Tower Of Hanoi Task Research Articles

Acute Effect of Simultaneous Exercise and Cognitive Tasks on Cognitive Functions in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

The increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline, alongside the aging global population, underscores the urgent need for innovative and effective preventative strategies. While the advantages of combining physical and cognitive exercises have been recognized as a promising approach to address these socioeconomic challenges, the acute effects of such interventions on cognitive functions remain understudied. This study aimed to investigate whether simultaneous physical and cognitive exercise has a greater beneficial impact on the cognitive functions of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than physical exercise alone or reading activities. A total of 44 MCI patients (75% females aged between 65 and 75 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: aerobic exercise alone (EG group, n = 15), aerobic combined with cognitive exercises (CEG group, n = 15), or a reading task for controls (CG group, n = 14). Attention, memory, and problem solving were assessed before and after the acute intervention using the Tower of Hanoi, Digit Span, and Stroop tasks, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that both of the experimental interventions appeared to enhance cognitive function scores (p < 0.05), except for the number of moves in the Tower of Hanoi task, where no improvement was noted. In contrast, no significant differences in any cognitive performance measures were observed following the reading session. Notably, the CEG group exhibited a more pronounced positive impact, especially on working memory. This advantage was specifically evident in the digit span tasks, where significantly greater percentage gains were found in the CEG than in the CG (p = 0.02), while no significant difference existed between the EG and CG. Simultaneous combined exercise has proven to be a more effective method than aerobic physical exercise alone for improving cognitive function. The results of this study are recommended for inclusion in clinical practice guidelines to maintain the mental health of older adults, as simultaneous exercise seems to offer a time-efficient strategy to enhance cognitive performance in adults with MCI.

The Relationship between Executive Functions and Metacognition in College Students.

This study investigated the relationship between executive functions and metacognition. Both constructs have been well-studied, but little research has focused on their connections. The goal of the current investigation was to increase the understanding of the relationship between metacognition and executive functions by assessing the relationships between metacognitive monitoring accuracy and the three component executive functions (updating, inhibition, and shifting) among college students. Metacognitive monitoring accuracy was measured using a knowledge monitoring accuracy (KMA) test. The three components of executive functions, updating, inhibition, and shifting were measured, respectively, using the ABCD updating task, the Stroop color-word interference test, and the letter-number task. The Tower of Hanoi task was used to measure the complex executive functions (inhibition and updating). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships. The results indicate that updating is the only component executive function that significantly correlated with metacognitive monitoring, suggesting that metacognition-specifically, metacognitive monitoring-is associated with at least one component of executive functioning.

Antipsychotics-induced improvement of cool executive function in individuals living with schizophrenia.

Cool executive dysfunction is a crucial feature in people living with schizophrenia which is related to cognition impairment and the severity of the clinical symptoms. Based on electroencephalogram (EEG), our current study explored the change of brain network under the cool executive tasks in individuals living with schizophrenia before and after atypical antipsychotic treatment (before_TR vs. after_TR). 21 patients with schizophrenia and 24 healthy controls completed the cool executive tasks, involving the Tower of Hanoi Task (THT) and Trail-Marking Test A-B (TMT A-B). The results of this study uncovered that the reaction time of the after_TR group was much shorter than that of the before_TR group in the TMT-A and TMT-B. And the after_TR group showed fewer error numbers in the TMT-B than those of the before_TR group. Concerning the functional network, stronger DMN-like linkages were found in the before_TR group compared to the control group. Finally, we adopted a multiple linear regression model based on the change network properties to predict the patient's PANSS change ratio. Together, the findings deepened our understanding of cool executive function in individuals living with schizophrenia and might provide physiological information to reliably predict the clinical efficacy of schizophrenia after atypical antipsychotic treatment.

