, semantic verbal fluency test, Stroop test, and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, a day before ECT and then followed up at 3 and 6 months. Patients' score improved on all the tests of executive function at 3-month follow-up and was significant for some tests. Improvement was sustained for all the tests 6 months after ECT. Number of years of formal education of patients before illness significantly influenced patients' performance on most of the executive function tests after ECT. Younger age of the patient positively influenced patients' performance on digit span forward and backwards and semantic verbal fluency. There are no executive function deficits 3 to 6 months after brief pulse modified ECT with bilateral electrode placement. A higher premorbid education level is associated with better performance on executive functions after ECT.

Graph Analysis of Verbal Fluency Tests in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder.

Verbal Fluency Tests (VFT) are one of the most common neuropsychological tasks used in bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ) research. Recently, a new VFT analysis method based on graph theory was developed. Interpreting spoken words as nodes and every temporal connection between consecutive words as edges, researchers created graph structures, allowing the extraction of more data from participants’ speech, called Speech Graph Attributes (SGA). The aim of our study was to compare speech graphs, derived from Phonemic and Semantic VFT, between SZ, BD, and healthy controls (HC). Twenty-nine SZ patients, twenty-nine BD patients, and twenty-nine HC performed Semantic and Phonemic VFT. Standard measures (SM) and 13 SGA were analyzed. SZ patients’ Semantic VFT graphs showed lower total word count and correct responses. Their graphs presented less nodes and edges, higher density, smaller diameter, average shortest path (ASP), and largest strongly connected component than the HC group. SM did not differentiate BD and HC groups, and patients’ Semantic VFT graphs presented smaller diameter and ASP than HC. None of the parameters differentiated BD and SZ patients. Our results encourage the use of speech graph analysis, as it reveals verbal fluency alterations that remained unnoticed in the routine comparisons of groups with the use SM.

Hearing Loss and Cognitive Function: Baseline Findings From the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health: ELSA-Brasil.

Hearing loss (HL) has been associated with cognitive impairment in high-income countries. However, no study has investigated this association in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the association between cognitive function and HL in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. Cross-sectional analysis of Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) with 802 individuals (35-74 years old). Hearing was measured using pure-tone audiometry. A pure-tone average (s) of thresholds at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz was calculated. HL was defined as a PTA above 25 dB in the better ear or either ear, as a categorical variable. Cognitive performance was measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease word list memory test, the semantic and phonemic verbal fluency (VF) tests, and the Trail Making test version B. To investigate the association between cognitive performance and HL, we used linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Of the total of participants, 7.6% had HL. After adjustment for sociodemographic and health confounding variables, only VF was associated with HL; a 10 dB increase in the PTA in the better ear was associated with worse performance in the phonemic VF test (β = -0.115 [95% CI, -0.203 to -0.027], p = 0.01). We found a significant interaction between HL and age in the VF domain ( p = 0.01). HL was related to poor VF performance among older adults only. In a community-dwelling sample of most middle-aged adults, objectively measured HL was associated with lower VF. These results should be evaluated with caution, given the likelihood of residual confounding and the fact that only VF showed an association with HL.

Cognitive training with virtual reality at older people longterm residences

Purpose: to describe a series of cases of older people with a clinical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia at elderly long-term residences using virtual reality as cognitive rehabilitation.Methods: this study is a series of cases. Older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or dementia were included. Elderly people with visual and/or hearing problems that made it impossible to carry out the training were excluded. The same tests were used after intervention and at follow up after 15 days.Results: final sample consisted of 13 women and the mean age was 81.77 years (± 6.94). Patients were divided into 2 groups: mild cognitive impairment group and the dementia group. According to the therapeutic objectives aimed at improving fluency, among the results, the improvement in the scores to the group mild cognitive impairment stands out for the phonemic verbal fluency tests 23.63 (± 12.72) pre-test and 29.50 (± 11.14) post-test. There was an improvement in mild cognitive impairment group scores for the phonemic verbal fluency tests 23.63 (± 12.72) pretest and 29.50 (± 11.14) post-test. In the dementia group, test scores were 10 (± 5, 47) pretest and 12.80 (± 5.72) post-test. On the semantic verbal fluency test, the mild cognitive impairment group showed improvement 11.00 (± 3.62) pretest and 13.88 (± 6.03) post-test, while the dementia group test scores were 7.60 (± 4.56) pretest and 8.20 (± 5.12) post-test.Conclusion: regarding phonemic verbal fluency, virtual reality may be a good resource for improving the performance of older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Results were not maintained in the medium term, showing the importance of continual training.

