Fractionation of Verbal Memory Impairment in Schizophrenia and Schizophreniform Psychosis

Objectives: The characterization, aetiology, and course of verbal memory deficits in schizophrenia remain ill defined. The impact of antipsychotic medications is also unclear. The purpose of the present paper was to investigate verbal memory performance in established schizophrenia (SZ) and first-episode schizophreniform psychosis (FE). Method: Performances of 32 SZ and 33 FE patients were compared to those of 47 healthy volunteers on measures of verbal working memory, verbal associative learning and story recall. Results: Story recall deficits, but not deficits in working memory or paired associate learning, were demonstrated by both patient groups. Patients treated with typical neuroleptics had more impairment in associative learning with arbitrary word pairings than those treated with atypicals, regardless of patient group. Conclusions: The results are consistent with the notion that some neuropsychological impairment is present at the time of psychosis onset and that this impairment is non-progressive. However, deficits may be specific to subclasses of memory function.

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Ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions: weak effects of ecstasy after control for potential confounds

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291708002730 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (9) ◽

pp. 1319-1330 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

G. Bedi ◽

J. Redman

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Drug Users ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Memory Function ◽

Inverse Association ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cohort Design ◽

Larger Sample

BackgroundAlthough there have been several reports linking ecstasy use with lowered cognitive function, much previous research suffers from substantial methodological limitations. The present study aimed to examine associations between ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions, using a larger sample size than most previous research and better controlling for a range of potential confounds.MethodA cross-sectional cohort design assessed 45 currently abstinent ecstasy polydrug users (EP), 48 cannabis polydrug users (CP) and 40 legal drug users (LD). Standardized neuropsychological tests were used to measure attention, verbal, visual and working memory and executive function. Prospective memory function was also assessed.ResultsIt was not possible to discriminate between groups on the basis of the cognitive functions assessed. Regression analyses showed an inverse association between lifetime dose of ecstasy and verbal memory performance. A combination of drug-use variables, including measures of ecstasy use, contributed to prediction of attention/working memory. However, individual associations were small, explaining 1–6% of variance in cognitive scores.ConclusionsAlthough the results suggest that heavy use of ecstasy is associated with some lowering of higher-level cognitive functions, they do not indicate a clinical picture of substantial cognitive dysfunction.

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Brain correlates of action word memory

10.1101/412676 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Zubaida Shebani ◽

Francesca Carota ◽

Olaf Hauk ◽

James B. Rowe ◽

Lawrence W. Barsalou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Motor Cortex ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Memory Load ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

The Body ◽

Action Perception ◽

Brain Correlates ◽

Posterior Parietal

AbstractWhen understanding language semantically related to actions, the motor cortex is active and may be sensitive to semantic information, for example about the body-part-relationship of displayed action-related words. Conversely, movements of the hands or feet can impair memory performance for arm- and leg-related action words respectively, suggesting that the role of motor systems extends to verbal working memory. Here, we studied brain correlates of verbal memory load for action-related words using event-related fMRI during the encoding and memory maintenance of word lists. Seventeen participants saw either four identical or four different words from the same category, semantically related to actions typically performed either with the arms or with the legs. After a variable delay of 4-14 seconds, they performed a nonmatching-to-sample task. Hemodynamic activity related to the information load of words at presentation was most prominent in left temporo-occipital and bilateral posterior-parietal areas. In contrast, larger demand on verbal memory maintenance produced greater activation in left premotor and supplementary motor cortex, along with posterior-parietal areas, indicating that verbal memory circuits for action-related words include the cortical action system. Somatotopic memory load effects of arm- and leg-related words were not present at the typical precentral loci where earlier studies had found such word-category differences in reading tasks, although traces of somatotopic semantic mappings were observed at more anterior cortical regions. These results support a neurocomputational model of distributed action-perception circuits (APCs), according to which language understanding is manifest as full ignition of APCs, whereas working memory is realized as reverberant activity gradually receding to multimodal prefrontal and lateral temporal areas.

