Short-term Memory Test Research Articles

Metacognitive Comprehension Monitoring: Cognitive Abilities Explain Performance Differences Between Younger and Older Adults

ABSTRACT Purpose To understand complex expository text, readers often engage in metacognitive comprehension monitoring. Metacognitive monitoring is assumed to rely on basic cognitive abilities (working memory updating, short-term memory, verbal intelligence). These abilities decrease in later adulthood. We thus compared younger and older adults in their comprehension monitoring and examined whether performance differences are mediated by differences in cognitive abilities. Methods Younger (n = 101; 18–29 years) and older adults (n = 108; 60–75 years) completed an inconsistency task to capture metacognitive comprehension monitoring, two tests of working memory updating (one based on a semantic and one on a formal criterion), a short-term memory test, and an indicator of verbal intelligence. Results Older adults reported fewer inconsistencies than younger adults (β = -.174, p = .009). These differences were mediated by differences in working memory updating, short-term memory, and verbal intelligence. Working memory updating based on a semantic criterion, in contrast to working memory updating based on a formal criterion, was especially related to performance differences in the inconsistency task (β = .299). Conclusion The present study extends previous results on the role of basic cognitive abilities for explaining differences between age groups in metacognitive comprehension monitoring in younger compared to older adults.

Effect of Brainwave Entrainment Using Binaural Beat Stimulation on Short-Term Memory

Auditory brain entrainment is a response to a rhythmic stimulus that increases the amount of a single brainwave frequency. It has been proposed to act as a key mechanism to heighten sensory intake. Auditory brain entrainment can be induced by listening to binaural beat stimulation. It has been shown that there is a positive effect on memory caused by using binaural beat stimulation. There has been research done on memory in young adults using binaural beat stimulation, but little in adolescents. Due to the lack of research on the effects of brain entrainment on memory in adolescents, this study attempts to show that a teen's working memory will improve after listening to a 40 Hz binaural beat for five minutes as compared to 0 Hz and 4 Hz. Participants were randomly assigned into three groups (0Hz, 4Hz, 40Hz) prior to the experiment. Participants completed the Sternberg Short-term memory test.The participants then listened to a binaural beat of their designated group for 5 minutes, after which they completed the second trial of the Sternberg Short-term memory test. The average change of speed recall and errors from no binaural beat to after the binaural beat stimulus was analyzed using a T-test of independent means. The results do not support the hypothesis that listening to binaural beat stimulation of 40Hz would improve short-term memory compared to 4Hz and 0Hz.

Obesity Impairs Cognitive Function with No Effects on Anxiety-like Behaviour in Zebrafish.

Over the last decade, the zebrafish has emerged as an important model organism for behavioural studies and neurological disorders, as well as for the study of metabolic diseases. This makes zebrafish an alternative model for studying the effects of energy disruption and nutritional quality on a wide range of behavioural aspects. Here, we used the zebrafish model to study how obesity induced by overfeeding regulates emotional and cognitive processes. Two groups of fish (n = 24 per group) were fed at 2% (CTRL) and 8% (overfeeding-induced obesity, OIO) for 8 weeks and tested for anxiety-like behaviour using the novel tank diving test (NTDT). Fish were first tested using a short-term memory test (STM) and then trained for four days for a long-term memory test (LTM). At the end of the experiment, fish were euthanised for biometric sampling, total lipid content, and triglyceride analysis. In addition, brains (eight per treatment) were dissected for HPLC determination of monoamines. Overfeeding induced faster growth and obesity, as indicated by increased total lipid content. OIO had no effect on anxiety-like behaviour. Animals were then tested for cognitive function (learning and memory) using the aversive learning test in Zantiks AD units. Results show that both OIO and CTRL animals were able to associate the aversive stimulus with the conditioned stimulus (conditioned learning), but OIO impaired STM regardless of fish sex, revealing the effects of obesity on cognitive processes in zebrafish. Obese fish did not show a deficiency in monoaminergic transmission, as revealed by quantification of total brain levels of dopamine and serotonin and their metabolites. This provides a reliable protocol for assessing the effect of metabolic disease on cognitive and behavioural function, supporting zebrafish as a model for behavioural and cognitive neuroscience.

