Phasic alertness cues modulate visual processing speed in healthy aging

AbstractPhasic alerting cues temporarily increase the brain’s arousal state. In younger and older participants, visual processing speed in a whole report task, estimated based on the theory of visual attention (TVA), is increased in cue compared to no-cue conditions. The present study assessed whether older participants’ ability to profit from warning cues is related to iFC in the cingulo-opercular and/or right fronto-parietal network. We obtained resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data from 31 older participants. By combining an independent component analysis and dual regression, we investigated iFC in both networks. A voxel-wise multiple regression in older participants revealed that higher phasic alerting effects on visual processing speed were significantly associated with lower right fronto-parietal network iFC. We then compared healthy older participants to a previously reported sample of healthy younger participants to assess whether behaviour-iFC relationships are age group specific. The comparison revealed that the association between phasic alerting and cingulo-opercular network iFC is significantly lower in older than in younger adults. Additionally, it yielded a stronger association between phasic alerting and right fronto-parietal network iFC in older versus younger participants. The results support a particular role of the right fronto-parietal network in maintaining phasic alerting capabilities in aging.

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Vision through Healthy Aging Eyes

Vision ◽

10.3390/vision5040046 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

Nir Erdinest ◽

Naomi London ◽

Itay Lavy ◽

Yair Morad ◽

Nadav Levinger

Keyword(s):

Visual Cortex ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Retinal Cells ◽

Dry Eyes ◽

The World ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

A Current

As life expectancy grows, so too will the number of people adversely affected by age. Although it is acknowledged that many conditions and diseases are associated with age, this mini-review will present a current update of the various visual changes that generally occur in healthy individuals disregarding the possible effects of illness. These alterations influence how the world is perceived and in turn can affect efficiency or the ability to perform ordinary daily tasks such as driving or reading. The most common physical developments include a decreased pupil size and retinal luminance as well as changes both in intercellular and intracellular connections within the retina along the pathway to the visual cortex and within the visual cortex. The quantity and the physical location of retinal cells including photoreceptors, ganglion and bipolar retinal cells are modified. The clarity of intraocular organs, such as the intraocular lens, decreases. These all result in common visual manifestations that include reduced visual acuity, dry eyes, motility changes, a contraction of the visual field, presbyopia, reduced contrast sensitivity, slow dark adaptation, recovery from glare, variation in color vision and a decreased visual processing speed. Highlighting these prevalent issues as well as current and possible future innovations will assist providers to formulate treatments and thereby conserve maximum independence and mobility in the modern mature population.

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Age-related degradation of optic radiation white matter connectivity differentially predicts visual and non-visual executive functions

10.1101/2020.11.04.368423 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Christina E. Webb ◽

Patricio M. Viera Perez ◽

David A. Hoagey ◽

Chen Gonen ◽

Karen M. Rodrigue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Higher Order ◽

White Matter Tracts ◽

Age Related ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

White Matter Connectivity ◽

Optic Radiations

AbstractHealthy aging is accompanied by degraded white matter connectivity, which has been suggested to contribute to cognitive dysfunction observed in aging, especially in relation to fluid measures of cognition. Prior research linking white matter microstructure and cognition, however, has largely been limited to major association and heteromodal white matter tracts. The optic radiations (OR), which transfer visual sensory-perceptual information from thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus to primary visual cortex, are generally considered lower-level input-relay white matter tracts. However, the role of this prominent white-matter visual relay system in supporting higher-order cognition is understudied, especially in regard to healthy aging. The present study used deterministic tractography to isolate OR fractional anisotropy (FA) in 130 participants aged 20-94 to assess age effects on OR tract white matter connectivity. We also examined associations between age-related differences in the OR and cognitive domains involving visual processing speed, and visual- and non-visual executive function (EF). OR microstructural integrity, as indexed by FA, exhibited a significant linear decrease across age. A significant interaction between age, FA, and cognitive domain on cognitive task performance indicated that in older age, more degraded OR white matter was associated with poorer visual EF, but no age-related association between FA in the OR and visual processing speed or verbal EF was observed. Findings suggest the optic radiations are not merely sensory-perceptual relays, but also influence higher-order visual cognition differentially with aging.