Association Between GlycA and Cognitive Function: Cross-Sectional Results From the ELSA-Brasil Study.

Inflammation is associated with poor cognitive performance. GlycA is a novel marker of systemic inflammation, but information on GlycA and cognition is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the association between GlycA and cognitive performance in a large sample from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). In this cross-sectional study, participants with GlycA measured at baseline were included. Cognitive function was evaluated using the word list test, the trail-making test, and the semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tests. The association of GlycA with cognitive performance was investigated using linear regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical variables. A total of 4327 participants were analyzed (mean age=51.5±9.0 y old, 54% were female, 60% white). The mean GlycA was 414.9±69.8 µmol/L. Higher GlycA levels were associated with lower global cognitive performance, even after adjustments for confounders and C-reactive protein. Higher GlycA levels were associated with lower performance in language and executive function domains (language: β=-0.005, 95% confidence interval CI=-0.010, -0.001, P=0.01; and executive function: β=-0.005, 95% confidence interval=0.009, -0.001, P=0.02]. GlycA was associated with worse cognitive performance in the ELSA-Brasil study, independent of C-reactive protein levels. GlycA may be a potential biomarker for cognitive impairment.

Verbal Fluency, Speech-Language and Neurocognitive Outcomes in Youth with Cochlear Implants

Background: Cochlear Implants (CIs) restore some hearing to deaf children, although some language domains such as verbal fluency (VF) are at risk for delay. VF, the ability to efficiently retrieve words from the mental lexicon, is critically important for learning, reasoning, and memory. In this study we used a novel assessment paradigm to understand how VF develops in youth with CIs and to investigate associations between VF, speech-language, and neurocognitive functioning. We hypothesized that phonemic VF (retrieving words based on sounds) would show greater delays than semantic VF (retrieving words within category) and that VF would relate to spoken language and memory outcomes. 
 
 Methods: 28 prelingually deaf, early-implanted (<4 years), long-term (≥7 years) child and adolescent users of CIs were compared with 33 age and nonverbal IQ-matched normal-hearing (NH) peers. VF measures were compared between CI and NH and were correlated with speech, language, and neurocognitive outcomes. 
 
 Results: Compared to NH peers, youth with CIs retrieved fewer words, had longer start latencies, and fewer word clusters in the phonemic VF test. Stronger phonemic VF in the CI sample was associated with better speech perception and language. Stronger VF in both samples was associated with better short-term/working memory and inhibition/concentration. 
 
 Conclusion: VF based on phonological (sound) characteristics of words is delayed in youth with CIs, whereas VF based on semantic meaning is relatively spared. Phonemic VF delays have downstream effects on speech perception and language in youth with CIs, whereas both types of VF are associated with verbal short-term/working memory and executive functioning. 
 
 Clinical Policy Impact and Implications: Study results indicate a need for assessment and intervention targeting VF (especially phonemic) in youth with CIs as a potential method for improving speech perception, language, verbal memory, and inhibition-concentration outcomes.

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the F-A-S fluency test in people with aphasia.

ABSTRACT.Verbal fluency tests are widely used in neuropsychological assessment. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the performance of aphasic individuals on the phonemic verbal fluency (PVF) test can contribute to a better understanding of cognitive changes in this group of patients.Objective:This study aimed to analyze clustering and switching measures of PVF in people with aphasia and investigate the relationship between the use of these strategies, the quantitative performance on the test, and the performance on executive functions.Methods:This is a cross-sectional study of 15 people with aphasia, right-handed, native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, aged 19 to 92 years. They were submitted to the F-A-S test and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT). The following measures were obtained in the F-A-S test: total score, number of clusters, mean cluster size, and number of switches. Spearman's test was used to analyze correlation.Results:We found a positive correlation among all F-A-S test scores, ranging from p=0.61 (p<0.001) to p=0.91 (p<0.001). No correlation was identified between these measures and CDT performance (p≤0.31; p≥0.260).Conclusions:The quantitative and qualitative analysis of F-A-S in people with aphasia, even those with different linguistic manifestations, showed that these individuals presented lower scores and that the number of total words and the number of switches were strongly correlated. We found no correlation between executive function, assessed by the CDT, and switching performance on the F-A-S test.

