Neuropsychological Practice Effects in the Context of Cognitive Decline: Contributions from Learning and Task Novelty

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sommer R. Thorgusen ◽  
Yana Suchy ◽  
Gordon J. Chelune ◽  
Brian R. Baucom
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Practice Effects ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Novelty Effect ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Component Processes ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractAlthough cognitive decline is typically associated with decreasing practice effects (PEs) (presumably due to declining memory), some studies show increased PEs with declines in cognition. One explanation for these inconsistencies is that PEs reflect not only memory, but also rebounds from adapting to task novelty (i.e., novelty effect), leading to increased PEs. We examined a theoretical model of relationships among novelty effects, memory, cognitive decline, and within-session PEs. Sixty-six older adults ranging from normal to severely impaired completed measures of memory, novelty effects, and two trials each of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 4thEdition Symbol Search and Coding. Interrelationships among variables were examined using regression analyses. PEs for Symbol Search and Coding (a) were related to different proposed PE components (i.e., memory and novelty effects), such that novelty effect predicted Symbol Search PE (R2=.239, p<.001) and memory predicted Coding PE (R2=.089, p=.015), and (b) showed different patterns across stages of cognitive decline, such that the greatest cognitive decline was associated with smallest Coding PE (R2=.125, p=.004), whereas intermediate cognitive decline was associated with the greatest Symbol Search PE (R2=.097, p=.040). The relationship between cognitive decline and PE for Symbol Search was partially mediated by novelty effect among older adults with abnormal cognitive decline (model R2=.286, p<.001). These findings (a) suggest that PE is not a unitary construct, (b) offer an explanation for contradictory findings in the literature, and (c) highlight the need for a better understanding of component processes of PE across different neuropsychological measures. (JINS, 2016, 22, 453–466)

scholarly journals Factors Underlying Individual Differences in Speech-Recognition Threshold (SRT) in Noise Among Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Recognition Threshold ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence

Many older adults have difficulty understanding speech in noisy backgrounds. In this study, we examined peripheral auditory, higher-level auditory, and cognitive factors that may contribute to such difficulties. A convenience sample of 137 volunteer older adults, 90 women, and 47 men, ranging in age from 47 to 94 years (M = 69.2 and SD = 10.1 years) completed a large battery of tests. Auditory tests included measures of pure-tone threshold, clinical and psychophysical, as well as two measures of gap-detection threshold and four measures of temporal-order identification. The latter included two monaural and two dichotic listening conditions. In addition, cognition was assessed using the complete Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd Edition (WAIS-III). Two monaural measures of speech-recognition threshold (SRT) in noise, the QuickSIN, and the WIN, were obtained from each ear at relatively high presentation levels of 93 or 103 dB SPL to minimize audibility concerns. Group data, both aggregate and by age decade, were evaluated initially to allow comparison to data in the literature. Next, following the application of principal-components factor analysis for data reduction, individual differences in speech-recognition-in-noise performance were examined using multiple-linear-regression analyses. Excellent fits were obtained, accounting for 60–77% of the total variance, with most accounted for by the audibility of the speech and noise stimuli and the severity of hearing loss with the balance primarily associated with cognitive function.

scholarly journals Prefrontal Cortex Activity during Response Selection Predicts Processing Speed Impairment in Schizophrenia

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 782-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil D. Woodward ◽  
Brittney Duffy ◽  
Haleh Karbasforoushan
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Response Selection ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Cognitive Operations ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractProcessing speed is the most impaired neuropsychological domain in schizophrenia and a robust predictor of functional outcome. Determining the specific cognitive operations underlying processing speed dysfunction and identifying their neural correlates may assist in developing pro-cognitive interventions. Response selection, the process of mapping stimuli onto motor responses, correlates with neuropsychological tests of processing speed and may contribute to processing speed impairment in schizophrenia. This study investigated the relationship between behavioral and neural measures of response selection, and a neuropsychological index of processing speed in schizophrenia. Twenty-six patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy subjects underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning during performance of two- and four-choice reaction time (RT) tasks and completed the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS) Processing Speed Index (PSI). Response selection, defined as RT slowing between two- and four-choice RT, was impaired in schizophrenia and correlated with psychometric processing speed. Greater activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) was observed in schizophrenia and correlated with poorer WAIS PSI scores. Deficient response selection and abnormal recruitment of the dorsolateral PFC during response selection contribute to processing speed impairment in schizophrenia. Interventions that improve response selection and normalize dorsolateral PFC function may improve processing speed in schizophrenia. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–10)