Exploring the relationship of working memory to the temporal distribution of pausing and revision behaviors during L2 writing

AbstractThis study examined the extent to which L2 writers with varied working memory display differential pausing and revision behaviors at different periods during writing. The participants were 30 advanced Chinese L2 users of English, who wrote an argumentative essay. While composing, participants’ keystrokes and eye-gaze movements were recorded to capture their pausing, revision, and eye-gaze behaviors. The working memory battery included tests of phonological and visual short-term memory and executive functions. We divided the writing process into five equal periods. The results revealed that participants’ pausing and revision patterns were consistent with previous findings that planning, linguistic encoding, and monitoring processes dominate the initial, middle, and later composing periods, respectively. Various working memory components had differential effects on pausing depending on period, largely reflecting the predictions of Kellogg’s (1996, 2001) model. However, we identified no differences in the temporal distribution of revision behaviors contingent on working memory.

The influence of intraoperative sedation on memory consolidation: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

The objective was to evaluate the effect of propofol and dexmedetomidine sedation on the short-term memory and long-term memory consolidation.Materials and methods. 80 patients with small orthopaedic interventions under subarachnoid anesthesia were included in the randomized controlled trial. Three groups were formed depending on the drug used: group P – propofol, group D – dexmedetomidine, group 0 – control. Emotionally neutral sets of words were tapped three times to evaluate the effect of sedation on long-term memory consolidation: stage1/set 1 – immediately before sedation (RASS 0, BIS 95–100), stage 2/set 2 – 5–10 minutes after the start of sedation (RASS «–1» – «–2», BIS 70–90), stage 3/set 3 – 10 minutes after sedation was terminated and consciousness was recovered (RASS 0, BIS 90–100). In addition, the impact of sedation on the ability to hold the received information in short-term memory was conducted 5 minutes after the presentation of the words at stage 2. Reproduction and recognition testing of all words was conducted the next day after operation to evaluate the effect of medical sedation on long-term memory consolidation.Results. Propofol and dexmedetomidine provided an inhibitory effect on the ability to hold information in short-term memory compared to control group (р < 0.001 и р < 0.001, respectively). Propofol had the most effect on short-term memory and the level of its amnesic effect was associated with the cognitive function of patients (p = 0.013, R² = 0.23, β = 0.472). The HADS points were as negative predictor of the reproduction of the word set 1 in control group (p = 0.05, R² = 0.136, β = –0.368) and recognition of the word set 3 in propofol group (р = 0.029, R² = 0.176, β = –0.420). Within 24 hours after operation, reproduction and recognition of word sets 2 depended on the degree of short-term memory impairment during sedation (F(1.65) = 19.317, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.229 и F(1.65) = 21.638, p < 0.0031, ηp2 = 0.250, respectively). Short-term memory test acted as a positive predictor of the reproduction of word set 3 in control group (p = 0.05, R² = 0.141, β = 0.376).Conclusion. Propofol and dexmedetomidine impair the ability to retain information in short-term and, consequently, long-term memory, and propofol has a more pronounced amnesic effect, which depends on the cognitive functions of patients. The sensitivity to the amnesic effect of the drugs depends on the individual characteristics of the patients.

Astrocytic deletion of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) does not affect learning and memory in aged mice but worsens outcome from experimental stroke.

Aging is associated with cognitive decline and is the main risk factor for a myriad of conditions including neurodegeneration and stroke. Concomitant with aging is the progressive accumulation of misfolded proteins and loss of proteostasis. Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) leads to ER stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR is mediated, in part, by the eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinase protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK). Phosphorylation of eIF2α reduces protein translation as an adaptive mechanism but this also opposes synaptic plasticity. PERK, and other eIF2α kinases, have been widely studied in neurons where they modulate both cognitive function and response to injury. The impact of astrocytic PERK signaling in cognitive processes was previously unknown. To examine this, we deleted PERK from astrocytes (AstroPERKKO ) and examined the impact on cognitive functions in middle-aged and old mice of both sexes. Additionally, we tested the outcome following experimental stroke using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Tests of short-term and long-term learning and memory as well as of cognitive flexibility in middle-aged and old mice revealed that astrocytic PERK does not regulate these processes. Following MCAO, AstroPERKKO had increased morbidity and mortality. Collectively, our data demonstrate that astrocytic PERK has limited impact on cognitive function and has a more prominent role in the response to neural injury.

