Dopaminergic basis for deficits in working memory but not attentional set-shifting in Parkinson's disease

AbstractCognitive loading aggravates the freezing of gait (FoG), which is observed in approximately 50% of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the advanced stages. To investigate whether a specific pattern of executive deficits, that is, attentional set-shifting and/or inhibitory control, are associated with FoG in PD, 30 PD patients with FoG (PD-FoG+) and 36 PD patients without FoG (PD-FoG−) and 22 control healthy subjects were examined with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Intra-Extra Dimensional Set shifting Test (IED) and Stop Signal Task (SST), selected from the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Battery (CANTAB battery), were administered to analyze set-shifting and motor inhibition, respectively. The IED task was significantly sensitive for differentiating between PD-FoG+ and PD-FoG− groups (p<.01), as well Adenbrook’s clock drawing task (p=.033). By contrast, no differences emerged on any aspect of the SST task and other cognitive tasks. The attrition rate during the IED task showed that the problem in the PD-FoG+ group appeared at the pre-ID level, on the discrimination-learning set; the 32% PD-FoG+ subjects did not achieve the ID level of the task in comparison to negligible 4% of the PD-FoG− patients (p=.011). The logistic regression analysis, indicated the higher the IED stage successfully completed, the less likely presence of FoG in PD subjects. These results demonstrate that the complex cognitive–motor interplay might be responsible for FoG in PD and have had real life implication for the patients. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–8)

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Attentional set-shifting ability in first-episode and established schizophrenia: Relationship to working memory

Schizophrenia Research ◽

10.1016/j.schres.2009.03.039 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 112 (1-3) ◽

pp. 104-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Christos Pantelis ◽

Stephen J. Wood ◽

Tina M. Proffitt ◽

Renee Testa ◽

Kate Mahony ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

First Episode ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Attentional Set ◽

Attentional Set Shifting

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Cognitive Function in Parkinson’s Disease Patients with and without Anxiety

Neurology Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/6254092 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. A. Ehgoetz Martens ◽

J. Y. Y. Szeto ◽

A. J. Muller ◽

J. M. Hall ◽

M. Gilat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Working Memory ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Group Performance ◽

Digit Span ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Set Shifting ◽

The Impact

Research on the implications of anxiety in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been neglected despite its prevalence in nearly 50% of patients and its negative impact on quality of life. Previous reports have noted that neuropsychiatric symptoms impair cognitive performance in PD patients; however, to date, no study has directly compared PD patients with and without anxiety to examine the impact of anxiety on cognitive impairments in PD. This study compared cognitive performance across 50 PD participants with and without anxiety (17 PDA+; 33 PDA−), who underwent neurological and neuropsychological assessment. Group performance was compared across the following cognitive domains: simple attention/visuomotor processing speed, executive function (e.g., set-shifting), working memory, language, and memory/new verbal learning. Results showed that PDA+ performed significantly worse on the Digit Span forward and backward test and Part B of the Trail Making Task (TMT-B) compared to the PDA− group. There were no group differences in verbal fluency, logical memory, or TMT-A performance. In conclusion, anxiety in PD has a measurable impact on working memory and attentional set-shifting.

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Relationship of behavioural and symptomatic syndromes in schizophrenia to spatial working memory and attentional set-shifting ability

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291703001569 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 34 (4) ◽

pp. 693-703 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

C. PANTELIS ◽

C. A. HARVEY ◽

G. PLANT ◽

E. FOSSEY ◽

P. MARUFF ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Spatial Working Memory ◽

Memory Task ◽

Behavioural Syndrome ◽

Set Shifting ◽

Attentional Set ◽

Specific Relationship ◽

Attentional Set Shifting ◽

Thought Disturbance ◽

Relationship Of

Background. Behavioural syndromes (thought disturbance, social withdrawal, depressed behaviour and antisocial behaviour) offer a different perspective from that of symptomatic syndromes on the disability that may be associated with schizophrenia. Few studies have assessed their relationship with neuropsychological deficits. We hypothesized that these syndromes may represent behavioural manifestations of frontal-subcortical impairments, previously described in schizophrenia.Method. Long-stay inpatients (n=54) and community patients (n=43) with enduring schizophrenia were assessed, using measures of symptoms and behaviour and tests of executive functioning. The relationship between syndromes and neuropsychological function was assessed using multiple regression and logistic regression analyses.Results. Significant associations were found between performance on the spatial working memory task and the psychomotor poverty symptomatic syndrome, and between attentional set-shifting ability and both disorganization symptoms and the thought disturbance behavioural syndrome. These results were not explained by the effect of premorbid IQ, geographical location, length of illness or antipsychotic medication. Length of illness was an independent predictor of attentional set-shifting ability but not of working memory performance.Conclusion. The specific relationship between negative symptoms and spatial working memory is consistent with involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The associations between difficulty with set-shifting ability and both disorganization symptoms and behaviours may reflect inability to generalize a rule that had been learned and impaired ability to respond flexibly. The specific relationship of illness duration to set-shifting ability may suggest progressive impairment on some executive tasks. The nature of these relationships and their neurobiological and rehabilitation implications are considered.

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