Short-term Memory Test Research Articles

Paternal preconception donepezil exposure enhances learning in offspring

BackgroundRecent research has indicated that parental use of central nervous system-targeting medications during periconceptional periods may affect offspring across various developmental and behavioral domains. The present study sought to investigate the potential influence of paternal use of donepezil, a specific reversible central acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that activates the cholinergic system to promote cognition, on offspring.ResultsIn this study, male rats were bred after 21 days of oral donepezil administration at a dose of 4 mg/kg to generate F1 offspring. Both male and female F₁ offspring displayed enhanced performance in learning and short-term memory tests, including novel object recognition, Y maze, and operant learning. Transcriptomic analysis revealed notable alterations in genes associated with the extracellular matrix in the hippocampal tissue of the F1 generation. Integration with genes related to intelligence identified potential core genes that may be involved in the observed behavioral enhancements.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that prolonged paternal exposure to donepezil may enhance the learning and memory abilities of offspring, possibly by targeting nonneural, extracellular regions. Further research is required to fully elucidate any potential transgenerational effects.

Detecting malingered neurocognitive dysfunction: Comparative analysis of freestanding and embedded performance validity tests

Detecting malingered neurocognitive dysfunction is a major issue in forensic context, particularly in legal proceeding/insurance assessment after a traumatic brain injury (TBI), condition frequently associated with persistent cognitive impairments that may potentially be related to malingering. Consequently, research has devoted considerable efforts on developing tools to verify symptoms authenticity. This study compared two freestanding performance validity tests (PVTs) (Amsterdam Short-Term Memory Test—ASTM; Word Completion Memory Test—WCMT) and five embedded PVTs (Rey Complex Figure Test—RCFT—Copy and Recall trials; Reliable Digit Span—RDS; Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test—RAVLT—Recognition and Total Learning trials) in a sample of 120 participants, including 15 patients with TBI (Mage = 44.40), 52 experimental simulators (Mage = 29.52) and 53 control (Mage = 29.77). Group performance was analyzed to assess tests’ discriminatory power, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used to examine tools’ sensitivity and specificity. Results indicated that experimental simulators performance on the ASTM, WCMT, and RAVLT differed significantly from TBI patients and controls. The RDS and RCFT did not discriminate experimental simulators from TBI group. ROC curves analysis reveals that the most accurate tests in this battery for detecting malingering were the ASTM and the RAVLT-Total Learning score. This study offers implications for identifying malingering in medico-legal settings, underscoring the importance of incorporating PVTs into clinical practice.

Influence of Stress Factors on the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children: Risk Factors

In the current conditions of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, Ukrainian children might develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to stress factors caused by the conflict between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatist forces, along with the Russian military. In particular, the relationship between reduced emotional intelligence and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder in children has become more relevant. This study aimed to assess structural and cognitive changes in children with PTSD and their relationship to depression, anxiety, and event segmentation. The study methods included clinical interviews (CAPS-CA-5 scale), neuropsychological tests (short-term and long-term memory tests), self-assessment questionnaires (standardised CDI, RCADS and SCAS-Child scales), and a single-shotMRI. The results showed that patients with post-traumatic stress disorder had reduced hippocampal volume (p=0.018) and the volume of cingulate cortex isthmus (p=0.026). Diffusion in the cerebellum-hippocampal tract was reduced (p=0.014). The level of depression was positively correlated with hippocampal volume (r=0.32, p=0.021) and anxiety with the volume of cingulate cortex isthmus (r=0.26, p=0.048). These results emphasise the importance of the relationship between structural changes and levels of depression and anxiety in patients with PTSD. Prospects for further research are based on the study of the long-term effects of psychotherapeutic interventions aimed at improving cognitive function in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.

The role of executive functions in long-term memory: case report

The role of executive functions in long-term memory has been studied. We describe a single-case study, consisting of a 45-year-old male patient, hospitalized for right frontal stroke. After the stroke, the patient had memory alterations in everyday activities. However, performance in short-term memory tests was not significantly altered. Long-term memory assessments included pre- and post-stroke episodic, semantic, and procedural memories. Specific skills involved in the acquisition of new learning (auditory-verbal and visual reproduction) were also evaluated, as well as executive functions. The results evidence that short-term memory was not affected. Regarding long-term memory, significant differences were observed between pre- and post-stroke knowledge, the former being better preserved, which reveals anterograde amnesia. Pre-stroke long-term memory was also affected, but only with respect to episodic knowledge, with semantic and procedural memories preserved (episodic retrograde amnesia). Executive functions were altered as well, which could have been a factor affecting the acquisition and consolidation of new learning, despite the fact that short-term memory was not significantly altered. Therefore, executive functions might be a determinant factor in the acquisition of new learning, regardless of short-term memory processes, at least partially. According to the results of the present study, alterations in these functions might lead to anterograde amnesia. This entails the need to evaluate executive functions as an intrinsic part of memory evaluation.