Pengujian Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) Pada Prediksi Trafik Lalu Lintas Menggunakan Multi Server

This study presents a test of the long short term memory (LSTM) algorithm on traffic prediction with multi edge server and cloud server architectures. IoT sensors located on the roadside such as cameras and location data on each driver are used and stored in the data center. When a driver sends a travel time request to a nearby edge server, traffic predictions will be made on the edge server or cloud server. Server selection is made based on the destination location of the driver's request. If the destination is in the edge server area, traffic predictions are made on the edge server. However, if the destination is in the cloud server area, traffic predictions are made on the cloud server. Then to predict traffic traffic is done with LSTM. following modeling is made with a density of 128 and a density of 256. By learning from previous traffic, LSTM with a greater density gets a proportion of errors, namely RMSE 10.78%, MAE 8.24%, and MAPE 19.87%.

Traceability and comparability through crosswalks with the NeuroMET Memory Metric

Accurate assessment of memory ability for persons on the continuum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is vital for early diagnosis, monitoring of disease progression and evaluation of new therapies. However, currently available neuropsychological tests suffer from a lack of standardization and metrological quality assurance. Improved metrics of memory can be created by carefully combining selected items from legacy short-term memory tests, whilst at the same time retaining validity, and reducing patient burden. In psychometrics, this is known as “crosswalks” to link items empirically. The aim of this paper is to link items from different types of memory tests. Memory test data were collected from the European EMPIR NeuroMET and the SmartAge studies recruited at Charité Hospital (Healthy controls n = 92; Subjective cognitive decline n = 160; Mild cognitive impairment n = 50; and AD n = 58; age range 55–87). A bank of items (n = 57) was developed based on legacy short-term memory items (i.e., Corsi Block Test, Digit Span Test, Rey’s Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Word Learning Lists from the CERAD test battery and Mini Mental State Examination; MMSE). The NeuroMET Memory Metric (NMM) is a composite metric that comprises 57 dichotomous items (right/wrong). We previously reported on a preliminary item bank to assess memory based on immediate recall, and have now demonstrated direct comparability of measurements generated from the different legacy tests. We created crosswalks between the NMM and the legacy tests and between the NMM and the full MMSE using Rasch analysis (RUMM2030) and produced two conversion tables. Measurement uncertainties for estimates of person memory ability with the NMM across the full span were smaller than all individual legacy tests, which demonstrates the added value of the NMM. Comparisons with one (MMSE) of the legacy tests showed however higher measurement uncertainties of the NMM for people with a very low memory ability (raw score ≤ 19). The conversion tables developed through crosswalks in this paper provide clinicians and researchers with a practical tool to: (i) compensate for ordinality in raw scores, (ii) ensure traceability to make reliable and valid comparisons when measuring person ability, and (iii) enable comparability between test results from different legacy tests.

Selection of Norwegian police drone operators: an evaluation of selected cognitive tests from “The Vienna Test System”

ABSTRACT A nationwide sample of 129 police officers participated in a study aimed at validating and presenting practical implications of a selection procedure for applicants to an educational program for Norwegian police drone pilots. The subjects were part of a selection program for a training and qualification course for police drone pilots. The selection program consisted of tests of spatial orientation, logical reasoning, attentional selection, sustained attention, and visual short-term memory, in addition to a performance test in a drone flight simulator. The aim of the study was to evaluate the cognitive tests used in the selection program and their relation to performance during the simulated flight. The results from the untrained applicants revealed low-to-moderate intercorrelations of the cognitive tests. Only spatial orientation, logical reasoning, and attentional selection were correlated to the performance measures of skills and proficiency. Stepwise regression analysis showed that only spatial orientation and attentional selection had unique contributions in explaining the variance in both measures of performance. Implications are discussed on both practical and scientific levels. The positive implications of using untrained respondents, the use of proficiency measures in addition to skills, the building of a clearinghouse for drone selection data, and considering both the job-analyzes and the total test-performance when interpreting the applicant’s test-scores are discussed.