Deficits in psychological resilience and problem-solving ability in adolescents with suicidal ideation

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore differences between psychological resilience and problem-solving ability in grade one junior middle school adolescents with and without suicidal ideation, focusing on the relationship between these factors and suicidal ideation.MethodsNinety-nine adolescents (aged 10 to 14) were divided into Suicidal Ideation (SI, n = 49) and Non-Suicidal Ideation (NSI, n = 50) grouped by the Self-rating Idea of Suicide Scale (SIOSS). The Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS) and Tower of Hanoi task (TOH) were applied to assess psychological resilience and problem-solving ability, respectively.ResultsThe SI group scored significantly lower than the NSI group on PRS (p < 0.001) and performed more poorly on TOH than the NSI group, with more mistakes in the number of errors index (p < 0.001) and requiring a longer time in the task completion time index (p < 0.05). Among all the participants in this study, a significant negative correlation was observed between PRS and SIOSS (r = − 0.413, p < 0.01). The sub-dimensions of PRS including emotional control, family support, and interpersonal assistance were significantly negatively correlated with the SIOSS total score (r = − 0.361, − 0.360, − 0.382; p < 0.01).ConclusionsThis study profiled the characteristics and differences in psychological resilience and problem-solving ability between adolescents with and without suicidal ideation. The data suggested adolescents with SI might have deficits in psychological resilience and problem-solving ability, which may serve as potential targets for suicide intervention.

Get cognitively fatigued and be more confident! The effect of working memory capacity and cognitive load on meta-reasoning

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of cognitive limitations on intermediate judgments of confidence as one of the meta-reasoning components. This experimental study was conducted with 384 participants who were randomly assigned to two groups with different cognitive loads. The main task at the target level was the Tower of Hanoi, where the participants reported the level of their intermediate judgment of confidence every 45 seconds via a computerized questionnaire that popped up during the problem-solving process. The visual-spatial working memory capacity of individuals was measured with a forward and backward computerized Corsi block-tapping task. The participants in the high cognitive load group performed the dot matrix task before the Tower of Hanoi task. Two-way ANOVA found a link between the additional cognitive load before the main task and the participant's intermediate judgment of confidence during the problem-solving process. Visual-spatial working memory, on the other hand, did not have a significant effect on intermediate judgments of confidence, either alone or in conjunction with additional cognitive load.

Potential Role of Physical Activity Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Study Protocol

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) commonly have difficulties with executive function abilities and motor skills that might complicate their learning. Literatures have shown on the possible role of physical activity to intervene the effects on the executive functions and motor skills. The present study is proposed to examine the executive functions (EF) and motor skills (MS) of children with ASD, and the possible role of physical activity intervention to affect the EF and MS of children with ASD. The relevant domains of EF which include working memory, planning, inhibition and cognitive flexibility will be examined and compared between children with ASD who receive the physical activity intervention and those who do not. In addition, differences in gross motor skills will be compared between children with ASD who receive the physical activity intervention and those who do not. The data will be collected from children with ASD from the Department of Special Education under Ministry of Education Malaysia and Special Needs NGO centres in Selangor and Klang Valley, Malaysia (N=60). The children with the age range of 6-10 years old, bilingual in English and Malay and able to participate in physical activity or physical education class age range 6-10 years old will be targeted. All participants will be randomly and equally assigned into an experimental and a control group. The pre-intervention scores of executive functions will be obtained for both groups based on the Colour-Word Interference Test, Tower of Hanoi task and Number-Letter Sequencing Test. The scores of gross motor skills will be obtained from the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2). Then, the children in the experimental group will receive the physical activity intervention which is 15-20 minutes of jogging that will be conducted twice a week for a 12 weeks period. Meanwhile, the children in the control group will be shown an exercise-related video for the same duration. After 12 weeks, the post-intervention scores for the executive functions and motor skills will be recorded again for both groups. Statistical analyses testing the effect of physical activity on EF will be conducted separately by using a 2 (Group: experimental vs control) x2 (time: pre-test vs post- test) mixed ANOVA and testing the effect of physical activity on MS will be conducted by using a 2 (Group: experimental vs control) x2 (time: pre-test vs post- test) mixed ANOVA as well. It is expected that children with ASD who undergo physical activity intervention will demonstrate significant increase in the executive function scores and motor skills scores compared to those who do not undergo the physical activity intervention. The study is expected to add to the current literatures on understanding the potential role of physical activity intervention for children with ASD in improving their executive function and gross motor skills and mechanisms to optimise their learning experience. &#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Executive function, motor skills, physical activity intervention, ASD, children.

