Visual Memory Abilities Research Articles

Memory-related brain potentials for visual objects in early AD show impairment and compensatory mechanisms.

Impaired episodic memory is the primary feature of early Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not all memories are equally affected. Patients with AD and amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) remember pictures better than words, to a greater extent than healthy elderly. We investigated neural mechanisms for visual object recognition in 30 patients (14AD, 16 aMCI) and 36 cognitively unimpaired healthy (19 in the "preclinical" stage of AD). Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded while participants performed a visual object recognition task. Hippocampal occupancy (integrity), amyloid (florbetapir) PET, and neuropsychological measures of verbal & visual memory, executive function were also collected. A right-frontal ERP recognition effect (500-700ms post-stimulus) was seen in cognitively unimpaired participants only, and significantly correlated with memory and executive function abilities. A later right-posterior negative ERP effect (700-900ms) correlated with visual memory abilities across participants with low verbal memory ability, and may reflect a compensatory mechanism. A correlation of this retrieval-related negativity with right hippocampal occupancy (r = 0.55), implicates the hippocampus in the engagement of compensatory perceptual retrieval mechanisms. Our results suggest that early AD patients are impaired in goal-directed retrieval processing, but may engage compensatory perceptual mechanisms which rely on hippocampal function.

The Benson Complex Figure Test: Normative Data for the Healthy Iranian Population

Purpose: Visual-related abilities such as visual memory and visuo-constructional skills are among the cognitive abilities with fundamental importance for normal cognitive function, and their impairment is manifested in many neurological and psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to generate normative data for the Benson Complex Figure Test (BCFT), a well-known simplified version of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, in Iran and to assess the effect of demographic variables of age, gender, and education on its various measures. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in 2017-2018 as part of the Iranian Brain Imaging Database (IBID) project. The study sample consisted of 300 normal individuals in the age range of 20 to 70 years, with an equal number of participants and an equal proportion of genders in each age decade (#60). Independent and dependent variables, respectively, were age (classified by five decades including 20-30-year-olds, 31-40-year-olds, 41-50-year-olds, 51-60-year-olds, and 61-70-year-olds) and performance in the BCFT (defined in terms of 3 scores on a copy, recall, and recognition of the geometric figure and 2 scores on time of copy and recall). Results: The correlation matrix among the variables showed that age and education have a significant correlation with most of the BCFT scores, while gender only has a significant correlation with recognition score. Multivariate analysis of variance showed the effect of age, gender, and their interaction on scores, while education did not make a significant difference in the BCFT scores. Also, the t-test showed a significant difference between men and women in recall and recognition, so women and men showed better performance in recall and recognition, respectively. Conclusion: In summary, our results suggest that demographic variables of age, gender, and education affect visual memory and visuospatial abilities, and it is essential to generate normative data for research or clinical settings.