DigiSpan: Development and Evaluation of a Computer-Based, Adaptive Test of Short-Term Memory and Working Memory.

This article describes DigiSpan, a new computer-controlled auditory test of forward and reverse digit span, designed to be administered by clinicians, and presents normative and test-retest reliability data for adults. DigiSpan mimics conventional live-voice tests in that it commences with trials that ascend in length until a stopping criterion is met, giving rise to a conventional scaled score. It then administers five additional adaptive trials, the length of which depends on the correctness of the response to the previous trial. Each of these two segments of the measurement gives rise to a scaled score. The ascending and adaptive scores are averaged to give an overall score and subtracted to produce an internal measure of consistency, and hence reliability. Young adults with an Mage of 25 years (N = 163) were tested, of whom 65 were retested on a separate day. The scaled scores from the conventional ascending trials were highly consistent with existing normative data based on live-voice tests. Combination of the conventional scaled score with a scaled score based on the adaptive trials led to 44% reduction in error variance for forward memory span and 20% reduction for reverse memory span. The average of these (32%) is similar to but (insignificantly) less than the 42% reduction in error variance that can be predicted based on adding the five adaptive trials. Replacing live-voice production of digits by a clinician with recorded, computer-controlled production has not affected the difficulty of the test. Adding five additional trials around the sequence length that a test participant can just remember has produced a decrease in measurement error. In addition, the availability of separate scaled scores for the ascending and adaptive phases enables the reliability of the combined score to be checked, for both forward and reverse measurements. The combination of standardized delivery, increased accuracy, internal reliability check, and fast automated scoring makes the test highly suitable for clinical use.

Effect of amisulpride on the expression of serotonin receptors, neurotrophic factor BDNF and its receptors in mice with overexpression of the aggregation-prone [R406W] mutant tau protein.

Serotonin 5-HT7 receptors (5-HT7R) are attracting increasing attention as important participants in the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and as a possible target for the treatment of various tau pathologies. In this study, we investigated the effects of amisulpride (5-HT7R inverse agonist) in C57BL/6J mice with experimentally induced expression of the gene encoding the aggregation-prone human Tau[R406W] protein in the prefrontal cortex. In these animals we examined short-term memory and the expression of genes involved in the development of tauopathy (Htr7 and Cdk5), as well as biomarkers of neurodegenerative processes - the Bdnf gene and its receptors TrkB (the Ntrk2 gene) and p75NTR (the Ngfr gene). In a short-term memory test, there was no difference in the discrimination index between mice treated with AAV-Tau[R406W] and mice treated with AAV-EGFP. Amisulpride did not affect this parameter. Administration of AAV-Tau[R406W] resulted in increased expression of the Htr7, Htr1a, and Cdk5 genes in the prefrontal cortex compared to AAV-EGFP animals. At the same time, amisulpride at the dose of 10 mg/kg in animals from the AAV-Tau[R406W] group caused a decrease in the Htr7, Htr1a genes mRNA levels compared to animals from the AAV-Tau[R406W] group treated with saline. A decrease in the expression of the Bdnf and Ntrk2 genes in the prefrontal cortex was revealed after administration of AAV-Tau[R406W]. Moreover, amisulpride at various doses (3 and 10 mg/kg) caused the same decrease in the transcription of these genes in mice without tauopathy. It is also interesting that in mice of the AAV-EGFP group, administration of amisulpride at the dose of 10 mg/kg increased the Ngfr gene mRNA level. The data obtained allow us to propose the use of amisulpride in restoring normal tau protein function. However, it should be noted that prolonged administration may result in adverse effects such as an increase in Ngfr expression and a decrease in Bdnf and Ntrk2 expression, which is probably indicative of an increase in neurodegenerative processes.