Birth cohort differences in cognitive performance in 75- and 80-year-olds: a comparison of two cohorts over 28\xa0years

ObjectiveTo evaluate cohort differences in cognitive performance in older men and women born and assessed 28 years apart.MethodsData in this study were drawn from two age-homogeneous cohorts measured in the same laboratory using the same standardized cognitive performance tests. Participants in the first cohort were born in 1910 and 1914 and assessed in 1989–1990 (Evergreen project, n = 500). Participants in the second cohort were born in 1938 or 1939 and 1942 or 1943 and assessed in 2017–2018 (Evergreen II, n = 726). Participants in both cohorts were assessed at age 75 and 80 years and were recruited from the population register. Cognitive performance was measured using the Digit Span test from the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS), Digit Symbol test from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and phonemic Verbal Fluency test from the Schaie-Thurstone Adult Mental Abilities Test. Reaction time assessing motor and mental responses was measured with a simple finger movement task, followed by a complex finger movement task. T-tests were used to study cohort differences and linear regression models to study possible factors underlying differences.ResultsWe found statistically significant cohort differences in all the cognitive performance tests, except for the digit span test and simple movement task in men, the later-born cohort performing better in all the measured outcomes.ConclusionsThe results of this study provide strong evidence that cognitive performance is better in more recent cohorts of older people compared to their counterparts measured 28 years earlier.

Experimental dyspnoea interferes with locomotion and cognition: a randomised trial.

Chronic respiratory diseases are associated with cognitive dysfunction, but whether dyspnoea by itself negatively impacts on cognition has not been demonstrated. Cortical networks engaged in subjects experiencing dyspnoea are also activated during other tasks that require cognitive input and this may provoke a negative impact through interference with each other. This randomised, crossover trial investigated whether experimentally-induced dyspnoea would negatively impact on locomotion and cognitive function among 40 healthy adults. Crossover conditions were unloaded breathing or loaded breathing using an inspiratory threshold load. To evaluate locomotion, participants were assessed by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Cognitive function was assessed by categorical and phonemic verbal fluency tests, the Trail Making Tests (TMTs) A and B (executive function), the CODE test from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-IV (processing speed) and by direct and indirect digit span (working memory). The mean time difference to perform the TUG test between unloaded and loaded breathing was -0.752 s (95% CI -1.012 to -0.492 s) (p<0.001). Executive function, processing speed and working memory performed better during unloaded breathing, particularly for subjects starting first with the loaded breathing condition. Our data suggest that respiratory threshold loading to elicit dyspnoea had a major impact on locomotion and cognitive function in healthy adults.

Physical fitness and physical activity association with cognitive function and quality of life: baseline cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus trial

Physical activity (PA) has been hypothesized to be effective to maintaining cognitive function and delay cognitive decline in the elderly, but physical fitness (PF) could be a better predictor of cognitive function. We aimed to study the association between PA and PF with cognitive function and quality of life using cross-sectional data from 6874 participants of the PREDIMED-Plus trial (64.9 ± 4.9 years, 48.5% female). PF and PA were measured with a Chair Stand Test, the REGICOR and Rapid Assessment Physical Activity questionnaires. Cognitive function was measured with Mini-mental State Examination, Control Oral Word Association Test, Trail Making Test and Digit Span tests; whereas health-related quality of life was assessed with the SF36-HRQL test. Cognitive and quality of life scores were compared among PF quartiles and PA levels (low, moderate and high) with ANCOVA and with Chair Stand repetitions and energy expenditure from total PA with multivariable linear regression adjusted for confounding factors. PF associated with higher scores in phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tests and with lower TMT A time. However, PA was not associated with the neurocognitive parameters evaluated. Both PF and PA levels were strongly associated with a better quality of life. We concluded that PF, but not PA, is associated with a better cognitive function. This trial was retrospectively registered at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCTN89898870, https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870?q=ISRCTN89898870&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-search) on 07/24/2014.