Persistence on Task, Executive Functions, and the Perceived Meaning of Occupations Among Children.

Persistence on task-the voluntary continuation of a goal-directed action despite difficulties-is described as a behavioral component of involvement in an occupation; however, it has not yet been extensively studied in the context of pediatric occupational therapy. To describe persistent children, compared with their less persistent peers, in terms of age, sex, executive functions (EF), and perceived meaning of occupations and to assess whether intrapersonal factors, EF, and the perceived meaning of occupations can predict persistence. Cross-sectional. A community in Israel. Typically developing healthy children (N = 180) ages 6.0 to 12.5 yr and their parents. The Tower of Hanoi task (TOH; seven discs) was used to assess persistence on task. EF were assessed with the TOH (three discs) and the Verbal Working Memory test. Occupational meaning-challenge, value, sense of time, and autonomy-was assessed with the Perceived Meaning of Occupation Questionnaire. Twenty-six children (14%) completed the task. They were older than their peers, performed better on most of the EF tests, and perceived more autonomy in their everyday activities (Mann-Whitney U = 1,185.0, p < .001). However, only the perceived autonomy of occupations was found to be a statistically significant factor that predicted persistence on task (B = -0.12, SE = 0.05, Wald = 7.60, p = .01). Perceived autonomy in everyday activities is crucial for persistence on task. Occupational therapy practitioners can promote children's involvement and persistence in cognitive tasks by supporting a sense of autonomy in everyday activities, although further study is needed. What This Article Adds: This article highlights the contribution of perceived autonomy in everyday activities to children's involvement and persistence on task by providing empirical data on children's persistence on task with regard to their EF and perceived meaning of occupations. Children who persisted longer and completed tasks differed from their less persistent peers in terms of age and EF. However, perceived autonomy in everyday activities was the only predictor of task completion.

The regulatory properties of anger under different goal orientations: the effects of normative and outcome goals

BackgroundThe present study aimed to evaluate the self-regulatory properties of anger on the performance of individuals under various motivational dispositions using an experimental design.MethodsThe participants were 99 university students who participated in response to extra credit. The performance of the participants was evaluated using the Tower of Hanoi task. Their anger was measured using a facial expression recognition system and arousal was assessed using a heart-rate monitoring device. Two motivational dispositions were assessed: performance goals with normative evaluative standards and performance goals with a focus on outcomes.ResultsThe results indicated that a nonlinear function explained the relationship between anger, arousal, and achievement under different goal conditions. Specifically, the Cusp Catastrophe Model showed that anger levels beyond a critical point were associated with the unpredictability of performance during the normative goal condition, suggesting that anger disturbed the relationship between arousal and achievement. Interestingly, a linear model was relevant for explaining the same relationships during the outcome goal condition.ConclusionThus, this study concluded that anger plays a more salient role when coupled with the pressures arising from employing interpersonal evaluative standards.