Short-term memory and knowledge of L1 and L2 by Roma children of Cyprus

The study of short-term memory and language learning conducted with primary school Roma children in Cyprus aimed to determine how children who grow up in economically disadvantaged families learn their mother tongue (L1) Turkish and their second language (L2) Cypriot Greek. Two groups of children (20 children aged 8 and 20 children aged 10), a total of 40, were tested with the Picture short-term memory test, the Peabody vocabulary test, the sentence repetition test and the number repetition test. The study seeks to answer the research question: "How does the short-term memory test help Roma children to perform the tests in their L1 and L2?" The research findings were statistically analysed with SPSS and ANOVA and showed correlations between the independent factors of age group, gender, and testing language. The result showed that the children performed the tests much better in their mother tongue (L1). They need help learning some of the grammatical categories from the Greek language. The Processability Theory of Pienemann (1998) is examined. According to this theory, the production of linguistic structures is possible without any conscious or non-conscious attention because the locus of the attentive process is short-term memory. For the children to attain the necessary academic level of Greek, the teachers working with Roma children should receive training to develop children's bilingualism when instructing children growing up in a multilingual environment such as Cypriot society. Disclosure Statement The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest. * Corresponding author: Hristo Kyuchukov, 0000-0002-1965-8908hristo.kyuchukov@us.edu.pl

QOL-26. SYTHESIS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY

Abstract BACKGROUND Physical Activity plays a vital role in physical, social, phychological wellbeing of pediatric neuro-oncologic group. However, the researches investigating the effects of physical activity on this group have been sparse. The purpose of this study was to identify studies conducted about the effects of physical activity on this population. METHODS PRISMA statement conduct review was followed in electronic database of Journal of Neuro-oncology. Two authors (SY, MT) independently conducted systematic literature searches February 2024. Keywords/Mesh terms: “physical activity’’. Randomized controlled English clinical trials are included; Studies that were published as “review”, “protocol”, “books”, “news”, not reach full text and not related to physical activity excluded. After articles had been reached, used QUADAS-2 checklist for methodological quality. RESULTS 29 articles were identified from 1721 articles, and 2 of them (published 2014-2023) were about pediatric age group. One of them was assessment (50%), while the other one was interventional study (50%). Assessment study was measured by using Bruininks-Osteretsky Test of Motor Performance, Second Edition (BOT-2) and online surveys. Interventional study analyzed the effects of aerobic exercises of three 90-minute sessions per week for 12 consecutive weeks primarily on cortical thickness, white matter, hippocampal volume and secondarily reaction time, accuracy across tests of attention, processing speed, and short term memory. CONCLUSION This abstract provides an initial scoping review of physical activity in pediatric neuro-oncology group. It demonstrates limited range of assessments, and interventions which highlights the lack of clinical evidence in this specific area. The results raise the need for further research in this field to help the development of physical activity guidelines for evaluation and physical activity methods in children with ataxia, and tumours expecially posterior fossa brain tumors. Investigation of different physical activity methods in a group of neuro-oncology children in need of support is major importance.

Behavior, long-term stress and relationship to owner in relinquished dogs

Dog ownership gained popularity during the pandemic. However, there was also a corresponding increase in the number of dogs being relinquished and rehomed. The rehoming procedure is known to be stressful to the dog, but the short- and long-term effects still need to be better understood. This study aimed to enhance our understanding of the short- and long-term challenges dogs encounter during the rehoming process by combining behavioral and physiological measures. The study included 20 relinquished dogs from a Swedish shelter and 30 rehomed dogs, comparing them to 33 control dogs that have been with their owner since leaving the breeder as puppies. All participants performed an unsolvable problem task, eye-contact test, and memory test and hair samples were obtained to analyze cortisol concentrations. Furthermore, dog owners (of rehomed and control dogs) completed a questionnaire assessing their perceived human-dog relationship. These owner-dog dyads also participated in a behavioral synchronization test. The result indicated that shelter dogs had the shortest eye-contact duration in both an eye-contact test and an unsolvable problem task, but there was no difference between the three groups in the short-term memory test or in stress-related behaviors. Analysis of hair cortisol concentrations in the dogs revealed that the shelter dogs had higher long-term stress levels than rehomed dogs, but they did not differ significantly from control dogs. Both rehomed and control dogs synchronized their behavior with their owner, but, interestingly, the owners of rehomed dogs reported a higher emotional closeness to their dogs than owners of control dogs. Consequently, despite the observed short-term effects during the rehoming procedure, this study suggests that rehomed dogs can adapt to their new life and develop a strong relationship with their owner.