Metrological advancements in cognitive measurement: A worked example with the NeuroMET memory metric providing more reliability and efficiency

Better metrics of cognition can be formed by carefully combining selected items from legacy short-term memory tests so as to enhance coherence in item design while not jeopardizing validity. In this paper, we report on how Rasch Measurement Theory and Construct specification equations (CSE) have been brought together when composing the NeuroMET Memory Metric (NMM). The NMM is guided by: i) entropy-based equivalence criteria; ii) a comprehensive understanding of the construct purported to be measured; and iii) how a collection of items works together. CSEs play a major role in ensuring the metrological legitimacy of the NMM in a way analogous to certified reference materials in more established areas of metrology. The resulting NMM for short-term memory recall has up to a five-fold reduction in measurement uncertainties for memory ability compared with an individual legacy test, and the entropy-based CSEs should enable more efficient and valid assessment.

Immediate Effects of (Simulated) Age-Related Hearing Loss on Cognitive Processing and Performance for the Backward-Digit-Span Task.

The recall of auditorily presented sequences of digits in reverse order (also known as the Backward Digit Span, BDS) is considered to reflect a person's information storage and processing abilities which have been linked to speech-in-noise intelligibility. However, especially in aging research and audiology, persons who are administered the BDS task are often affected by hearing loss (HL). If uncorrected, HL can have immediate assessment-format-related effects on cognitive-test performance and can result, in the long term, in neuroplastic changes impacting cognitive functioning. In the present study, an impairment-simulation approach, mimicking mild-to-moderate age-related HLs typical for persons aged 65, 75, and 85 years, was used in 19 young normal-hearing participants to evaluate the impact of HL on cognitive performance and the cognitive processes probed by the BDS task. Participants completed the BDS task in several listening conditions, as well as several commonly used visual tests of short-term and working memory. The results indicated that BDS performance was impaired by a simulated HL representing that of persons aged 75 years and above. In the normal-hearing condition, BDS performance correlated positively with both performance on tests of short-term memory and performance on tests of working memory. In the listening condition simulating moderate HL (as experienced by the average 85-year-old person), BDS performance only correlated with performance on working-memory tests. In conclusion, simulated (and, by extrapolation, actual) age-related HL negatively affects cognitive-test performance and may change the composition of the cognitive processes associated with the completion of a cognitive task.

Adult age differences in specific and gist associative episodic memory across short- and long-term retention intervals.

Age-related deficits in associative episodic memory have been widely reported, but recent research suggests that some of these deficits occur for highly specific but not gist representations. It remains undetermined whether older adults' deficits in specific associative episodic memory, observed in long-term memory, are also present in short-term memory. We used a continuous associative recognition task to address this question. Fifty young and 50 older adults studied face-scene pairs, with memory tests occurring in both short-term and long-term memory. Memory tests featured intact (old) pairs, related (similar) pairs, and unrelated (dissimilar) pairs. On short-term memory tests, older adults were less accurate in classifying related pairs, which was manifest by age-related reductions in the probability of retrieving specific memory to engage in recollection rejection. However, older adults were capable of remembering specific details in short-term memory for intact probes but were less likely to remember specific details in long-term memory. Finally, older adults were always as capable as younger adults of remembering gist details. Results suggest that older adults do at least partially encode specific representations in short-term memory, and their access to these specific representations is cue dependent-they can do so when there is a large correspondence between encoding and retrieval conditions but are less likely to engage in deeper elaboration at retrieval. This limits their ability to remember specific details of associations to suppress false recognitions in short-term memory and to engage in veridical recognition in long-term memory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Habilidades cognitivas de idosos institucionalizados com sintomas depressivos