Problem-solving deficits in methcathinone use disorder

The use of methcathinone (MCAT), a psychostimulant drug that can lead to long-term health risks and executive dysfunction, increased to an alarming rate in recent years. Impairments in low-level executive function have been reported in substance use disorder. However, little empirical evidence is available regarding high-level executive function (e.g., problem solving), which may act as a risk factor for relapse. The present study aimed to investigate whether the problem-solving ability was altered in abstinent individuals with methcathinone use disorder (MCUD). Here, we tested fifty male MCUD individuals (short-term MCUD group: twenty-nine patients with MCAT use less than 3years, long-term MCUD group: twenty-one patients with MCAT use longer than 3years, which were split by medium years of drug use) and twenty-four well-matched healthy controls (HC) in the Tower of Hanoi task (TOH) to assess the impact of task difficulty on drug-related changes in problem-solving performance. We used several measures to characterize problem-solving performance: the number of mistakes made, the completion time of the task, and the thinking time before the first move. In the low task difficulty condition, the MCUD group and HC group showed similar levels of mistakes and completion time, while in the high task difficulty condition, the MCUD group reported more mistakes (the mean number of mistakes in each trial: 1.41 ± 1.15 vs 0.79 ± 0.76, P = 0.019, Cohen's d = 0.635) and longer completion time in the task (the mean completion time in each trial: 45.83 ± 20.51s vs 33.40 ± 15.10s, P = 0.010, Cohen's d = 0.690) than the HC group. The thinking time before the first move did not differ significantly between groups (P = 0.257). We further found that the long-term (more than 3years) MCUD group made more mistakes than the short-term MCUD group and HC group, mainly in the highly difficult subtasks. The longer time than HCs was reported in the long-term MCUD group among high task difficulty of subtasks. In addition, there was a positive correlation between years of MCAT use and the number of mistakes made in high task difficulty TOH task (r = 0.326, P = 0.021). Chronic methcathinone use was associated with deficits in problem-solving performance, which depended on the degree of task difficulty. The impairment was more evident in the long-term (> 3years) MCAT group.

Hybrid neural state machine for neural network

The integration of computer-science-oriented and neuroscience-oriented approaches is believed to be a promising way for the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Recently, a hybrid Tianjic chip that integrates both approaches has been reported, providing a general platform to facilitate the research of AGI. The control algorithm for handling various neural networks is the key to this platform; however, it is still primitive. In this work, we propose a hybrid neural state machine (H-NSM) framework that can efficiently cooperate with artificial neural networks and spiking neural networks and control the workflows to accomplish complex tasks. The H-NSM receives input from different types of networks, makes decisions according to the fusing of various information, and sends control signals to the sub-network or actuator. The H-NSM can be trained to adapt to context-aware tasks or sequential tasks, thereby improving system robustness. The training algorithm works correctly even if only 50% of the forced state information is provided. It achieved performance comparable to the optimum algorithm on the Tower of Hanoi task and achieved multiple tasks control on a self-driving bicycle. After only 50 training epochs, the transfer accuracy reaches 100% in the test case. It proves that H-NSM has the potential to advance control logic for hybrid systems, paving the way for designing complex intelligent systems and facilitating the research towards AGI.

A Novel Application of Levenshtein Distance for Assessment of High-Level Motor Planning Underlying Performance During Learning of Complex Motor Sequences

Few studies have examined high-level motor plans underlying cognitive-motor performance during practice of complex action sequences. These investigations have assessed performance through fairly simple metrics without examining how practice affects the structures of action sequences. By adapting the Levenshtein distance (LD) method to the motor domain, we propose a computational approach to accurately capture performance dynamics during practice of action sequences. Practice performance dynamics were assessed by computing the LD based on the number of insertions, deletions, and substitutions of actions needed to transform any sequence into a reference sequence (having a minimal number of actions to complete the task). Also, combining LD-based performance with mental workload metrics allowed assessment of cognitive-motor efficiency dynamics. This approach was tested on the Tower of Hanoi task. The findings revealed that throughout practice this method could capture: i) action sequence performance improvements as indexed by a reduced LD (decrease of insertions and substitutions), ii) structural modifications of the high-level plans, iii) an attenuation of mental workload, and iv) enhanced cognitive-motor efficiency. This effort complements prior work examining the practice of complex action sequences in healthy adults and has potential for probing cognitive-motor impairment in clinical populations as well as the development/assessment of cognitive robotic controllers.

