Decreased processing speed might account for working memory span deficit in schizophrenia, and might mediate the associations between working memory span and clinical symptoms

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 473-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Brébion ◽  
C. Stephan-Otto ◽  
E. Huerta-Ramos ◽  
J. Usall ◽  
M. Perez del Olmo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Speed Measure ◽  
Cognitive Speed

AbstractObjectiveVerbal working memory span is decreased in patients with schizophrenia, and this might contribute to impairment in higher cognitive functions as well as to the formation of certain clinical symptoms. Processing speed has been identified as a crucial factor in cognitive efficiency in this population. We tested the hypothesis that decreased processing speed underlies the verbal working memory deficit in patients and mediates the associations between working memory span and clinical symptoms.MethodForty-nine schizophrenia inpatients recruited from units for chronic and acute patients, and forty-five healthy participants, were involved in the study. Verbal working memory span was assessed by means of the letter-number span. The Digit Copy test was used to assess motor speed, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Test to assess cognitive speed.ResultsThe working memory span was significantly impaired in patients (F(1,90) = 4.6, P < 0.05). However, the group difference was eliminated when either the motor or the cognitive speed measure was controlled (F(1,89) = 0.03, P = 0.86, and F(1,89) = 0.03, P = 0.88). In the patient group, working memory span was significantly correlated with negative symptoms (r = –0.52, P < 0.0001) and thought disorganisation (r = –0.34, P < 0.025) scores. Regression analyses showed that the association with negative symptoms was no longer significant when the motor speed measure was controlled (β = –0.12, P = 0.20), while the association with thought disorganisation was no longer significant when the cognitive speed measure was controlled (β = –0.10, P = 0.26).ConclusionsDecrement in motor and cognitive speed plays a significant role in both the verbal working memory impairment observed in patients and the associations between verbal working memory impairment and clinical symptoms.

Verbal fluency in male and female schizophrenia patients: Different patterns of association with processing speed, working memory span, and clinical symptoms.

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gildas Brébion ◽  
Christian Stephan-Otto ◽  
Susana Ochoa ◽  
Lourdes Nieto ◽  
Montserrat Contel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Male And Female

Processing Speed and Working Memory Span: Their Differential Role in Superficial and Deep Memory Processes in Schizophrenia

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gildas Brébion ◽  
Rodrigo A. Bressan ◽  
Lyn S. Pilowsky ◽  
Anthony S. David
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Memory Deficit ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Group Processing ◽  
Two Factors

Previous work has suggested that decrement in both processing speed and working memory span plays a role in the memory impairment observed in patients with schizophrenia. We undertook a study to examine simultaneously the effect of these two factors. A sample of 49 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls underwent a battery of verbal and visual memory tasks. Superficial and deep encoding memory measures were tallied. We conducted regression analyses on the various memory measures, using processing speed and working memory span as independent variables. In the patient group, processing speed was a significant predictor of superficial and deep memory measures in verbal and visual memory. Working memory span was an additional significant predictor of the deep memory measures only. Regression analyses involving all participants revealed that the effect of diagnosis on all the deep encoding memory measures was reduced to non-significance when processing speed was entered in the regression. Decreased processing speed is involved in verbal and visual memory deficit in patients, whether the task require superficial or deep encoding. Working memory is involved only insofar as the task requires a certain amount of effort. (JINS, 2011, 17, 485–493)

scholarly journals Associations of psychotic-like experiences, related symptoms, and working memory with functioning

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte A. Chun ◽  
Shanna Cooper ◽  
Lauren M. Ellman
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Role Functioning ◽  
Symptom Dimensions ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Overall Functioning

Abstract This study examined the association of spatial working memory and attenuated psychotic-like experiences and related symptoms with social and role functioning. Findings from this study suggest that symptom dimensions and working memory impairment were associated with diminished functioning across a variety of domains. Specifically, negative symptoms and working memory impairment were inversely associated with both social and role functioning, whereas positive and disorganized symptoms showed inverse associations with social functioning only. Symptom dimensions did not moderate cognitive and functional variables, although working memory and attenuated clinical symptoms had an additive effect on functioning. Post-hoc analyses examining symptom dimensions simultaneously showed negative symptoms to be the variable most strongly predictive of overall functioning. These findings suggest that even in a non-clinical sample, sub-threshold psychosis symptoms and cognition may influence people’s social and role functioning.

