scholarly journals Cross-Disorder Cognitive Impairments in Youth Referred for Neuropsychiatric Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alysa E. Doyle ◽  
Pieter J. Vuijk ◽  
Nathan D. Doty ◽  
Lauren M. McGrath ◽  
Brian L. Willoughby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Genetic Liability ◽  
General Ability ◽  
Comorbid Adhd ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Youth With Adhd ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

AbstractObjectives: Studies suggest that impairments in some of the same domains of cognition occur in different neuropsychiatric conditions, including those known to share genetic liability. Yet, direct, multi-disorder cognitive comparisons are limited, and it remains unclear whether overlapping deficits are due to comorbidity. We aimed to extend the literature by examining cognition across different neuropsychiatric conditions and addressing comorbidity. Methods: Subjects were 486 youth consecutively referred for neuropsychiatric evaluation and enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Genetic Influences on Cognition. First, we assessed general ability, reaction time variability (RTV), and aspects of executive functions (EFs) in youth with non-comorbid forms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood disorders and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as in youth with psychosis. Second, we determined the impact of comorbid ADHD on cognition in youth with ASD and mood disorders. Results: For EFs (working memory, inhibition, and shifting/ flexibility), we observed weaknesses in all diagnostic groups when participants’ own ability was the referent. Decrements were subtle in relation to published normative data. For RTV, weaknesses emerged in youth with ADHD and mood disorders, but trend-level results could not rule out decrements in other conditions. Comorbidity with ADHD did not impact the pattern of weaknesses for youth with ASD or mood disorders but increased the magnitude of the decrement in those with mood disorders. Conclusions: Youth with ADHD, mood disorders, ASD, and psychosis show EF weaknesses that are not due to comorbidity. Whether such cognitive difficulties reflect genetic liability shared among these conditions requires further study. (JINS, 2018, 24, 91–103)

The Impact of Caffeine on Memory

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Emily Chappelear ◽  
Cassa Drury
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Caffeine Intake ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Caffeine Consumption ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Time Test ◽  
The Impact

Many people rely on caffeine as part of their daily routine to induce the feeling of wakefulness. However, the effects of caffeine on various brain functions, such as memory, remains unclear. To study the impact of caffeine on memory and attention, we conducted a pilot study on individuals with varying levels of caffeine consumption. Each individual completed a survey, memory test, and reaction time test. The results did not elucidate clear trends or significant differences between those who consumed caffeine and those who did not. This study suggests that caffeine intake does not have a direct impact on memory, but a correlation between reaction time variability and memory suggested that more research could provide deeper insights into the effects of various levels of caffeine consumption.

Accurate reaction time methods demonstrate similar results from different sensory modalities

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Drew McRacken ◽  
Maddie Dyson ◽  
Kevin Hu
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Reaction Time Methods ◽  
Test Reaction ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Visual Reaction ◽  
The Impact

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant number of reports that suggested that reaction times for different sensory modalities were different – e.g., that visual reaction time was slower than tactile reaction time. A recent report by Holden and colleagues stated that (1) there has been a significant historic upward drift in reaction times reported in the literature, (2) that this drift or degradation in reaction times could be accounted for by inaccuracies in the methods used and (3) that these inaccurate methods led to inaccurate reporting of differences between visual and tactile based reaction time testing.  The Holden study utilized robotics (i.e., no human factors) to test visual and tactile reaction time methods but did not assess how individuals would perform on different sensory modalities.  This study utilized three different sensory modalities: visual, auditory, and tactile, to test reaction time. By changing the way in which the subjects were prompted and measuring subsequent reaction time, the impact of sensory modality could be analyzed. Reaction time testing for two sensory modalities, auditory and visual, were administered through an Arduino Uno microcontroller device, while tactile-based reaction time testing was administered with the Brain Gauge. A range of stimulus intensities was delivered for the reaction times delivered by each sensory modality. The average reaction time and reaction time variability was assessed and a trend could be identified for the reaction time measurements of each of the sensory modalities. Switching the sensory modality did not result in a difference in reaction time and it was concluded that this was due to the implementation of accurate circuitry used to deliver each test. Increasing stimulus intensity for each sensory modality resulted in faster reaction times. The results of this study confirm the findings of Holden and colleagues and contradict the results reported in countless studies that conclude that (1) reaction times are historically slower now than they were 50 years ago and (2) that there are differences in reaction times for different sensory modalities (vision, hearing, tactile). The implications of this are that utilization of accurate reaction time methods could have a significant impact on clinical outcomes and that many methods in current clinical use are basically perpetuating poor methods and wasting time and money of countless subjects or patients.