76 Differential Performance in Visual Learning and Retrieval in a Validity Controlled Chronic Pain Sample

Objective:Individuals with chronic pain frequently report diminished cognitive functioning. Prior cross-sectional studies have demonstrated strong associations between chronic pain and neurocognitive impairment, most notably in memory, attention, processing speed, and executive functioning. However, there is a paucity of research evaluating visual learning and memory abilities in this population. Further, while current practice standards advocate for the use of performance validity tests (PVTs) to assess the credibility of neuropsychological test performance, they have infrequently been incorporated into studies examining chronic pain samples, despite a higher observed rate of noncredible performance in the literature. This study aimed to compare visual learning and memory performance between a mixed neuropsychiatric (MNP) group and a chronic pain group in a validity-controlled sample.Participants and Methods:The study consisted of 371 adults referred for outpatient neuropsychological evaluation. Between groups, various PVTs were administered, which included, at minimum, one freestanding and four embedded PVTs. All patients were administered the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Only patients classified as valid performers (<1 PVT fails; n=295) were included in the analyses (Pain: n=109; MNP: n=186). The overall sample was 69% female and racially diverse (22% non-Hispanic Black, 43% non-Hispanic White, 30% Hispanic, 3% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 2% other race/ethnicities), with a mean age of 46.8 (SD=14.8) and mean education of 13.7 years (SD=2.7). Independent samples t-tests were performed to investigate the differences in visual learning and memory abilities between the chronic pain and MNP groups.Results:Chi-square analyses revealed significant differences between the pain and MNP groups on race, with more non-Hispanic White and Hispanic patients represented in the MNP group. There were also modest group differences in age and education. For the chronic pain group, patients scored lower on both BVMT-R Total T-Score (mean difference = 9.65T, p<.001) and BVMT Delayed Recall T-Score (mean difference = 8.97T, p<.001). The effect size was robust for both for Total T-Score (d = 0.682) and Delayed Recall T-Score (d = 0.632). In contrast, the difference in BVMT Recognition Discriminability was not statistically significant.Conclusions:This study demonstrated significant differences in performance between mixed neuropsychiatric and chronic pain patients. Preliminary evidence indicated that chronic pain patients displayed lower visual mediated encoding and retrieval performance, although their recognition is comparable. Although the nature of this study was targeted toward visual learning and retrieval, it is likely that the known impact of chronic pain on attention, working memory, and processing speed accounts for this relationship. Future studies will benefit from further elucidating these potential mechanisms and better inform clinical decision-making and neuropsychological testing performance in patients with chronic pain.

Do Left-Handed Older Adults Have Superior Visual Memories?

On demanding visual memory tasks like the Rey Complex Figure Test and Recognition Trial (RCFT), left-handers often outperform right-handers and participants with mixed handedness. Left-handers' apparent visual memory superiority develops during late childhood and early adolescence and is established by young adulthood. Though many studies have examined RCFT performance in older adults and found that visual memory deteriorates with age, investigations of the relationship between handedness and visual memory abilities in older adults have been scarce. In the present study I sought to determine whether a left-handed RCFT performance advantage would be evident among older adults. I examined RCFT and handedness data from 800 older adults (Females = 152, Males = 648; M age = 69.86, SD = 5.18years; range 60-85years), who took part in prior research (Whitehall II Phase 11 sub-study). Among these participants, handedness predicted both immediate and delayed RCFT recall, with left-handers outperforming both mixed- and right-handers and with performance unrelated to gender. The absence of a left-handed advantage for copy accuracy suggests that the effects observed for recall do not stem from differences in participants' perceptual abilities and/or motor control. Instead, these data suggest that left-handers' superior performances stem from their advantage for visual memory. As visual memory predicts both motor learning capacity and motor skill retention in older adults, these results have potentially important implications for rehabilitation efficacy.

Does Regular Visual Art Training Enhance Visual Memory Capacity and Enable Young Adults to Outperform in Face Recognition?

Specialists usually tend to noticeably outperform others who are novices in that field. Numerous studies suggest that portrait artists who are experts in outlining and recognizing human faces develop more advanced visual working memory. Whether systematic artistic training could strengthen a persons visual memory ability particularly in face memory is therefore worth investigating. Thus, in an attempt to find the correlation between regular artistic training and visual working memory in face memory ability, 22 random samples were collected twice to complete a self-evaluation survey and a set of face memory test. The outcome indicates no statistically significant difference of face memory ability between regularly trained arts students and novices. However, due to several practical concerns, its worthwhile to conduct further studies to eliminate these issues and hence give evidence to support the study result.