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the level of association between depressive symptoms and cognitive abilities of institutionalized older adults. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 69 older adults, living in a long-term care facility. Investigation of depressive symptoms in all individuals was performed using the geriatric depression scale. Cognitive verbal fluency, digit span forward (DSF) and backward (DSB) tests, and two-minute stationary gait, sit-to-stand test, and six-minute walk test were performed to assess their association with depressive symptoms. Results Depressive symptoms were identified in 35 individuals. Worse cognition and physical performances were associated with the presence of depressive symptoms – Mini-Mental State Examination [t (61) = 2.36; p < 0.05] and Stationary gait test of two minutes [t (53) = 3.12; p < 0.05]. Short-term memory and working memory tests presented worse results in individuals with depressive symptoms (DSF: U = 402.00; p < 0.05 e DSB: U = 341,00; p < 0.05). Older adults with scores below normal in DSF were 5 times more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms. Conclusion The importance of physical, cognitive and social intervention strategies in long-term care facilities for the older adults is highlighted, in order to privilege autonomy. Notably, there is an association between deficits in short-term memory and the presence of depressive symptoms in older adults. Therefore, prospective studies are suggested to investigate the cause-effect relationship of this association with the institutionalization of older adults.

Effect Of Caffeine and Adrenaline on Memory and Anxiety in Male Wistar Rats.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of caffeine and adrenaline administration on memory and anxiety in male rats. Rats weighing about 140-200g were used for the study. They were divided into three groups (4 animals per group). Study groups 1; a,b,c,d were healthy rats administered normal saline, 5,10 and 15mg/kg bw caffeine intraperitoneally (i.p.), respectively for 6 weeks. Study groups 2; a,b,c,d administered normal saline, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.31mg/kg bw adrenaline (i.p.), respectively for 6 weeks. Study groups 3; a,b,c,d administered normal saline, 5mg/kg caffeine (i.p.) + 0.1mg/kg adrenaline (i.p.), 10mg/kg Caffeine (i.p.) + 0.2mg/kg Adrenaline (i.p.) and 15mg/kg Caffeine (i.p.) + 0.3mg/kg Adrenaline (i.p.) respectively for 6 weeks. The result showed no significant difference in spatial memory across all animals in study groups 1: b,c,d when compared to control (a). Study groups 2: (b, c) showed increase in spatial memory when compared to control (a). 2(d) showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease. Study groups 3: b, c, d showed no significant difference in spatial memory when compared to control (a). Study groups 1: b, c showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in duration for the short and long term memory test when compared to control. Study groups 2 showed reduction in duration for both the long and short term memory test when compared to control Study groups 3 no significant (p<0.05) difference in short and long term memory test across all animals in the group. It was also observed that adrenaline enhanced short and long term memory and only high dose of adrenaline distorted spatial memory. Study groups 1; (b,c) showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the number of entries to the open arm of the elevated plus maze when compared to control (a). Study groups 2; (b), showed significant (p<0.05) increase in the frequencies of entries to the closed arm of the elevated plus maze when compared to control (a). Study groups 2; (d), showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the frequency of entries to the open and closed arm when compared to control (a). The study revealed that co- administration of caffeine and adrenaline led to elevation of mood, increased activity and reduction of anxiety in Wistar rats. In addition, it was observed that only high dose of adrenaline increased anxiety. It was also observed that caffeine and adrenaline enhanced short and long term memory and only high dose of adrenaline distorted spatial memory.

Factors for early postoperative cognitive impairment in patients after coronary bypass surgery and carotid endarterectomy

Aim. To determine the relationship between perioperative factors and cognitive function in patients after coronary bypass grafting (CABG) in combination with unilateral carotid endarterectomy (CE).Material and methods. We examined 56 men in the perioperative period with CABG combined with unilateral CE (mean age, 64,0±7,1 years). Cognitive assessment was performed before and 5-7 days after surgery with Status PF program. An advanced psychometric examination included an assessment of voluntary attention (Bourdon test), short-term memory (tests on memorizing 10 numbers, 10 words, and 10 syllables), neurodynamics (visual-motor reaction time, level of functional mobility of nervous processes, brain performance, as well as the number of errors in these tasks and missed positive signals). The concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S100β protein in the blood serum of patients before surgery, 24 hours and 5-7 days after surgery was determined using enzyme immunoassay.Results. In the early postoperative period, an increase in reaction time (p=0,031) was accompanied by an increase in errors in this test (p=0,042) and a decrease in the number of memorized numbers (p=0,022). Twenty four hours and 5-7 days after surgery, there were no differences between the perioperative NSE level (p1-2-3&gt;0.05). Twenty four hours after CABG surgery, the level of S100β protein increased by 9,0% (p=0,001), while regression of S100β protein to the preoperative level was observed 5-7 days after operation.Conclusion. A relationship was found between the CABG factor and the attention level (r=-0,518; p=0,031), functional mobility reaction time (r=0,476; p=0,041), and the number of errors (r=0,449; p=0,032). A correlation was found between the factor of neurochemical markers, the number of processed letters on the 1st minute of Bourdon test (r=-0,642; p=0,014), the total number of processed letters in Bourdon test (r=-0,617; p=0,017). The combined factor of perioperative period was associated with functional mobility reaction time (r=0,609; p=0,041), the number of processed letters at 4 min (r=-0,490; p=0,017), and the total number of processed letters in the Bourdon test (r=-0,334; p=0,006).