The Specificity and Independent Contribution of Inhibition, Working Memory, and Reaction Time Variability in Relation to Symptoms of ADHD and ASD

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1266-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Truedsson ◽  
Gunilla Bohlin ◽  
Cecilia Wåhlstedt
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Neuropsychological Functions ◽  
Specific Association

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the specificity of inhibition, working memory (WM), and reaction time variability (RTV) in relation to symptoms of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: A community-based sample of schoolchildren aged 7 to 9 years ( N = 200) completed tasks designed to measure inhibition, WM, and RTV. Results: All neuropsychological functions were related to symptoms of both ADHD and ASD. The results from regression analyses showed that inhibition and RTV were related specifically to ADHD symptoms when controlling for symptoms of ASD. Regarding WM, no specific association with either symptom domain was evident after controlling for the other. Furthermore, independent contributions of inhibition and RTV were found in relation to ADHD symptoms after controlling for ASD symptoms. Conclusion: The present study underscores the relevance of controlling for ADHD symptoms when examining ASD symptoms in relation to neuropsychological functions.

The Impact of Concurrent Noise on Visual Search in Children With ADHD

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 1344-1353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary Allen ◽  
Kristen Pammer
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
White Noise ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Noise Condition ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Noise Stimulus ◽  
Children With Adhd ◽  
The Impact

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a concurrent “white noise” stimulus on selective attention in children with ADHD. Method: Participants were 33 children aged 7 to 14 years, who had been previously diagnosed with ADHD. All children completed a computer-based conjunction search task under two noise conditions: a classroom noise condition and a classroom noise + white noise condition. The white noise stimulus was sounds of rain, administered using an iPhone application called Sleep Machine. Results: There were no overall differences between conditions for target detection accuracy, mean reaction time (RT), or reaction time variability ( SD). The impact of white noise on visual search depended on children’s medication status. Conclusion: White noise may improve task engagement for non-medicated children. White noise may be beneficial for task performance when used as an adjunct to medication.

The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Continuous Performance Task Among Young Men With ADHD

2020 ◽  
pp. 108705471989781
Author(s):  
Orrie Dan ◽  
Ami Cohen ◽  
Kfir Asraf ◽  
Ivgeny Saveliev ◽  
Iris Haimov
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Continuous Performance ◽  
Continuous Performance Task ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Performance Task ◽  
Commission Errors ◽  
The Impact

Objective: To identify the impact of sleep deprivation on functioning of young adults with or without ADHD on a continuous performance attention task. Method: Thirty-four men ( M age = 25.38) with ( n = 16) or without ( n = 18) ADHD completed a continuous performance task before and after 25 hr of sustained wakefulness in a controlled environment. Results: In both groups, sleep deprivation caused a decline in performance on all variables: omission errors, commission errors, reaction time, and reaction time variability. In addition, the ADHD group made more omission and commission errors, and had greater reaction time variability. Conclusion: Sleep deprivation has a detrimental effect on attention functioning among young adults. In addition, although young adults with ADHD generally perform worse on continuous performance tasks than young adults without ADHD, the groups are similarly affected by sleep deprivation.

Neuroticism and Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff in Self-Paced Speeded Mental Addition and Comparison

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 130-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagen C. Flehmig ◽  
Michael B. Steinborn ◽  
Karl Westhoff ◽  
Robert Langner
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Response Speed ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Reaction Time Variability ◽  
Comparison Task ◽  
Processing Efficiency ◽  
Mental Addition ◽  
Speed Accuracy ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Accuracy Tradeoff

Previous research suggests a relationship between neuroticism (N) and the speed-accuracy tradeoff in speeded performance: High-N individuals were observed performing less efficiently than low-N individuals and compensatorily overemphasizing response speed at the expense of accuracy. This study examined N-related performance differences in the serial mental addition and comparison task (SMACT) in 99 individuals, comparing several performance measures (i.e., response speed, accuracy, and variability), retest reliability, and practice effects. N was negatively correlated with mean reaction time but positively correlated with error percentage, indicating that high-N individuals tended to be faster but less accurate in their performance than low-N individuals. The strengthening of the relationship after practice demonstrated the reliability of the findings. There was, however, no relationship between N and distractibility (assessed via measures of reaction time variability). Our main findings are in line with the processing efficiency theory, extending the relationship between N and working style to sustained self-paced speeded mental addition.

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