The Benson Complex Figure Test detects deficits in visuoconstruction and visual memory in symptomatic familial frontotemporal dementia: A GENFI study

ObjectiveSensitive cognitive markers are still needed for frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The Benson Complex Figure Test (BCFT) is an interesting candidate test, as it assesses visuospatial, visual memory, and executive abilities, allowing the detection of multiple mechanisms of cognitive impairment. To investigate differences in BCFT Copy, Recall and Recognition in presymptomatic and symptomatic FTD mutation carriers, and to explore its cognitive and neuroimaging correlates. MethodWe included cross-sectional data from 332 presymptomatic and 136 symptomatic mutation carriers (GRN, MAPT or C9orf72 mutations), and 290 controls in the GENFI consortium. We examined gene-specific differences between mutation carriers (stratified by CDR® NACC-FTLD score) and controls using Quade's / Pearson Χ2 tests. We investigated associations with neuropsychological test scores and grey matter volume using partial correlations and multiple regression models respectively. ResultsNo significant differences were found between groups at CDR® NACC-FTLD 0–0.5. Symptomatic GRN and C9orf72 mutation carriers had lower Copy scores at CDR® NACC-FTLD ≥2. All three groups had lower Recall scores at CDR® NACC-FTLD ≥2, with MAPT mutation carriers starting at CDR® NACC-FTLD ≥1. All three groups had lower Recognition scores at CDR® NACC FTLD ≥2. Performance correlated with tests for visuoconstruction, memory, and executive function. Copy scores correlated with frontal-subcortical grey matter atrophy, while Recall scores correlated with temporal lobe atrophy. ConclusionsIn the symptomatic stage, the BCFT identifies differential mechanisms of cognitive impairment depending on the genetic mutation, corroborated by gene-specific cognitive and neuroimaging correlates. Our findings suggest that impaired performance on the BCFT occurs relatively late in the genetic FTD disease process. Therefore its potential as cognitive biomarker for upcoming clinical trials in presymptomatic to early-stage FTD is most likely limited.

Association of synaptic density and glucose metabolism with cognitive performance in early Alzheimer's disease: a PET imaging study with [11C]UCB‐J and [18F]FDG

AbstractBackgroundTraditionally, [18F]FDG PET has been used in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) as a surrogate marker of disease progression and is highly correlated with cognitive and functional decline. Synaptic loss is an early pathological event and a major structural correlate with cognitive impairment, although this is based on limited post‐mortem studies at more severe disease stages. Recently, we have confirmed these neuropathologic studies in vivo, using [11C]UBC‐J PET to demonstrate significant correlations between synaptic density and cognitive performance in early AD. In this study, we examined the relationship between synaptic density, glucose metabolism, and cognitive performance in early AD using [11C]UCB‐J PET, [18F]FDG PET, and an extensive neuropsychological battery.Method[11C]UCB‐J and [18F]FDG binding was measured in 46 amyloid+ participants with AD (18 aMCI and 28 mild dementia) and 17 amyloid‐ cognitively normal participants aged 50‐85 years. Synaptic density was calculated as DVR and glucose metabolism as SUVR in a composite of AD‐affected regions, using a whole cerebellum reference region for both tracers. A validated neuropsychological battery assessed performance across six cognitive domains. Domain scores were calculated for each participant by averaging z‐scores within that domain, and global cognition scores averaged the domain scores.ResultIn a multiple linear regression model controlling for age, sex, and education, glucose metabolism was a stronger predictor of global cognitive performance compared to synaptic density in participants with AD (beta=2.90,eta2=0.38,P=0.000005 vs. beta=2.48,eta2=0.22,P=0.001), as well as executive function, language, processing speed, visual memory, and visuospatial ability. Synaptic density was a stronger predictor of verbal memory compared to glucose metabolism (beta=1.68,eta2=0.22,P=0.001 vs. beta=1.02,eta2=0.10,P=0.03). Using William’s tests, exploratory analyses demonstrated stronger correlations between medial temporal synaptic density and performance across all cognitive domains. In neocortical ROIs, glucose metabolism was more strongly correlated with cognitive performance across all domains with the exception of verbal memory, which demonstrated stronger correlations with synaptic density across all analyzed ROIs.ConclusionConsistent with a hypothesis of divergent synaptic loss and hypometabolism in early AD, these results demonstrate synaptic density is more strongly correlated with cognitive decline in medial temporal regions, while cerebral hypometabolism is more strongly correlated with cognitive decline in neocortical regions.