Working memory span in mild cognitive impairment. Influence of processing speed and cognitive reserve

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Facal ◽  
Onésimo Juncos-Rabadán ◽  
Arturo X. Pereiro ◽  
Cristina Lojo-Seoane
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Amnestic Mci ◽  
Span Tasks ◽  
Subject Factor

ABSTRACTBackground:Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) often includes episodic memory impairment, but can also involve other types of cognitive decline. Although previous studies have shown poorer performance of MCI patients in working memory (WM) span tasks, different MCI subgroups were not studied.Methods:In the present exploratory study, 145 participants underwent extensive cognitive evaluation, which included three different WM span tasks, and were classified into the following groups: multiple-domain amnestic MCI (mda-MCI), single-domain amnestic MCI (sda-MCI), and controls. General linear model was conducted by considering the WM span tasks as the within-subject factor; the group (mda-MCI, sda-MCI, and controls) as the inter-subject factor; and processing speed, vocabulary and age as covariates. Multiple linear regression models were also used to test the influence of processing speed, vocabulary, and other cognitive reserve (CR) proxies.Results:Results indicate different levels of impairment of WM, with more severe impairment in mda-MCI patients. The differences were still present when processing resources and CR were controlled.Conclusions:Between-group differences can be understood as a manifestation of the greater severity and widespread memory impairment in mda-MCI patients and may contribute to a better understanding of continuum from normal controls to mda-MCI patients. Processing speed and CR have a limited influence on WM scores, reducing but not removing differences between groups.

Basic numerical processing, calculation, and working memory in children with dyscalculia and/or ADHD symptoms

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 365-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg-Tobias Kuhn ◽  
Elena Ise ◽  
Julia Raddatz ◽  
Christin Schwenk ◽  
Christian Dobel
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Typically Developing ◽  
Cognitive Profiles ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Numerical Processing ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Neurocognitive Measures

Abstract. Objective: Deficits in basic numerical skills, calculation, and working memory have been found in children with developmental dyscalculia (DD) as well as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This paper investigates cognitive profiles of children with DD and/or ADHD symptoms (AS) in a double dissociation design to obtain a better understanding of the comorbidity of DD and ADHD. Method: Children with DD-only (N = 33), AS-only (N = 16), comorbid DD+AS (N = 20), and typically developing controls (TD, N = 40) were assessed on measures of basic numerical processing, calculation, working memory, processing speed, and neurocognitive measures of attention. Results: Children with DD (DD, DD+AS) showed deficits in all basic numerical skills, calculation, working memory, and sustained attention. Children with AS (AS, DD+AS) displayed more selective difficulties in dot enumeration, subtraction, verbal working memory, and processing speed. Also, they generally performed more poorly in neurocognitive measures of attention, especially alertness. Children with DD+AS mostly showed an additive combination of the deficits associated with DD-only and A_Sonly, except for subtraction tasks, in which they were less impaired than expected. Conclusions: DD and AS appear to be related to largely distinct patterns of cognitive deficits, which are present in combination in children with DD+AS.


Visual versus Verbal Working Memory in Statistically Determined Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: On behalf of the Consortium for Clinical and Epidemiological Neuropsychological Data Analysis (CENDA)

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1001-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheina Emrani ◽  
Victor Wasserman ◽  
Emily Matusz ◽  
David Miller ◽  
Melissa Lamar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale

AbstractObjective:Previous research in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) suggests that visual episodic memory impairment may emerge before analogous verbal episodic memory impairment. The current study examined working memory (WM) test performance in MCI to assess whether patients present with greater visual versus verbal WM impairment. WM performance was also assessed in relation to hippocampal occupancy (HO), a ratio of hippocampal volume to ventricular dilation adjusted for demographic variables and intracranial volume.Methods:Jak et al. (2009) (The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 17, 368–375) and Edmonds, Delano-Wood, Galasko, Salmon, & Bondi (2015) (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 47(1), 231–242) criteria classify patients into four groups: little to no cognitive impairment (non-MCI); subtle cognitive impairment (SCI); amnestic MCI (aMCI); and a combined mixed/dysexecutive MCI (mixed/dys MCI). WM was assessed using co-normed Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Digit Span Backwards and Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (WMS-IV) Symbol Span Z-scores.Results:Between-group analyses found worse WMS-IV Symbol Span and WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance for mixed/dys MCI compared to non-MCI patients. Within-group analyses found no differences for non-MCI patients; however, all other groups scored lower on WMS-IV Symbol Span than WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards. Regression analysis with HO as the dependent variable was statistically significant for WMS-IV Symbol Span performance. WAIS-IV Digit Span Backwards performance failed to reach statistical significance.Conclusions:Worse WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was observed in patient groups with measurable neuropsychological impairment and better WMS-IV Symbol Span performance was associated with higher HO ratios. These results suggest that visual WM may be particularly sensitive to emergent illness compared to analogous verbal WM tests.

scholarly journals S220. DIFFERENTIATING EMPLOYMENT TRAJECTORIES IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: FEATURES OF CURRENT, FORMERLY, AND NEVER EMPLOYED PATIENTS

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S122-S123
Author(s):  
Katelyn Barone ◽  
Cynthia Fundora-Trujillo ◽  
Maria Cruz ◽  
Davd L Penn ◽  
Amy E Pinkham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Social Cognition ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Disruptive Behavior ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Social Avoidance ◽  
Mother’S Education ◽  
Mother's Education