Association between dietary creatine and visuospatial short-term memory in older adults.

Aims: The purpose was to examine the relationship between habitual dietary creatine intake obtained in food and visuospatial short-term memory (VSSM). Methods: Forty-two participants (32 females, 10 males; > 60 yrs of age) completed a 5-day dietary recall to estimate creatine intake and performed a cognitive assessment which included a visuospatial short-term memory test (forward and reverse corsi block test) and a mini-mental state examination (MMSE). Pearson correlation coefficients were determined. Further, cohorts were derived based on the median creatine intake. Results: There was a significant correlation between the forward Corsi (r = 0.703, P < 0.001), reverse Corsi (r = 0.715, P < 0.001), and the memory sub-component of the MMSE (r = 0.406, P = 0.004). A median creatine intake of 0.382 g/day was found. Participants consuming greater than the median had a significantly higher Corsi (P = 0.005) and reverse Corsi (P < 0.001) scores compared to participants ingesting less than the median. Conclusions: Dietary creatine intake is positively associated with measures of memory in older adults. Clinical Implications: Older adults should consider food sources containing creatine (i.e. red meat, seafood) due to the positive association with visuospatial short-term memory.

Neurophysiological status of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. The reduction of the risk of stroke in patients with AF is achieved with the help of continuous administration of oral anticoagulants (OAC). The presence of cognitive impairment in a patient may be a significant risk factor for low adherence to antithrombotic therapy, therefore, the medico-social significance of impaired cognitive functions in patients with AF is high. At the same time, it is still unclear which neurophysiological mechanisms and areas of the brain are responsible for the development of cognitive disorders in this pathology. Thus, further studies are needed to assess the state of higher cortical functions in patients with AF. Materials and methods The study included 50 patients with nonvalvular AF and a high risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic events, with a risk of thromboembolic complications on the CHA2DS2-VASc scale of at least 2 points and a risk of bleeding on the HAS-BLED scale of at least 3 points. The control group consisted of 17 relatively healthy individuals. Research results The analysis of indicators of extended neuropsychological testing made it possible to establish that, compared with healthy individuals of the same age, patients with AF perform worse on tests of neurodynamics, attention and short-term memory, Table. Patients with AF have a lower rate of complex sensorimotor reactions, a greater number of errors, especially in tests with biofeedback (brain performance test). Also, patients with AF have worse performance indicators and higher focused attention depletion (characterized by the number of characters processed in the 1st and 4th minutes of the proofreading test, respectively). As for the indicators of short-term memory, healthy subjects were superior to patients with AF in memorizing meaningless syllables and words, but not numbers. The power indicators of the theta EEG rhythms at rest with eyes closed were taken. The factors were identified - GROUP (2 levels: patients with AF; healthy individuals), AREA (5 levels: (frontal, central, temporal, parietal, occipital) and LATERALITY (2 levels: left, right hemisphere). In patients with cardiac arrhythmias, the increase in the power of the theta-2 rhythm biopotentials in the direction from the anterior to the posterior cortex is significantly pronounced (p = 0.000001), while in healthy individuals the gradient curve is flatter (p = 0.009). Conclusions It was found that about half of the examined AF patients have syndrome mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The most significant cognitive decline in these patients compared with relatively healthy individuals was noted for the speed of sensorimotor response, performance control indicators, and short-term memory, while decreased cognitive test scores were associated with a greater representation of slow waves in the resting EEG, mainly in the posterior regions of the cerebral cortex.