Preliminary findings of accelerated visual memory decline and baseline brain correlates in middle-age and older adults with autism: The case for hippocampal free-water.

Research aimed at understanding cognitive and brain aging in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, but critical longitudinal work is scant. Adults with ASD struggle with tasks involving visual memory compared with neurotypical adults (NT). This may be related to differences in size or integrity of the hippocampus and its' primary structural connectivity pathway, the fornix. The aim of this study was to describe preliminary findings of longitudinal aging trajectories in short- and long-term visual memory abilities in middle-age and older adults with ASD, compared with matched NT adults. We then evaluated baseline multi-modal imaging metrics of the hippocampal system, including the relatively novel metric of free-water, as potential correlates of longitudinal memory change in the ASD group. Middle-age and older adults with ASD (n = 25) and matched NT adults (n = 25) between the ages of 40 and 70 years were followed longitudinally at ~2-year intervals (range 2-5 years). Participants completed the Wechsler Memory Scale III Visual Reproduction task. Longitudinal mixed models were utilized to detect group differences in memory change with baseline age and sex as covariates. Hippocampal volume was measured via T1-weighted MRI images with FreeSurfer. Fornix fractional anisotropy and hippocampal and fornix free-water were measured from diffusion tensor imaging scans. Exploratory correlations were run between individual hippocampal system metrics and longitudinal slopes of visual memory change. There was a significant group by time interaction for long-term visual memory, such that middle-age and older adults with ASD declined faster than matched NT adults. There was no group by time interaction for short-term visual memory. Baseline hippocampal free-water was the only hippocampal system metric that correlated with long-term visual memory change in the ASD group. As one of the first longitudinal cognitive and brain aging studies in middle-age and older adults with ASD, our findings suggest vulnerabilities for accelerated long-term visual memory decline, compared to matched NT adults. Further, baseline hippocampal free-water may be a predictor of visual memory change in middle-age and older adults with ASD. These preliminary findings lay the groundwork for future prognostic applications of MRI for cognitive aging in middle-age and older adults with ASD.

Mediating roles of leukoaraiosis and infarcts in the effects of unilateral carotid artery stenosis on cognition.

Background and objectivesLeukoaraiosis and infarcts are common in patients with carotid artery stenosis (CAS), and CAS severity, leukoaraiosis and infarcts all have been implicated in cognitive impairments. CAS severity was not only hypothesized to directly impede specific cognitive domains, but also transmit its effects indirectly to cognitive function through ipsilateral infarcts as well as periventricular leukoaraiosis (PVL) and deep white matter leukoaraiosis (DWML). We aimed to delineate the contributions of leukoaraiosis, infarcts and CAS to different specific cognitive domains.Materials and methodsOne hundred and sixty one participants with unilateral CAS (>50%) on the left (n = 85) or right (n = 76) side and 65 volunteers without significant CAS (<50%) were recruited. The PVL, DWML, and infarct severity were visually rated on MRI. A comprehensive cognitive battery was administered and standardized based on age norms. Correlation and mediation analyses were adopted to examine the direct and indirect influence of CAS, leukoaraiosis, and infarct on specific cognitive domains with adjustment for education, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.ResultsCarotid artery stenosis severity was associated with ipsilateral leukoaraiosis and infarct. Left CAS had direct effects on most cognitive domains, except for visual memory and constructional ability, and transmitted its indirect effects on all cognitive domains through ipsilateral PVL, and on constructional ability and psychomotor through infarcts. Right CAS only had negative direct effects on visual memory, psychomotor, design fluency and color processing speed, and transmitted its indirect effects on visual memory, word and color processing speed through ipsilateral infarcts. The trends of direct and indirect cognitive effects remained similar after covariate adjustment.ConclusionLeft and right CAS would predominantly lead to verbal and non-verbal cognitive impairment respectively, and such effects could be mediated through CAS-related leukoaraiosis and infarct. Given that cognition is subject to heterogeneous pathologies, the exact relationships between markers of large and small vessel diseases and their composite prognostic effects on cognition requires further investigation.