scholarly journals COGNITIVE STYLE “RIGIDITY-FLEXIBILITY OF COGNITIVE CONTROL” AND THE LEVEL INTELLIGENCE INDICATORS

THE BULLETIN ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 389 (1) ◽  
pp. 306-315
Author(s):  
M.V. Mun ◽  
S.K. Berdibayeva ◽  
F.A. Sakhiyeva ◽  
S.S. Dossanova ◽  
M.P. Kabakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Logical Form ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Aim of the study. The first goal of the study is to determine the relationship of the cognitive style "rigidity-flexibility of cognitive control" with the level indicators of intelligence. The second goal of this study is to identify possible relationships between "rigidity-flexibility of cognitive control" and the properties of temperament. Materials and Methods. In this work the authors used the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Stroop color–word-interference task, the Questionnaire of the formal-dynamic properties of individuality (QFDPI, designed by Rusalov V.M.), and 15 heuristic tasks, 5 tasks each in figurative, logical and figurative-logical form (designed by Kulyutkin Y.N., KrutetskiyV.A., Smallian R.). Results. The general success of solving heuristic tasks is determined by a complex of factors, which includes indicators of the flexibility of thinking, intelligence and “intellectual” temperamental properties. The flexibility of thinking is correlated with the level characteristics of intelligence in such a way that high levels of verbal, non-verbal and general intelligence correspond to the flexibility of cognitive control, low values of indicators of intelligence correspond to the pole of rigidity of this cognitive style; intellectually developed subjects are more flexible. Conclusions. The cognitive style of “rigidity-flexibility of cognitive control” can be considered as a meta-ability. This cognitive style correlates with indicators of temperament and intelligence, and to a certain extent determines the success of solving heuristic tasks.

scholarly journals Differential Classification of Dementia

1995 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mohr ◽  
P. Brouwers ◽  
J. J. Claus ◽  
S. E. Purdon ◽  
M. Gagnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Function ◽  
Stepwise Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Attention And Memory ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Neuropsychological Measures ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Memory Scale ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence

In the absence of biological markers, dementia classification remains complex both in terms of characterization as well as early detection of the presence or absence of dementing symptoms, particularly in diseases with possible secondary dementia. An empirical, statistical approach using neuropsychological measures was therefore developed to distinguish demented from non-demented patients and to identify differential patterns of cognitive dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease. Age-scaled neurobehavioral test results (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised and Wechsler Memory Scale) from Alzheimer's (AD) and Huntington's (HD) patients, matched for intellectual disability, as well as normal controls were used to derive a classification formula. Stepwise discriminant analysis accurately (99% correct) distinguished controls from demented patients, and separated the two patient groups (79% correct). Variables discriminating between HD and AD patient groups consisted of complex psychomotor tasks, visuospatial function, attention and memory. The reliability of the classification formula was demonstrated with a new, independent sample of AD and HD patients which yielded virtually identical results (classification accuracy for dementia: 96%; AD versus HD: 78%). To validate the formula, the discriminant function was applied to Parkinson's (PD) patients, 38% of whom were classified as demented. The validity of the classification was demonstrated by significant PD subgroup differences on measures of dementia not included in the discriminant function. Moreover, a majority of demented PD patients (65%) were classified as having an HD-like pattern of cognitive deficits, in line with previous reports of the subcortical nature of PD dementia. This approach may thus be useful in classifying presence or absence of dementia and in discriminating between dementia subtypes in cases of secondary or coincidental dementia.

scholarly journals COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN COUPLES AND COLLABORATIVE INVOLVEMENT IN TYPE 1 DIABETES MANAGEMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S259-S259
Author(s):  
Cynthia Berg ◽  
Yana Suchy ◽  
Nancy Allen ◽  
Rob Kent de Grey ◽  
MaryJane Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Medical Regimen ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
Lower Intelligence

Abstract Managing type 1 diabetes involves coordinating complex daily behaviors that benefit from higher cognitive function. One’s spouse’s cognitive function may also be beneficial as spouses may collaborate in daily adherence behaviors and may be especially beneficial for older adults who may be experiencing poorer cognitive function. We examined: 1) whether one’s own and one’s spouse’s cognitive function predicted lower (better) HbA1c, 2) whether collaborating with a more cognitively capable spouse was especially beneficial, and 3) whether the benefit of partners’ cognitive ability occurred through better adherence. 199 couples were recruited where one member was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least one year (52% females, average age 46.8 years, range 25.9-74.9, average duration of diabetes 27 years). Both patients and spouses completed the information subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Addition as a measure of general intelligence. Patients rated the collaborative involvement of their spouse in their diabetes and their adherence to their medical regimen. Multiple regressions revealed that spouse’ higher intelligence uniquely and solely predicted better HbA1c over patient’s intelligence. Collaborating with a spouse of lower intelligence was associated with higher HbA1c for older adults; collaborating with a spouse of higher intelligence was associated with somewhat lower HbA1c. Mediational analyses indicated that spouse’s intelligence was associated with higher HbA1c through better adherence behaviors. The results suggest that individuals with type 1 diabetes who have a spouse of lower cognitive function may benefit from support from others in their network to manage their diabetes.