Chronic pain in osteoarthritis of the hip is associated with selective cognitive impairment

IntroductionChronic pain of various origin is known to be associated with selective cognitive impairment. Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is one of the leading causes of chronic pain in the adult population, but its association with cognitive performance has not been evaluated. Here, we investigate the effect of chronic pain due to unilateral OA of one hip and no further source of chronic pain on cognitive performance.Materials and methodsA neuropsychological test battery, consisting of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Rey–Osterrieth complex figure test, Rivermead behavioural memory test, d2 test of attention, and F-A-S test was applied in 148 patients and 82 healthy pain-free control individuals. The influence of potentially confounding factors such as depression and anxiety was examined.ResultsPatients with OA of the hip showed decreased performance in specific neuropsychological tests. Performance in verbal and visual short-term and long-term memory and selective attention tests was significantly poorer compared to healthy controls. Whereas the executive functions “updating”, “set shifting”, “response inhibition” and “reflection” appear intact, “problem solving” and “planning” were impaired. None of the confounders showed any influence on cognitive performance in both study groups.ConclusionWe conclude that chronic pain secondary to end-stage hip OA is associated with selective cognitive impairment. Future studies are required to investigate the effect of total hip arthroplasty on cognitive performance.

Influence of short-term didactic programs in virtual reality on the connection between figurative and conceptual thinking and memory

Introduction. World trends in the dissemination and accessibility of information are especially relevant in the field of education. To this end, the use of virtual reality technologies in education is recognized as an important, promising and complex problem that requires not only widespread implementation, but also the study of the possibilities and influence of the new environment on the cognitive, mental, personal development of the younger generations. The results of one such research are presented in this article. Materials and research methods. To study the influence of short-term training programs in virtual reality on the connection of figurative and conceptual thinking and memory in biology lessons on the topic "Protein Synthesis" with 11th grade students, a training program of the same name was used using various technical training aids in the experimental and control groups. Before and after these lessons (a formative experiment), the following were carried out: a laboratory experiment (one-factor intersubjective plan), testing to measure the amount of short-term memory (test "Studying the processes of reproduction by the method of retained members of the series") and a microsemantic analysis of the content of thinking (according to A.V. Brushlinsky). The results of the research demonstrated an improvement in memory performance based on correctly reproduced elements (according to Student's criterion) with a high density of 3.2 and in the reproduction of sequences of 3.3. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney test revealed significant differences in the results of the experimental and control samples (U1emp 122 and U2emp = 116 less than Ucr). In the process of microsemantic analysis, it was found that the probability of the emergence of VR of the formal-logical composition of thinking and the level of operational schemes is more effective than after a historical lesson. Conclusion. Training in virtual reality on complex biological topics is more effective for the development of conceptual thinking in young men compared to a regular lesson using non-immersive multimedia tools. The use of VR-programs in teaching on complex educational topics in the natural sciences and mathematics contributes to positive changes in the cognitive processes of students.

Analysis of the Relationship among Cognitive Impairment, Nutritional Indexes and the Clinical Course among COVID-19 Patients Discharged from Hospital-Preliminary Report.

Numerous data indicate the presence of cognitive impairment in people who have undergone COVID-19, often called COVID Fog (CF). This phenomenon persists even 6 months after infection, and its etiology and pathogenesis are not fully known. The aim of this article was to analyze the relationship among cognitive functioning, clinical data and nutrition indexes in patients discharged from the COVID-19 hospital of the Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland. The sample comprised 17 individuals—10 women and 7 men, with ages of 65 ± 14 years. Cognitive impairment was measured with the use of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The nutrition parameters included: hemoglobin, red blood cells, total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, urea, creatinine, phosphates, calcium and sodium. The analysis showed that albumin concentration significantly correlated with the total MoCA score and especially with the short-term memory test score. Conversely, total cholesterol, and especially LDL concentrations, were highly and negatively associated with the MoCA score. In conclusion: markers of nutritional status are correlated with the severity of CF. Individuals with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition should be screened for CF. Further studies need to be performed in this area.