Validity of the Groningen Effort Test in patients with suspected chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy.

The use of performance validity tests (PVTs) in a neuropsychological assessment to determine indications of invalid performance has been a common practice for over a decade. Most PVTs are memory-based; therefore, the Groningen Effort Test (GET), a non-memory-based PVT, has been developed. This study aimed to validate the GET in patients with suspected chronic solvent-induced encephalopathy (CSE) using the criterion standard of 2PVTs. A second goal was to determine diagnostic accuracy for GET. Sixty patients with suspected CSE referred for NPA were included. The GET was compared to the criterion standard of 2PVTs based on the Test of Memory Malingering and the Amsterdam Short Term Memory Test. The frequency of invalid performance using the GET was significantly higher compared to the criterion of 2PVTs (51.7% vs. 20.0% respectively; p < 0.001). For the GET index, the sensitivity was 75% and the specificity was 54%, with a Youden's Index of 27. The GET showed significantly more invalid performance compared to the 2PVTs criterion suggesting a high number of false positives. The general accepted minimum norm of specificity for PVTs of >90% was not met. Therefore, the GET is of limited use in clinical practice with suspected CSE patients.

IJCM_164A: Association between Sleep Quality and Short-Term memory among medical students in mangalore

Background: Sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining cognitive functions, including memory, which is essential for academic performance. However, there is limited research exploring the relationship between sleep quality and short-term memory among medical students. Methodology: Fourth-semester MBBS students from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, were selected using non- random convenience sampling. A total of 195 students participated, completing a standardized sleep quality assessment (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) and a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire-based short-term memory test. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16, with correlation tested using Karl Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation Test. Results: The majority (56.4%) of participants exhibited good sleep quality, with 69.1% of these achieving high scores in short-term memory assessment tasks. A negative correlation (r = -0.450, p &lt; 0.001) was found between sleep quality and short-term memory scores. Students with good sleep quality were more likely to have higher short-term memory scores compared to those with poor sleep quality. Conclusion: The study suggests that good sleep quality is associated with better short-term memory performance among medical students. These findings underscore the importance of promoting good sleep habits to enhance cognitive function and academic performance in medical education.

Harnessing Placebo Effects for the Treatment of Functional Cognitive Disorder: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Limited research has directly investigated whether and how placebo effects can be harnessed for the treatment of functional neurological disorder (FND), despite a long-standing and controversial history of interest in this area. A small exploratory study was conducted with adults with a cognitive subtype of FND recruited from a single cognitive neurology center in the United States. Participants were given the expectation of receiving cranial stimulation that could benefit their memory symptoms; however, the intervention was sham transcranial magnetic stimulation (placebo). Outcomes included measures of short-term memory testing, subjective memory rating, and state anxiety before and after stimulation. After the study, the true objective and rationale for investigating placebo effects were explained in a scripted debriefing session. Acceptability of the study design and qualitative feedback were collected. Institutional ethics approval and signed consent were obtained. Three patients (female, N=2; male, N=1; average age=57 years) were recruited. Outcome data were analyzed descriptively at the patient level. Trends of improvement in subjective memory rating, but not objective cognitive test scores, and decreases in state anxiety were observed. After the debriefing session, all patients found the study design to be acceptable (ratings of 70%, 90%, and 100%), and two of the three patients believed that withholding mechanistic information about the intervention was needed to leverage placebo effects as treatment. In the first study to prospectively investigate the feasibility of harnessing placebo effects for the treatment of FND, promising preliminary findings were obtained, and methods and resources for use in larger future studies are offered.