Cognitive impairment among cancer patients experiencing chemotherapy

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether chemotherapy had any particular role on cognitive impairment i.e. difficulties in executive functioning, working memory, naming ability, attention, language, abstraction, orientation, and visuo-spatial constructional and recall ability, among cancer patients in Bangladesh. Sixty cancer patients and thirty healthy individuals were recruited for this study by purposive sampling. Among these cancer patients 30 had experienced chemotherapy and remain 30 had experienced radiotherapy/ surgery/no treatment at all. We used Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test and Montreal Cognitive Assessment to investigate cognitive impairment and Bangla version of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale to assess emotional distress. Findings revealed that cancer patients in general experience significantly more cognitive difficulties than healthy individuals. Regarding the attention, visual and auditory memory and executive ability the problems are more dominant. Chemotherapy group performed in all aspects of cognitive testing significantly lower than other treatment group. Statistical tests indicated no role of emotional distress on neuropsychological performance. Males with cancer are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment. In a nutshell, this study indicates that cancer patients in Bangladesh experience cognitive impairment and especially patients treated with chemotherapy are more likely to experience cognitive impairment. Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 30(3 CSI): 453-464, 2022 (June)

Why does visual working memory ability improve with age: More objects, more feature detail, or both? A registered report.

We investigated how visual working memory (WM) develops with age across the early elementary school period (6-7 years), early adolescence (11-13 years), and early adulthood (18-25 years). The work focuses on changes in two parameters: the number of objects retained at least in part, and the amount of feature-detail remembered for such objects. Some evidence suggests that, while infants can remember up to three objects, much like adults, young children only remember around two objects. This curious, nonmonotonic trajectory might be explained by differences in the level of feature-detail required for successful performance in infant versus child/adult memory paradigms. Here, we examined if changes in one of two parameters (the number of objects, and the amount of detail retained for each object) or both of them together can explain the development of visual WM ability as children grow older. To test it, we varied the amount of feature-detail participants need to retain. In the baseline condition, participants saw an array of objects and simply were to indicate whether an object was present in a probed location or not. This phase begun with a titration procedure to adjust each individual's array size to yield about 80% correct. In other conditions, we tested memory of not only location but also additional features of the objects (color, and sometimes also orientation). Our results suggest that capacity growth across ages is expressed by both improved location-memory (whether there was an object in a location) and feature completeness of object representations.

Association of Tai Chi exercise with physical and neurocognitive functions, frailty, quality of life and mortality in older adults: Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Study.

real-world observations on the long-term benefits of Tai Chi (TC) exercise, in terms of physical and cognitive functioning, frailty, quality of life (QOL) and mortality are lacking. prospective cohort study participants were community-dwelling adults aged 55+, including 5,407 non-frequent TC participants (<1x/week) and 572 frequent TC participants (≥1x/week). Outcome measures at baseline and 3-5years follow-up included physical performance (Knee Extension Strength, POMA Balance and Gait, Timed-up-and-go, Gait Speed) and neurocognitive performance (attention and working memory, visual-motor tracking and mental flexibility, verbal learning and memory, visual memory, spatial and constructional ability), Frailty Index ≥0.10, impaired QOL (SF12 physical and mental component) and all-cause mortality from mean 13years follow-up. Effect estimates were adjusted for socio-demographics, other physical activities, nutritional risk and presence of cardiometabolic diseases. frequent TC participation was associated with 0.7-fold lower prevalence of impaired physical QOL [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.57-0.91], decreased 0.4-fold odds of incident prefrailty/frailty among robust participants at baseline and 0.7-fold odds of impaired mental QOL at follow-up among participants with normal mental QOL at baseline. Lower odds of mortality risk (HR = 0.89, 95%CI = 0.72-1.09) were not significant after controlling for socioeconomic, behavioural and health factors. Composite indexes of physical functional and neurocognitive performance were maintained at high level or increased at follow-up among frequent TC participants. TC exercise practised among community-dwelling older adults is associated with better physical, cognitive and functional wellbeing.