The effect of self-regulation empowerment program training on neurocognitive and social skills in students with dyscalculia

Aim of the studyThe current study aimed at determining the effect of self-regulation empowerment program training on neurocognitive and social skills in students with dyscalculia.Subject or material and methodsThe study was a semi-experimental with pretest/posttest design and a control group. The study sample was consisted of 26 students with dyscalculia in Guilan Province, Iran, 2018, selected by the convenience sampling method and assigned into two groups (one experimental and one control). To collect the data, Tower of Hanoi Task, Stroop Test, Dual N-Back Task, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and Social Skills Rating System were used before and after the intervention. A twelve-session self-regulation empowerment program training was implemented for the experimental group.ResultsMann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test were used for data analysis and Cohen’s d test measured effect extent. The results of analysis showed that the self-regulation empowerment program training improved neurocognitive and social skills in students with dyscalculia.DiscussionStudents with dyscalculia are faced with various physical and psychological stressful factors, which ‎leads to decreased quality of life. Considering the relationship between neurocognitive and social skills with self-regulation, one of the methods capable of assisting the rehabilitation of the students with dyscalculia is the self-regulation empowerment training.ConclusionsAccording to the findings of the research, self-regulation empowerment training can improve the neurocognitive and social skills in students with dyscalculia.

Impairment in planning tasks of children and adolescents with anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are associated with poor neuropsychological performance in attention and memory. However, little is known about the impact of these difficulties on other cognitive functions, such as planning. The ability to plan, including attention, working memory and set-shifting components, can be assessed by the Tower of Hanoi task (ToH). This study evaluated seventy-one participants, aged from 7–17 years. Thirty-seven subjects met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for at least one anxiety disorder and 34 individuals comprised the controls. The neuropsychological tests used were: the ToH, a problem-solving task, involves planning ability and other executive functions (working memory, attentional control and cognitive flexibility); for the assessment of processing speed and problem-solving, the Vocabulary/Matrix Reasoning subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence was used to measure for estimated-IQ in both groups. The groups were compared with a generalized linear model controlling for age, IQ and ADHD comorbidity. Compared with controls, anxiety disorders subjects made more errors and required more time to complete the ToH. Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders have poorer planning ability compared to subjects without anxiety disorders, and the difficulty in planning is affected by interference from other cognitive functions, such as attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility and problems-solutions.

Resolving Gender Difference in Problem Solving Based On the Analysis of Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signals

Problem solving is regarded as one of the core work-related abilities and skills, which are highly demanded by the workplace and industry. Current literature suggests that problem solving abilities might differ from one individual to another due to biological factors such as brain activationa, cognitive functions and hormones, as well as due to socio-cultural and socio-economic factors like gender roles, self-perceptions and stereotyping. Hence, this study used electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to investigate the differences in problem solving skills among the Malaysian undergraduates based on their gender differences. 29 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) served as the subjects of the experiments in this research. Specifically, 16 female and 13 male subjects engaged in two main problem-solving tasks: mental arithmetic task and Tower of Hanoi (TOH) task. The EEG data were analysed using partial directed coherence (PDC) and power spectrum estimation (PSE). Based on the results, female subjects achieved only 1% higher performance in mental arithmetic task, while male subjects achieved about 13% higher performance in TOH task. The differences in terms of the functional connectivity between brain regions, i.e. in PDC, as well as the power distribution of 6 EEG waveforms, i.e. delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma and high gamma bands are also highlighted and represented graphically in this paper.

Can neuropsychological testing facilitate differential diagnosis between at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

BackgroundPatients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have many overlapping signs and symptoms and hence can be difficult to differentiate clinically. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the differential diagnosis between ARMS and adult ADHD could be improved by neuropsychological testing. Methods168 ARMS patients, 123 adult ADHD patients and 109 healthy controls (HC) were recruited via specialized clinics of the University of Basel Psychiatric Hospital. Sustained attention and impulsivity were tested with the Continuous Performance Test, verbal learning and memory with the California Verbal Learning Test, and problem solving abilities with the Tower of Hanoi Task. Group differences in neuropsychological performance were analyzed using generalized linear models. Furthermore, to investigate whether adult ADHD and ARMS can be correctly classified based on the pattern of cognitive deficits, machine learning (i.e. random forests) was applied. ResultsCompared to HC, both patient groups showed deficits in attention and impulsivity and verbal learning and memory. However, in adult ADHD patients the deficits were comparatively larger. Accordingly, a machine learning model predicted group membership based on the individual neurocognitive performance profile with good accuracy (AUC = 0.82). ConclusionsOur results are in line with current meta-analyses reporting that impairments in the domains of attention and verbal learning are of medium effect size in adult ADHD and of small effect size in ARMS patients and suggest that measures of these domains can be exploited to improve the differential diagnosis between adult ADHD and ARMS patients.