Influence of the operating regime of the magnonic active ring oscillator on the performance of the magnonic reservoir computer based on it

A magnonic active ring oscillator based on an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is a promising hardware platform for physical reservoir computing. It meets the required conditions for the availability of fading memory and nonlinearity. However, its performance still needs further improvement. Two methods can be employed to improve the performance. One is increasing the time of establishing steady self-oscillations in the auto-oscillator. The second one is increasing the amplitude of spin waves propagating in the YIG film. In this work, we achieve an increase of the amplitude of the reservoir response by broadening the available range for the ring gain coefficient. We use a metallized YIG film as a waveguide in which spin waves propagate. This shifts up the amplitude threshold for the development of spin wave modulation instability in the ring. The threshold defines the upper limit of the gain range for the ring. Binary pulse sequence is entered into the ring by switching its gain between upper and lower levels. The modulation instability threshold then sets the upper limit for the higher gain level. In addition, in this work, we set the lower level of the gain to negative values. This is one more improvement with respect to earlier works. Switching the gain between a negative and a positive value increases the amplitude of the reservoir response and the depth of its fading memory. We employ the standard short-term memory and parity-check tests to quantify the performance of the reservoir computer. Both tests demonstrate an increase in the computational efficiency of the magnonic reservoir.

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ПСИХИЧЕСКОЙ РАБОТОСПОСОБНОСТИ И ГРУППОВОЙ ДИНАМИКИ В АВТОНОМНЫХ УСЛОВИЯХ ЗИМОВКИ НА СТАНЦИИ «ВОСТОК»

The paper deals with the investigation of psychic performance and group dynamics during Russian Antarctic expedition RAE66. Eight winterers were tested 7 times with the use of the cognitive Master-Test. Group dynamics was assessed by sociometry and cohesion diagnostics on the basis of common goals and values. Psychophysiological status was assessed weekly using the actigraphy and HR data, and questionnaires. At the end of the polar day and in early autumn, it was the mood that went down first (autumn and winter), then accuracy of sensorimotor reactions degraded (winter) and mistakes in a simple math test became more frequent (winter and spring). On the contrary, performance of short-term memory tests improved in winter and spring. Motor activity reduced during the first half of the expedition and started increasing gradually at the beginning of the polar night. Though the sleeping time was normally from 7 to 8.5 hours, sleep quality subjectively changed during the wintering it correlated with physical activity and consequent changes of heart rate variability (stress) and blood oxygen saturation. The latter remained low throughout the period of life on station Vostok in comparison to measurements made on the ship. Cohesion was high but for some slackening by the third quarter of wintering; at the end of wintering cohesion grew strong again. The sociometric status of winterers varied with intensity of negative emotions.

Cannabidiol improves memory and decreases IL-1β serum levels in rats with lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation.

Memory improving and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol (CBD) were investigated in an experimental model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation.

Long-term effects of vagus nerve stimulation therapy on cognitive functioning in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Despite the increasing use of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for drug-resistant epilepsy, its impact on cognitive functioning remains insufficiently investigated. We aimed to comprehensively assess changes in cognition after long-term VNS therapy in a prospective sample of adults with epilepsy. Between December 2019 and March 2023, patients scheduled for VNS implantation were invited for neuropsychological assessment, including tests of executive functions, working and short-term memory (recall of a verbal logical story and the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF)), and social cognition. Participants were re-evaluated after a year of VNS therapy and the pre- and postoperative scores were compared by means of the Student's t or Wilcoxon's signed rank tests for paired samples. Patients available only after a longer follow-up (more than 24 months) were also re-examined and included in a secondary analysis. The study included 28 PWE (16, 57.1% female, average age 33.7 ± 10.0 years). Twenty-two PWE followed-up at 14.5 ± 4.8 months had worse categorical verbal fluency than preoperatively (t = 2.613, p = 0.016). After including patients with long follow-up (n = 28, 21.6 ± 11.4 months), the group scored better on the delayed recall of the ROCF (17.09 ± 8.84 to 20.65 ± 8.32 points, t(22) = - 2.618, p = 0.016) and the Happé strange stories test (5.0 ± 2.6 to 6.1 ± 2.1 points, t(14) = - 3.281, p = 0.005). No significant changes were observed in other cognitive domains (p > 0.05). We suggest improvements in a task of social cognition and short-term visual memory after longer use of VNS therapy. Such findings should be confirmed in larger trials after controlling for changes in ictal or interictal activity.