Association between diabetes and cognitive function at baseline in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA- Brasil)

Diabetes has been associated with cognitive changes and an increased risk of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but it is unclear whether there are associations between diabetes and early alterations in cognitive performance. The present study consisted of a cross-section analysis of 14,444 participants aged 35–74 years and from a developing country at baseline in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA–Brasil); these participants were recruited between 2008 and 2010. We investigated whether there was an association between diabetes and early changes in the cognitive performance of this Brazilian population. To assess cognitive domains, we used the word-list learning, word-list delayed recall and word recognition tests along. Phonemic verbal fluency tests included semantic phonemic test (animals) and a phonemic test (words beginning with the letter F). Executive functions associated with attention, concentration and psychomotor speed were evaluated using the Trail Making Test B. The exposure variable in the study was defined as diabetes. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the association between diabetes and cognitive performance. The results were adjusted for age, sex, education, hypertension, coronary disease, depression, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and the cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. We found a significant association between diabetes and decreased memory, language and executive function (attention, concentration and psychomotor speed) performance in this population from a country with a distinct epidemiological profile, even after adjusting for the main intervening variables.

Characteristics of verbal fluency in patients with a primary episode of bipolar affective disorder

A study was conducted using the verbal fluency test of 153 patients with a primary episode of bipolar affective disorder: with prevalence of depressive symptoms (44 men and 75 women), with prevalence of manic symptoms (15 men and 8 women), and with simultaneous presence of depressive symptoms and manic symptoms phase change (6 men and 5 women). Significant impairment of test performance in patients with depression with respect to phonetic and semantic verbal fluency was revealed: the average number of words per letter "K" per 60 sec. in all patients 14,1±2,7 words, in men – 13,8±3,1 words, in women - 14,3±2,4 words, on the letter "P" – 12,5±2,8 respectively words, 12.3±3.2 words, 12.6±2.6 words, "Male Names" – 13.1±2.6 words respectively, 12.8±3.0 words, 13.3±2,4 words; "Fruits / furniture" – 12.0±2.4 words, 11.9±2.8 words, 12.1±2.1 words. Deterioration in the performance of semantic and phonemic verbal fluency test reflects the state of bradypsychism inherent in patients with depressive variant, which manifests a slow thinking rate, difficulty concentrating attention, motor inhibition, deterioration of operational capacity, rapid exhaustion. In patients with a maniacal variant, the high speed of the test is offset by a large number of errors due to the chaotic mental activity, instability and scattering of attention, the difficulty of maintaining focus of attention: the indicators were respectively 21.7±5.7 words, 22.5±5.7 words, 20,3±6.0 words; 20.3±5.6 words, 21.1±5.5 words, 19.0±5.9 words; 20.5±5.4 words, 21.2±5.2 words, 19.1±5.7 words; 19.5±5.4 words, 20.2±5.2 words, 18.1±5.7 words. In patients with mixed variants, the indicators of verbal fluency are reduced due to the influence of complex polymorphic symptoms with rapid change of state: respectively 16.5±5.6 words, 18.2±6.1 words, 14.4±4.8 words; 14.5±5.4 words, 16.2±5.7 words, 12.4±4.8 words; 15.4±5.4 words, 17.0±5.8 words, 13.4±4.8 words; 13.9±5.0 words, 15.5±5.3 words, 12.0±4.3 words. The differences in scores across all subtests in all groups between men and women are statistically insignificant (p&gt;0.05).

Corrections to “Functional Connectivity During Phonemic and Semantic Verbal Fluency Test: A Multichannel Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study” [May/Jun 16 Art. no. 6801706

Corrections to “Functional Connectivity During Phonemic and Semantic Verbal Fluency Test: A Multichannel Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study” [May/Jun 16 Art. no. 6801706

Predictors of cognitive functioning after carotid revascularization

PurposeHigh-grade carotid stenosis can affect cognition, but the relationship between stenosis correction and cognitive outcome is not fully understood, yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictors of post-operative neurocognitive functioning in patients with symptomatic severe internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Materials and methodsPatients with history of transient ischemic attack within the past 6 months and ipsilateral high-grade stenosis of ICA undergoing CEA were prospectively enrolled. Cerebral hemodynamics was assessed by means of the cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVR) to hypercapnia measured through transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. Coloured Progressive Matrices plus Complex Figure Copy Test, and phonemic plus categorical (ca) Verbal Fluency tests were performed to assess right and left hemisphere cognitive functions, respectively. Cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive functions were assessed before and 6 months after CEA. ResultsOne hundred and eighty-one patients were included. The mean age was 73.2 (6.9) years and 121 (66.9%) were males. At 6 months from CEA, the scores obtained in the cognitive tests exploring the re-vascularized hemisphere's functions and ipsilateral cerebral hemodynamics were improved. At multivariate linear regression analysis, the 6-month change in cognitive performance was inversely associated with age [ß = −0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.22 to −0.12; p < .001] and CVR value obtained before CEA on the side of ICA stenosis (ß = −6.25, 95% CI −7.40 to −5.10; p < .001). ConclusionsIn patients with symptomatic high-grade ICA stenosis, age and cerebral hemodynamic status before CEA predicted the neurocognitive performance changes after surgical stenosis correction.