Neuropsychological Markers for Safe Driving in Healthy Middle-Aged Drivers

Event Abstract Back to Event Neuropsychological Markers for Safe Driving in Healthy Middle-Aged Drivers Jose L. Carrion1* 1 Universidad de Sevilla, Spain Road safety is a major social concern, due to its emotional and economic impact on society. Implicit in this concern is the need to accurately assess cognitive functions associated with driving safety. Road safety studies on elderly populations drivers with neurological or psychiatric disorders and on drivers under the influence of drugs reveal that cognitive deterioration is a key factor in unsafe driving. Studies show an increased risk of impaired driving in drivers with dementia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression other neuropsychiatric disorders. ADHD drivers have difficulty controlling impulsive behavior including speeding, frustration, unsafe lane changing, and a greater likelihood of an accident following an unexpected event (Groom et al., 2015). Alcohol impairs divided attention and visual scanning, notably in peripheral vision The introduction of the point system driver’s license in several European countries could offer a valid framework for evaluating driving skills. This is the first study to use this framework to find neuropsychological markers for safe driving in healthy middle aged drivers. The integrity of a driver’s cognitive functions is a key component in driving ability (Carr, 1997; Dubinsky et al., 2000). Different cognitive skills, including executive functions, work in synchrony to design action plans and carry them out at the right moment. These skills include attention processes, working memory, processing speed, planning, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. In this study, we assessed the cognitive functional integrity of middle-aged drivers with full points, partial points or no points on their driver’s license (N=270). The purpose of this study is to find cognitive differences that could be determinants in safe driving and which help explain point loss. Neuropsychological tests were performed to assess cognitive skills. Analyses for covariance (ANCOVAS) were employed for group comparisons while adjusting for education level. The Bonferroni method was used for correcting for multiple comparisons. Overall, drivers with the full points on their license showed better scores than the other two groups. In particular, significant differences were found in reaction times on Simple and Conditioned Attention tasks (both p-values <0.001) and in number of type-III errors on the Tower of Hanoi task (p=0.026). Differences in reaction time on attention tasks could serve as neuropsychological markers for safe driving. Further analysis is conducted in order to determine the behavioral impact of impaired cognition on driving ability. Keywords: Attention, Safe driving, cognitive control, executive functions, neuroopsychological assessment Conference: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, Philadelphia, PA, United States, 27 Jun - 29 Jun, 2018. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Neuroergonomics Citation: Carrion JL (2019). Neuropsychological Markers for Safe Driving in Healthy Middle-Aged Drivers . Conference Abstract: 2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2018.227.00054 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 13 Mar 2018; Published Online: 27 Sep 2019. * Correspondence: Prof. Jose L Carrion, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain, leoncarrion@us.es Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Jose L Carrion Google Jose L Carrion Google Scholar Jose L Carrion PubMed Jose L Carrion Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

The Relations between Television Exposure and Executive Function in Chinese Preschoolers: The Moderated Role of Parental Mediation Behaviors.