Association of blood cell parameters of peripheral inflammation with cognitive function

AbstractBackgroundChronic peripheral inflammation is associated with cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. Easily measured circulating blood cell parameters, including the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), and mean platelet volume (MPV), reflect peripheral inflammation. We sought to investigate the cross‐sectional association between these measures and neuropsychological (NP) test performance in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring, Third‐generation, and Omni cohorts.MethodWe identified FHS participants who attended an exam that included a complete blood cell count sample and underwent NP testing within five years of blood draw. Linear mixed effect models were used to investigate the association between the blood cell parameters (NLR, RDW, MPV) and individual NP test scores adjusting for age, sex, education, cohort, time between blood draw and NP testing, prevalent cardiovascular disease, APOE‐ε4 genotype, and C‐reactive protein, and accounting for familial correlation using a random effect. We additionally tested for interactions between age (≥ 60 years vs. &lt; 60 years) and blood cell parameters on NP scores and associations were reported separately by age group when significant (P for interaction ≤ 0.01).ResultAmong the 3531 participants (mean age 60.3 years, range 25 to 97 years, 47% male), 80% had at least some college and 22% were APOE‐ε4 carriers. We observed significant association between higher NLR and poorer NP performance on visual reproductions – delayed recall, Trails B ‐ Trails A, and Hooper visual organization test, that assess visual memory, executive function, and visuospatial abilities respectively (Table). There was also a significant association between higher RDW and poorer performance on digit symbol test assessing executive function. We observed different effects for the two age groups for the association between RDW and a metric of executive function (i.e., Trails B ‐ Trails A), where higher RDW correlated with decreased cognitive performance in participants aged ≥ 60 years (n=1865).ConclusionChronic peripheral inflammation as measured by NLR and RDW associates with lower cognitive function in FHS participants ≥ 60 years. In younger individuals, chronic peripheral inflammation may have a smaller effect on cognitive function.

Impact of Psychosocial Occupational Therapy Combined with Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on the Cognitive Performance of Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundThe most common cognitive dysfunctions in patients with schizophrenia are information processing, memory, and learning. Based on the hypothesis of rehabilitation and brain stimulation in memory and learning, adding a form of neuromodulation to conventional rehabilitation might increase the effectiveness of treatments.AimsTo explore the effects of psychosocial occupational therapy combined with anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on cognitive performance in patients with Schizophrenia.MethodsTwenty-four patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomized into the experimental and control groups. We used The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment battery (LOTCA) to assess spatial recognition, attention, visual memory, learning abilities, and high-level cognitive functions like problem-solving. All participants received customized psychosocial occupational therapy activities. Furthermore, the experimental group received 12 sessions of active anodal tDCS for 20 minutes with 2 mA intensity on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) while the patients in the sham group received sham tDCS.ResultsCombining tDCS to conventional psychosocial occupational therapy resulted in a significant increase in spatial memory, visual learning, and attention.ConclusionsAnodal tDCS on the left DLPFC improved visual memory, attention, and learning abilities. Contrary to our expectations, we could not find any changes in complex and more demanding cognitive functions.