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Influence of auditory–verbal, visual–verbal, visual, and visual–visual processing speed on reading and spelling at the end of Grade 1

Brain and Cognition ◽

10.1016/j.bandc.2004.08.043 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 189-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Monique Plaza ◽

Henri Cohen

Keyword(s):

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

End Of Grade ◽

Reading And Spelling

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Visual attention in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder before and after stimulant treatment

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291718003628 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (15) ◽

pp. 2617-2625 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ann-Marie Low ◽

Signe Vangkilde ◽

Julijana le Sommer ◽

Birgitte Fagerlund ◽

Birte Glenthøj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Visual Attention ◽

Attention Deficit ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Stimulant Medication ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

Adhd Symptomatology

AbstractBackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder which frequently persists into adulthood. The primary goal of the current study was to (a) investigate attentional functions of stimulant medication-naïve adults with ADHD, and (b) investigate the effects of 6 weeks of methylphenidate treatment on these functions.MethodsThe study was a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded, 6-week follow-up design with 42 stimulant medication-naïve adult patients with ADHD, and 42 age and parental education-matched healthy controls. Assessments included measures of visual attention, based on Bundesen's Theory of Visual Attention (TVA), which yields five precise measures of aspects of visual attention; general psychopathology; ADHD symptoms; dyslexia screening; and estimates of IQ.ResultsAt baseline, significant differences were found between patients and controls on three attentional parameters: visual short-term memory capacity, threshold of conscious perception, and to a lesser extent visual processing speed. Secondary analyses revealed no significant correlations between TVA parameter estimates and severity of ADHD symptomatology. At follow-up, significant improvements were found specifically for visual processing speed; this improvement had a large effect size, and remained when controlling for re-test effects, IQ, and dyslexia screen performance. There were no significant correlations between changes in visual processing speed and changes in ADHD symptomatology.ConclusionsADHD in adults may be associated with deficits in three distinct aspects of visual attention. Improvements after 6 weeks of medication are seen specifically in visual processing speed, which could represent an improvement in alertness. Clinical symptoms and visual attentional deficits may represent separate aspects of ADHD in adults.

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Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Journal of Visualized Experiments ◽

10.3791/54856 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jan Tünnermann ◽

Alexander Krüger ◽

Ingrid Scharlau

Keyword(s):

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Temporal Order ◽

Model Based ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

Temporal Order Judgments ◽

Model Based Analysis

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Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Based on Age, Gender, and Education Level

ACTA MEDICA IRANICA ◽

10.18502/acta.v58i10.4912 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Elham Hassanshahi ◽

Zahra Asadollahi ◽

Hossein Azin ◽

Jalal Hassanshahi ◽

Amin Hassanshahi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Visual Processing ◽

Spatial Perception ◽

Visual Learning ◽

Education Level ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Gender And Education ◽

Visual Processing Speed ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is defined as an inflammatory, progressive, and autoimmune disease in the central nervous system, recognized by its subsequent demyelination and neurodegeneration. Cognitive disorders are among the most severe problems in patients with MS, affecting their personal and professional life. This study is aimed to evaluate memory and visual learning, visual processing speed, and spatial perception in MS patients based on age, gender, and level of education. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 42 MS patients (based on McDonald’s criteria). The level of disability in patients was assessed using EDSS, and cognitive performance was evaluated by the use of judgment of line orientation (JLO), symbol digit modalities test (SDMT), and revised brief visuospatial memory test (BVMT-R). In this study, patients were within the age range of 20-51 years, 73.8% of which were female, and 61.9% had academic degrees. According to the classes of independent variables (gender, education level), no significant difference was observed in the mean scores of dependent variables (JLO, SDMT, and BVMR-T scores) (P>0.05). In addition, age as a confounding variable had no impact (P>0.05). In addition, gender and level of education had no significant interaction (P>0.05). According to the results of the study, age, gender, and education level had no significant effect on memory and visual learning, visual processing speed, and spatial perception.

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