Long-term impact of subthalamic stimulation on cognitive function in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (DBS-SN) on cognitive function in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) 5 years after surgery. Material and methodsWe conducted a prospective study including 50 patients with PD who underwent DBS-SN (62.5% were men; mean age of 62.2±8.2 years; mean progression time of 14.1±6.3 years). All patients were assessed before the procedure and at one year after surgery; 40 patients were further followed up until the 5-year mark. Follow-up assessments included the following neuropsychological tests: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS), letter-number sequencing of the WAIS-III (WAIS-III-LN), clock-drawing test, Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO) test, FAS Phonemic Verbal Fluency Test, Stroop test, and the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). ResultsPatients were found to score lower on the MMSE (−0.89%), clock-drawing test (−2.61%), MDRS (−1.72%), and especially phonemic (−13.28%) and sematic verbal fluency tests (−12.40%) at one year after surgery. Delayed recall on the RAVLT worsened one year after the procedure (−10.12%). At 5 years, impairment affected mainly verbal fluency; scores decreased an additional 16.10% and 16.60% in semantic and phonemic verbal fluency, respectively. Moderate decreases were observed in immediate recall (−16.87%), WAIS-III-LN (−16.67%), and JLO test (−11.56%). DiscussionIn our sample, DBS-SN did not result in global cognitive impairment 5 years after surgery. Verbal function was found to be significantly impaired one year after the procedure. Impaired learning and visuospatial function may be attributed to degeneration associated with PD.

Semantic and Phonemic Verbal Fluency Performance in Patients with General Anxiety Disorders and Allostatic Load under Alprazolam Treatment

Purpose: Anxiety disorders are frequently associated with chronic stress with possible cognitive consequences. The aim of this study was to determine the verbal fluency performance in a cohort of patients with anxiety disorders and allostatic load, treated with alprazolam during 12 weeks. Methods: Patients with GAD (general anxiety disorders, DSM IV), with >6 in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), neuroticism > 18 (NEO-FFI inventory), and normal Mini-Mental State Examination were included. Clinical and Psychiatric examination, Allostatic Load Index and cognitive assessment were analyzed before and after 12 weeks of treatment. The phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tests were determined in all patients. The scoring for each fluency task was determined by counting the number of correct words. The total score from each semantic and phonemic verbal task was analyzed comparing the individual score with normal data controlled by age and sex. Patients with scores > ?2 standard deviation (SD) from normative data were considered impaired. Results: Fifty-four patients completed the semantic verbal fluency test before treatment and fifty patients completed after treatment. According to the z-scores before treatment 7 patients of 54 (12.9%) had verbal fluency impairments. After treatment none patients showed semantic verbal fluency deficits but 3 patients of 50 (6%) showed phonemic impairments. Impaired group was significantly associated with an older age before treatment (p = 0.033) and with a similar tendency but not significant (p = 0.09) after treatment (Student t test). Conclusion: In this study older age factor was associated with verbal fluency impairment in GAD patients. Stratified treatments analyzing age and sex factors, including allostatic load measurements and cognitive assessments may be useful tools to determine the effectiveness and the safety of psychopharmacological treatments.