Atorvastatin mitigates memory deficits and brain monocyte infiltration in chronic hypercholesterolemia.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a common symptom observed in people over 60 years old and is found to be aggravated by hypercholesterolemia. Severe neuroinflammation induced by BBB dysfunction and monocyte infiltration might be responsible for neuron damage and cognitive impairment. Atorvastatin is a lipid-lowering drug that is widely applied for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the potential function of Atorvastatin in hypercholesterolemia-induced MCI remains uncertain. Our research will explore the potential therapeutic function of Atorvastatin in memory deficits induced by chronic hypercholesterolemia. ApoE-/- mice were utilized to mimic the state of chronic hypercholesterolemia and were divided into four groups. Animals in the WT and ApoE-/-groups were orally administered with normal saline, while WT mice in the Atorvastatin group and ApoE-/- mice in the ApoE-/-+ Atorvastatin group were orally administered with 10 mg/kg/day Atorvastatin. Markedly increased plasma cholesterol levels reduced RI in the long-term memory test and the spatial short-term memory test, declined mobility in the open field test, and downregulated PSD-95 and BDNF were observed in ApoE-/- mice, all of which were signally reversed by Atorvastatin. Moreover, the percentages of brain Ly6Chi CD45+ cells and CD3+ CD45+ cells, as well as the blood Ly6Chi CD45+ cells, plasma IL-12/IL-23 levels and IL-17 level were found notably increased in ApoE-/- mice, all of which were largely repressed by Atorvastatin. Lastly, the increased BBB permeability, decreased ZO-1 and occludin levels, and reduced KLF2 level were markedly abolished by Atorvastatin. Collectively, Atorvastatin mitigated memory deficits and brain monocyte infiltration in ApoE-/- mice.

Flaxseed Oil (Linum usitatissimum) Prevents Cognitive and Motor Damage in Rats with Hyperammonemia.

Hyperammonemia is characterized by the excessive accumulation of ammonia in the body as a result of the loss of liver detoxification, leading to the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). These metabolic alterations carry cognitive and motor deficits and cause neuronal damage, with no effective treatment at present. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of two subacute oral administrations of flaxseed oil (0.26 and 0.52 mL/kg) on short- and long-term memory, visuospatial memory, locomotor activity, motor coordination, and the neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) via tests on Wistar rats with hyperammonemia. The goal was to identify its role in the regulation of cerebral edema, without liver damage causing cerebral failure. In contrast with an ammonium-rich diet, flaxseed oil and normal foods did not cause cognitive impairment or motor alterations, as evidenced in the short-term and visuospatial memory tests. Furthermore, the flaxseed oil treatment maintained a regular neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex, which represents a neuroprotective effect. We conclude that the oral administration of flaxseed oil prevents cognitive and motor impairments as well as neuronal alterations in rats with hyperammonemia, which supports the potential use of this oil to ameliorate the changes that occur in hepatic encephalopathy.

SAT406 Evaluation Of The Emotional And Cognitive Effects Of Hormone Therapy In Transgender Men And Women

Abstract Disclosure: I. Yaish: None. G. Keltch: None. Y. Greenman: None. K.M. Tordjman: None. Background:- Sex hormones have far-reaching effects on the brain, both emotionally and cognitively. - Varying levels of sex hormones are associated with altered emotional states and cognitive abilities. -No longitudinal study has assessed the impact of cross-sex hormone on these issues in young transgender people. Aim:•To prospectively evaluate the effect of gender-affirming hormonal therapy (GAHT) on cognition and emotional state in transgender men and women initiating therapy Subjects and Methods:- Transgender men (TM) aged 24.6±7.8 y (18-37), and 11 transgender women (TW) 27.3±9.4 (19-46).- Mood questionnaires (PHQ9 and GAD-7), and cognitive tests (short-term logical memory test, sub-tests of knowledge, forward and backward digit recall, number-coding and random learning from WAIS-III, a verbal fluency test and CTMT test) were administered prior to GAHT, and 3-6 months into treatment. - Scores were calculated for emotional stress, memory, attention, and executive functions. - Wilcoxon tests for paired samples assessed the impact of GAHT on these variables. Results - In TM, GAHT significantly improved executive functions but had no effect on memory, attention, and emotional stress. - In TW, GAHT significantly improved memory but had no effect on attention, executive functions, and emotional stress. - Despite a trend for improved emotional stress with GAHT in both groups, over this short study period, this was not significant. Conclusions:- - In keeping with the literature, this short preliminary study showed that estrogen contributes to memory, and testosterone to executive functions.-- This is the first time this has been shown in transgender individuals. -The lack of effect on emotional stress is probably due to the small sample size and short duration, larger studies should elucidate this point. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

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.