Abstract Background The interplay between neurocognition, social cognition, and employment outcomes among the schizophrenic population has been extensively investigated, but there are disparities between the impairments that predict these outcomes. In this study, we aim to provide further insight by discriminating between factors that influence getting a job and sustaining employment. We hypothesized that neurocognitive factors would predict which individuals experienced challenges in ever getting a job, while interpersonal deficits, disruptive behavior, or psychosis would characterize individuals who were able to obtain a job but unable to keep it. Methods Patients (n=396) were between 18 and 70 years old and received a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder or Schizophreniform Disorder. Performance-based assessments were conducted to measure neurocognition, social cognition and psychosis; and, clinical ratings provided information on psychosis, negative symptoms and disruptive behavior. Patients were divided into three clusters defined as: individuals who had never been employed (n=196), individuals who formerly had a job for at least 2 years but have been unemployed for at least 2 years (n=149), and individuals with current employment for at least 2 years (n=51). Results Patients who never had a job manifested the following characteristics compared to those who currently had a job: significantly fewer years of patient education (Self, p=.006), mother’s education (Mother, p=.028), and lower verbal working memory (LNS, p&lt;.01). They also displayed significantly more PANSS social avoidance (p=.023), disturbance of volition (p=.037), and anxiety (p=.004). Compared to those who formerly had a job, these same patients manifested the following: significantly more total negative symptoms (p=.039), more severe poor rapport (p=.041) and more blunted affect (p=.002). Formerly employed patients reported significantly more depression (BDI, p=.01) and hostile cognitive bias (BLAME, p=.008), as well as worse emotional processing on the BLERT (p=.005) and ER-40 (p=.028) compared to the never employed group. Lastly, patients who formerly had a job manifested the following compared to those who currently had a job: less patient education (Self, p=.011), mother’s education (Mother, p=.015), premorbid intelligence (WRAT-3 Standard Score, p=.038), working memory (LNS, p&lt;.01), and blunted affect (PANSS, p=.018). On the PANSS, they had more grandiosity (p=.031), suspiciousness (p=.008), anxiety (p=.001), active social avoidance (p=.003), and depression (p=.016). BDI total score, for depression, was also elevated [t(114)=3.58, p=001)]. Discussion Individuals who never had a job have evidence of less education and poorer working memory as well as negative and mood symptoms, when compared to those who were ever employed. Those who obtained a job but developed long-term unemployment had evidence of 1) social cognitive impairments, including hostile bias and emotion processing deficits, when compared to the never employed patients and 2) lower education, working memory, and PANSS ratings for negative symptoms, suspiciousness and grandiosity, when compared to the currently employed patients. Thus, the formerly employed patients manifested a constellation of symptoms that would seem to interfere with sustaining employment. Later research will be required to determine the time course of development that these predictors of unemployment have on patients who were previously able to work.

scholarly journals An fMRI Study of Functional Abnormalities in the Verbal Working Memory System and the Relationship to Clinical Symptoms in Chronic Schizophrenia

2009 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryu-ichiro Hashimoto ◽  
KangUk Lee ◽  
Alexander Preus ◽  
Robert W. McCarley ◽  
Cynthia G. Wible
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Verbal Working Memory ◽  
Chronic Schizophrenia ◽  
Memory System ◽  
Fmri Study ◽  
The Relationship

Medications and verbal memory impairment in schizophrenia: the role of anticholinergic drugs

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. BRÉBION ◽  
R. A. BRESSAN ◽  
X. AMADOR ◽  
D. MALASPINA ◽  
J. M. GORMAN
Keyword(s):  
Free Recall ◽  
Antipsychotic Medication ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Anticholinergic Medication ◽  
Anticholinergic Drugs ◽  
Anticholinergic Activity ◽  
Semantic Organization

Background. We wished to assess the effect of three types of medication on verbal memory impairments in schizophrenia.Method. Forty-eight patients with schizophrenia and 40 healthy control subjects underwent a battery of verbal memory tasks, including free recall, recognition and short-term memory span. All the patients were on antipsychotic medication. In addition, 24 were taking anticholinergic drugs (benztropine) and 30 were taking benzodiazepines. A subsample of 39 had clinical ratings for depressive symptoms. Regression analyses were conducted on the memory measures in this subsample, with negative symptoms, depression, type of antipsychotic medication (conventional v. atypical), benzodiazepines and anticholinergic drugs as predictors.Results. Type of antipsychotic medication made no significant contribution to memory deficits and benzodiazepine use made very little contribution. However, anticholinergic medication was a predictor of memory impairment, especially with regard to semantic organization. Complementary analyses revealed that patients taking any type of drug with anticholinergic activity (benztropine and/or antipsychotic agents) were significantly impaired relative to the other patients on measures reflecting free recall efficiency and semantic organization.Conclusions. Drugs with anticholinergic activity are the major pharmacological agents that contribute to the verbal memory deficit observed in patients with schizophrenia. These drugs appear to act by impeding semantic organization at encoding.

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