Predictors of mental health literacy in older people

ObjectivesOlder adults exhibit poorer mental health literacy than younger adults, including less accuracy at identifying symptoms of mental disorders, and endorsing fewer sources of treatment for a mental disorder. The current study’s intention was to determine if the executive component of cognition is associated with mental health literacy in older adults, when controlling for other established predictors (sex, age, education, and proximity to someone with a mental disorder). MethodThe sample included 85 cognitively healthy adults aged 60 and over. Participants completed the Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination III, the Trail Making Test, a Phonemic Verbal Fluency Test, and the Mental Health Literacy Scale. ResultsA multiple regression indicated that age and mental health proximity significantly and uniquely predicted total mental health literacy (Age: β = -0.22, t = −2.04, p < 0.05; Proximity: β = 0.31, t = 2.78, p < 0.01). Older age predicted poorer PTSD mental health literacy (β = −0.31, t = −2.90, p < 0.01). ConclusionIn neurologically healthy older adults, level of executive function did not contribute to mental health literacy. Older adults in closer proximity to someone with a mental disorder were more likely to have better mental health literacy, a finding that has the potential to inform mental health education and promotion strategies in this population.

SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RIGHT MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY BLOOD FLOW VELOCITY IN THE FIRST EPISODE OF PSYCHOSIS DURING NEUROCOGNITIVE TESTING

Changes in cerebral hemodynamics have been reported in schizophrenia and proposed as underlying the cognitive deficits seen in patients. The objective of our study was to compare changes of the cerebral blood flow velocity (BFV) during neurocognitive tasks between the patients with the first episode of psychosis and healthy controls. We recruited 46 patients with the first episode of psychosis (FEP), admitted to the University Hospital Centre Zagreb during 2016-2017 and 41 control subjects. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography monitoring of BFV in both middle cerebral arteries was recorded during 25-minute long neurocognitive assessment with Phonemic Verbal Fluency test, Trial Making Test B and Stroop test. Between every consecutive test resting periods were recorded. After the adjustment for age, sex and education by quantile regression, patients with FEP had significantly lower BFV in middle cerebral arteries during the 3rd (Δ-15, Δ%-28% p=0.023) and 4th task (Δ-15, Δ%-28% p=0.031) of the Stroop test and the 1st task of Foot tapping test (Δ -16, Δ% -30% p=0.034). We observed significantly lower changes of right middle cerebral artery BFV in FEP between two consecutive tests in all four tasks of the Phonemic verbal fluency test, 1st and 2nd task of the Stroop test and Trail making test, and the1st task of Foot tapping test; and of the left artery between first three tasks of the Phonemic verbal fluency test, the last one of the Phonemic verbal fluency test and all first three tasks of the Stroop test. Decreased middle BFV during the execution of particular neurocognitive tasks in patients with FEP, compared to control subjects might indicate impaired hemodynamic function in the prefrontal/parietal brain areas, and possibly provide an explanation of some of the observed neurocognitive deficits in patients with the first episode of psychosis.

Repetition of verbal fluency task attenuates the hemodynamic activation in the left prefrontal cortex: Enhancing the clinical usefulness of near-infrared spectroscopy.

In applications of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in clinical psychiatry settings in Japan, a phonemic verbal fluency test (VFT) that includes “switching” (the ability to shift efficiently to a new word subcategory) to assess phonemic fluency is employed to capture disease-specific hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In this study, to extend the specific features of this test, the VFT was repeated to examine an activation change in NIRS measurements in 20 healthy males. Without task performance change, the hemodynamic activation induced by the VFT was significantly attenuated in the left PFC through repetition of the task. These findings suggest that the left PFC is involved in processing of the VFT. Further, it may be possible to extend the current VFT using this repetition to provide a more sensitive examination of the left PFC, whose dysfunction has been reported in several psychiatric diseases such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.

Personality factors and cognitive functioning in elderly with Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACTParkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease, resulting from cell degeneration in the substantia nigra, responsible for the production of dopamine.Objective: This study aimed to characterize the cognitive functioning, personality factors and prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). Furthermore, this study sought to analyze whether personality factors were predictors of cognitive functioning.Methods: The sample consisted of 30 elderly with PD. Participants completed a sociodemographic data sheet, the NEO-FFI-R (Five Factor Inventory NEO Revised), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Beta-III, the phonemic verbal fluency test and semantics (Animals), the digits span subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults and the Boston Naming Test and the word list of the CERAD battery, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results: The elderly with PD presented impairment in verbal episodic memory and executive functions. Most of the participants demonstrated low levels of neuroticism. The extraversion factor was positively correlated with executive functions and the openness to experience factor was positively correlated with verbal episodic memory. It was concluded that the elderly with PD presented memory and executive function impairments. The factor that most contributed to performance of the elderly with PD on memory and executive function tasks was the extraversion factor.