The present study examined the relations between preschoolers’ television exposure and executive functions (EF). One hundred and nineteen 3- to 6-year-old children and their parents participated. Parents filled in a questionnaire regarding children’s television viewing time, television content and parental mediation behaviors about their child’s television viewing. The children were asked to finish six EF tasks, including the backward digit span task, the spatial span task, the boy–girl Stroop, the Simon task, the flanker task and the Tower of Hanoi task that assessed working memory, inhibition and planning, respectively. Children’s vocabulary was tested using Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and included as control variables in addition to socioeconomic status of the participated families. The results showed that television viewing time and child-directed educational programs were positively associated with EF. In addition, television content fully mediated the effect of television viewing time on EF and parental restrictive approach strategies moderated the effect of television viewing time on EF.

P.2.f.009 - Neurofeedback treatment on depressive symptoms and functional recovery and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in treatment-resistant major depression

The mediating and moderating roles of self-regulation in the associations of dispositional anger and fear to later conduct and anxiety symptoms were tested. Mothers and teachers rated children's anger and fear at 54 months (N = 191), and mothers reported on children's symptoms of anxiety and conduct disorders at 72 and 84 months (Ns = 169 and 144). Children's self-regulatory ability was assessed using the Tower of Hanoi task at 72 months. Children's self-regulation mediated the association between early dispositional fear and 84-month mother-reported anxiety disorder symptoms above and beyond the effects of earlier generalized anxiety symptoms. Children's anger directly predicted relatively high mother-reported conduct and anxiety disorder symptoms. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of considering self-regulation as potential mechanism relating early childhood dispositional reactivity to later psychopathology symptoms.

Can neuropsychological testing facilitate differential diagnosis between at-risk mental state for psychosis and adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

IntroductionPatients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis and patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have many overlapping symptoms and hence can be difficult to differentiate clinically.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the differential diagnosis between ARMS and ADHD could be improved by neuropsychological testing.MethodsA total of 157 ARMS and 122 adult ADHD patients were recruited via the Basel Früherkennung von Psychosen (FePsy) study and the ADHD Special Consultations Unit of the University of Basel Psychiatric Hospital, respectively. Verbal learning and memory was tested with the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), sustained attention with the Continuous performance test (CPT) and problem solving abilities with the Tower of Hanoi task. Group differences in neuropsychological performance were analyzed using generalized linear models, which included age and gender as covariates.ResultsAdult ADHD patients recalled significantly fewer words in the CVLT (both after short and long delay) and had significantly more false alarms and omissions and longer reaction times in the CPT than ARMS patients.ConclusionsAdult ADHD patients show larger deficits than ARMS patients in the domains of verbal memory and sustained attention, but not in problem solving abilities. This in line with current meta-analyses, which found that impairments in the domains of attention and verbal memory are of medium effect size in adult ADHD patients and of small effect size in ARMS patients. Our results suggest that measures of these domains can be exploited to improve the differential diagnosis between adult ADHD and ARMS patients.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

The effect of task complexity on planning in preterm-born children

Objective: Planning is an important executive function (EF) skill that is fundamental to the capacity to achieve everyday goals that require a series of intermediate steps. This study examined the effect of preterm birth on planning skills in early and middle childhood using Tower problems that made different cognitive workload demands. Method: We administered a novel touchscreen Tower of Hanoi task (Monkey Tree Task; MTT) in three age cohorts (3, 6, and 9 years) to 485 children born between 2000 and 2010 (105 extremely low birth weight [ELBW], 248 late preterm [LP], and 132 term-born [Term]). Results: Children born with ELBW completed significantly fewer Tower problems with higher cognitive demands than children born at Term or LP. Likewise, Term- and LP-born children completed more Tower problems than children born with ELBW. In the youngest cohort, Term-born children solved Tower problems more efficiently than either preterm group, and LP-born children solved problems more efficiently than those born with ELBW. However, there were no group differences in efficiency in the older age cohorts. Significant correlations between our MTT measures and performance on other EF tasks were found. Conclusions: The MTT captured significant performance differences in planning skills between children born term vs. preterm. This study provides important information on the impact that cognitive workload, as a function of Tower problem complexity, has on planning skills in preterm children. This study adds to a growing body of research that distinguishes LP birth as having subtle, but distinguishable, adverse neuropsychological outcomes at earlier ages.