Visual dysfunction is associated with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease

IntroductionVisual dysfunction and cognitive impairment are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) but the precise contribution of lower-level visual impairment to visual-input based cognitive performance has not been extensively characterized in PD. MethodsWe included 49 PD patients and 22 healthy controls (HC). Lower-level visual function tests [high and low contrast visual acuity (HCVA and LCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS)] and a neuropsychological battery (involving visual cognition) were performed. Pairwise correlations between lower-level visual functions and visual cognition were computed and stepwise linear regressions were fitted introducing age, Geriatric Depression Scale, and lower-level visual functions in the model to calculate their predicted effect on visual cognition. ResultsCompared to controls, patients presented a significant impairment in all cognitive domains (visual attention, visual processing speed and visual perception, visuospatial abilities, visuoconstructive abilities, and visual memory), and lower-level visual functions. HCVA and LCVA were significantly associated with visual cognition in PD. HCVA explained up to 49.3% and 34.2% of the variability in visual perception and visuospatial abilities, respectively, whereas LCVA was mainly associated with short- and long-term visual memory and visuospatial abilities. ConclusionLower-level visual dysfunction is highly associated with cognitive performance in PD, when cognitive tests are based on visual input. Our results support that lower-level visual functions should be considered when assessing cognitive status of PD patients and might be useful for predicting cognitive deterioration.

Mental imagery and visual working memory abilities appear to be unrelated in childhood: Evidence for individual differences in strategy use

We addressed two research gaps related to mental imagery (MI) in children. First, research has investigated the development of MI employing a component model (image generation, image maintenance, mental rotation, image scanning), however knowledge of how components develop and their associations throughout childhood (age 6 to 11 years) is incomplete. Second, despite positive associations in adults, the relationship between MI and visual working memory (VWM) has not been investigated in children. Using a novel MI task battery sensitive to the visual precision of MI, we found evidence for a separable-component model of MI in children, with some components becoming integrated in adulthood. Contrary to expectations, there were no significant associations between components of MI and VWM in either childhood or in adults. Our findings extend current understanding of development of MI and highlight the importance of considering individual differences in strategy-use when establishing the relationship between MI and VWM.

COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING AND SAFETY DETERMINANTS IN THE WORK OF A TRAIN DRIVERS

The reports of committees investigating the causes of rail accidents indicate the significance of the so-called human factor (e.g. UTK, 2019). In addition to issues related to perso nality functioning, the organization and culture of work, this also includes variables related to the cognitive functioning of train drivers themselves. These are significant factors that determine the occurrence of accidents that result from ignoring or not spotting railway signals and signs. The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship between cognitive functioning and safety determinants, which was measured using an eye-tracking technique. The application of this technique was intended to check its usefulness in the field of railway traffic safety and to achieve an approximate simulation environment of the real working conditions of a train driver. In the present study, the Vienna Test System was used as a me - thod for the determination of cognitive functioning. Based on the variables described in the subject literature, the following tests were applied: Determination Test, Visual Memory Test, Visual Pursuit Test, Reaction Time, Cognitrone, Signal Detection and Vigilance. In addition to computer cognitive tests, an eye-tracking test method was designed based on a film recorded in real train-driving situation. Measures describing areas of interest (AOI) that are crucial for safety were analysed. Due to the pilot nature of the research, only 10 passenger train drivers participated in the study. The results of the study showed a link between the cognitive functioning of the train drivers and visual security determinants. Significant correlations were found with stress tolerance resulting from cognitive overload, visual memory, alertness and concentration ability under time pressure. The study confirmed the significant role of the train driver's cogni- tive functioning in the analysis and perception of safety-critical signals. The use of an eye-tracking method has delivered results that are in agreement with studies based on other methods. This pro- vides a sound basis for the continuation of research using eye- tracking in the assessment of rail transport safety. In the future, the research should be extended to include an analysis of the effect of demographic and situational variables (types of signalling devices and signage) and a broader model of the relationship between cog- nitive functioning and the driver's visual attention. This will provide data that is crucial for the prevention of railway incidents and the development of training plans for train drivers.

Individual Differences in Working Memory and the N2pc.