scholarly journals Age-Related Changes in Cognitive and Sensory Processing: Focus on Middle-Aged Adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry E. Humes
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Purpose The purpose of this article was to examine the effects of age on (a) various psychophysical measures of threshold sensitivity and temporal processing in hearing, vision, and touch and (b) measures of cognitive processing as assessed by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (Wechsler, 1997). Method Age group differences and correlations with age were examined, as were associations among age, sensory processing, and cognition. Results The group analyses showed significant differences on most sensory and cognitive measures such that middle-aged adults performed significantly worse than young adults and significantly better than older adults. Correlations of performance with age were also significant when analyses were restricted to just the young and middle-aged adults. Last, sensory processing, but not age, was significantly correlated with cognitive processing when analyses were restricted to just the young and middle-aged adults. Conclusion Middle-aged adults experienced declines in both sensory and cognitive processing. The declines in both the cognitive and sensory domains were such that, for most measures in each domain, the performance of middle-aged adults fell somewhere between that of young and older adults.

scholarly journals Effect of methylphenidate on attention in apathetic AD patients in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista L. Lanctôt ◽  
Sarah A. Chau ◽  
Nathan Herrmann ◽  
Lea T. Drye ◽  
Paul B. Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Digit Span ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
State Examination

ABSTRACTBackground:Little is known about the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on attention in Alzheimer's disease (AD). MPH has shown to improve apathy in AD, and both apathy and attention have been related to dopaminergic function. The goal was to investigate MPH effects on attention in AD and assess the relationship between attention and apathy responses.Methods:MPH (10 mg PO twice daily) or placebo was administered for six weeks in a randomized, double-blind trial in mild-to-moderate AD outpatients with apathy (Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Apathy ≥ 4). Attention was measured with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Digit Span (DS) subtest (DS forward, selective attention) and apathy with the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES). A mixed effects linear regression estimated the difference in change from baseline between treatment groups, defined as δ (MPH (DS week 6–DS baseline)) – (placebo (DS week 6–DS baseline)).Results:In 60 patients (37 females, age = 76 ± 8, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) = 20 ± 5, NPI Apathy = 7 ± 2), the change in DS forward (δ = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.06–1.68), p = 0.03) and DS total (δ = 1.01 (95% CI: 0.09–1.93), p = 0.03) favored MPH over placebo. Of 57 completers, 17 patients had improved apathy (≥3.3 points on the AES from baseline to end point) and 40 did not. There were no significant associations between AES and NPI Apathy with DS change scores in the MPH, placebo, AES responder, or non-responder groups. DS scores did not predict apathy response to MPH treatment.Conclusion:These results suggest MPH can improve attention and apathy in AD; however, the effects appear independent in this population.

Performance-verbal discrepancies and facets of psychopathy: assessing the relationship between WAIS–R/III summary IQs/index scores and PCL–R facet scores

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn D. Walters ◽  
Scott A. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Roc Curves ◽  
Forensic Assessment ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Verbal Comprehension ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Psychopathy Checklist Revised ◽  
Male Inmates ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between differences in performance and verbal intelligence quotients (PIQ and VIQ) and the four facet scores from the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL–R) (Hare, 2003). Design/methodology/approach Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and PCL–R facet scores provided by 181 male federal inmates as part of a forensic evaluation were analyzed with multiple regression, paired t-tests, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Findings Of the four PCL–R facet scores, only elevations on Facet 4 (antisocial) produced a significant WAIS-Revised (Wechsler, 1981) PIQ over VIQ (PIQ>VIQ) effect. In addition, only Facet 4 achieved significant ROC accuracy and correlated with the PIQ>VIQ discrepancy after other potentially important variables were controlled. In a follow-up study of 46 male inmates, Facet 4 correlated negatively with the Verbal Comprehension and Working Memory indices of the WAIS–Third Edition (Wechsler, 1997) and accurately classified a significant portion of Perceptual Organization Index (POI)>WMI cases but not a significant portion of POI>VCI cases. Practical implications Verbal comprehension and executive function deficits are examined as possible explanations for the relationships observed in this study. Originality/value These results have potentially important implications for forensic assessment in that they suggest that only certain specific features of the psychopathy construct are related to the well-known PIQ>VIQ discrepancy.

Relation of a Measure of Vocabulary Skill to the Wais

1972 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley F. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Full Scale ◽  
The Self ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Intelligence Scale ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Adult Intelligence ◽  
Wechsler Adult Intelligence ◽  
Screening Device ◽  
The Relationship

The present study examined the relationship between a short, self-administered test of vocabulary skill and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The results showed that the self-administered vocabulary scale was significantly related to WAIS Full Scale and Verbal IQs and that it showed satisfactory reliability for addict patients. The scale appears useful as a brief intellectual screening device.

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