The lateralized ERP N2pc component has been shown to be an effective marker of attentional object selection when elicited in a visual search task, specifically reflecting the selection of a target item among distractors. Moreover, when targets are known in advance, the visual search process is guided by representations of target features held in working memory at the time of search, thus guiding attention to objects with target-matching features. Previous studies have shown that manipulating working memory availability via concurrent tasks or within task manipulations influences visual search performance and the N2pc. Other studies have indicated that visual (non-spatial) vs. spatial working memory manipulations have differential contributions to visual search. To investigate this the current study assesses participants' visual and spatial working memory ability independent of the visual search task to determine whether such individual differences in working memory affect task performance and the N2pc. Participants (n = 205) completed a visual search task to elicit the N2pc and separate visual working memory (VWM) and spatial working memory (SPWM) assessments. Greater SPWM, but not VWM, ability is correlated with and predicts higher visual search accuracy and greater N2pc amplitudes. Neither VWM nor SPWM was related to N2pc latency. These results provide additional support to prior behavioral and neural visual search findings that spatial WM availability, whether as an ability of the participant's processing system or based on task demands, plays an important role in efficient visual search.

Visual cognition associated with knee proprioception, time to stability, and sensory integration neural activity after ACL reconstruction.

Visual cognitive ability has previously been associated with anterior cruciate ligament injury and injury risk biomechanics in healthy athletes. Neuroimaging reports have identified increased neural activity in regions corresponding to visual-spatial processing, sensory integration, and visual cognition in individuals after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), indicating potential neural compensatory strategies for motor control. However, it remains unclear whether there is a relationship between visual cognition, neural activity, and metrics of neuromuscular ability after ACLR. The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the relationship between visual cognitive function and measurements of neuromuscular control (proprioception and time to stability [TTS]), isokinetic strength, and subjective function, and (2) examine the neural correlates of visual cognition between ACLR (n = 16; time since surgery 41.4 ± 33.0 months) and demographically similar controls (n = 15). Visual cognition was assessed by the ImPACT visual motor and visual memory subscales. Outcome variables of proprioception to target knee angle 20°, landing TTS, strength, and subjective function were compared between groups, and visual cognition was correlated within groups to determine the relationship between visual cognition and outcome variables controlled for time from surgery (ACLR group). The control group had better IKDC scores and strength. Visual memory and visual motor ability were negatively associated with proprioception error (r = -0.63)and TTS (r = -0.61), respectively, in the ACLR group but not controls. Visual cognition was associated with increased neural activity in the precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex in the ACLR group but not control participants. These data suggest the neural strategy in which ACLR participants maintain proprioception and stability varies, and may depend on visual cognition and sensory integration neural activity.

Impact of sleep quality on cognitive functions in Parkinson’s disease

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders lead to cognitive deficits in healthy people and are thought to have significant impact on cognition in Parkinson’s disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: To study the sleep pattern and its relationship to cognitive functioning in non-demented PD cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sleep was evaluated by Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in a cohort of PD patients. Comprehensive assessment of cognitive domains including attention, executive functions, short/long-term verbal memory, visual memory, and visuospatial functioning was done by battery of neuro-physiological tests on patients in “ON” state. Based on the component PSQI sleep score, patients were grouped as having good quality sleep (PSQI score ≤ 5) or poor quality sleep (PSQI score > 5). The demographic profile, disease characteristics, treatment, and cognitive tests were then compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Of 130 patients with diagnosis of PD, 85 patients were included. 63 (74.1%) had good sleep quality while 22 (25.9%) had poor sleep quality. Mean age and disease characteristic were comparable between two groups except that females had statistically significant (P = 0.001) poor sleep quality as compared to men. Poor sleep quality had significant effect on cognitive functions including generativity, inhibition, set-shifting, perseveration, and attention but there was no impact of sleep on verbal memory, visual memory, and visuospatial abilities. CONCLUSION: PD patients with poor sleep quality on PSQI questionnaire should be carefully screened for presence of any cognitive impairment especially executive impairment, as these two may be inter-related. Intervention to improve sleep would have far reaching benefits to improve the quality of life of PD patients.