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Differential effects of age at illness onset on verbal memory functions in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients aged 12–43 years

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720000409 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Birgitte Fagerlund ◽

Christos Pantelis ◽

Jens Richardt Møllegaard Jepsen ◽

Jayachandra Mitta Raghava ◽

Egill Rostrup ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Verbal Memory ◽

Late Onset ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Analysis Of Covariance ◽

First Episode ◽

Significant Group ◽

Illness Onset ◽

Age Related ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The typical onset of schizophrenia coincides with the maturational peak in cognition; however, for a significant proportion of patients the onset is before age 18 and after age 30 years. While cognitive deficits are considered core features of schizophrenia, few studies have directly examined the impact of age of illness onset on cognition. Methods The aim of the study was to examine if the effects of age on cognition differ between healthy controls (HCs) and patients with schizophrenia at illness onset. We examined 156 first-episode antipsychotic-naïve patients across a wide age span (12–43 years), and 161 age- and sex-matched HCs. Diagnoses were made according to ICD-10 criteria. Cognition was assessed using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and IQ was estimated using subtests from the Wechsler adult- or child-intelligence scales. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to examine linear and quadratic effects of age on cognitive scores and interactions by group, including sex and parental socioeconomic status as covariates. Results There was a significant overall effect of age on BACS and IQ (p < 0.001). Significant group-by-age interactions for verbal memory (for age-squared, p = 0.009), and digit sequencing (for age, p = 0.01; age-squared, p < 0.001), indicated differential age-related trajectories between patients and HCs. Conclusions Cognitive functions showing protracted maturation into adulthood, such as verbal memory and verbal working memory, may be particularly impaired in both early- and late-schizophrenia onset. Our findings indicate a potential interaction between the timing of neurodevelopmental maturation and a possible premature age effect in late-onset schizophrenia.

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Verbal Memory Function in Intellectually Well-Functioning Adults With ADHD: Relations to Working Memory and Response Inhibition

Journal of Attention Disorders ◽

10.1177/1087054715580842 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (10) ◽

pp. 1188-1198 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Astri J. Lundervold ◽

Helene Barone Halleland ◽

Erlend Joramo Brevik ◽

Jan Haavik ◽

Lin Sørensen

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Response Inhibition ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Memory Function ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Substantial Part ◽

Adhd Group ◽

Immediate Memory

Objective: To investigate verbal memory function with relation to working memory (WM) and response inhibition (RI) in adults with ADHD. Method: Verbal memory function was assessed by the California Verbal Learning Test–Second Edition (CVLT-II), WM by the Paced Serial Addition Test, and RI by the Color-Word Interference Test from Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System in a sample of adults with normal to high intellectual function (IQ). Results: The ADHD group ( n = 74) obtained lower scores than controls on measures of learning, recall, and immediate memory (CVLT-II). WM and RI explained a substantial part of verbal memory performance in both groups. A group to executive function (EF) interaction effect was identified for the total number of intrusions and false positive responses on the CVLT-II recognition trial. Conclusion: Verbal memory performance only partially overlaps with EF in intellectually well-functioning adults with ADHD. Both EF and verbal memory function should be assessed as part of a neuropsychological evaluation of adults with ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. XXXX; XX(X) XX-XX)

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Smoking Impairs Womens Verbal Learning and Memory Performance More than Mens: An International Web-Cohort Study of 70,000 Participants

10.1101/2020.08.25.20181735 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Candace Lewis ◽

Joshua Siegfried Talboom ◽

Matt D De Both ◽

Annie M Schmidt ◽

Marcus A Naymik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Memory Function ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Learning Performance ◽

Permutation Testing ◽

The Impact

Background: Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) include structural and functional blood vessel injuries linked to poor neurocognitive outcomes. Smoking might indirectly increase the likelihood of cognitive impairment by exacerbating the risks associated with underlying vascular disease. Sex disparities in VCID have been reported, however, few studies have assessed the sex-specific impact of smoking on cognitive function and with contradictory results. This is an important topic since smoking and cardiovascular disease negatively impact health and possibly women have the greater lifetime risk of stroke and dementia than men. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect-modification of sex on the relationship between smoking, cardiovascular disease and verbal learning and memory function. Methods: Using MindCrowd, a web-based cohort of over 70,000 people aged 18 - 85, we investigated whether sex modifies the impact of smoking and cardiovascular disease on verbal memory performance on a paired-associate learning task using both multiple regression and propensity matching approaches. Artificial error introduction and permutation testing underscored the stability of our results. To demonstrate the necessity of large sample sizes to detect an interaction of sex and smoking, we performed down sampling analyses. Findings: We found significant interactions in that smoking impacts verbal learning performance more in women and cardiovascular disease more in men across a wide age range. Interpretation: These results suggest that smoking and cardiovascular disease impact verbal learning and memory throughout adulthood. Smoking particularly affects learning and memory in women and cardiovascular disease has a larger effect in men. Although the reasons for these sex-modification effects are not entirely understood, our findings highlight the importance of considering biological sex in VCID.

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Negative stimuli may improve visuospatial working memory

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931213601326 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 1419-1423

Author(s):

Kyle M. Wilson ◽

Paul N. Russell ◽

Neil R. de Joux ◽

Megan J. Blakely ◽

William S. Helton

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Negative Affect ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Future Research ◽

Visuospatial Working Memory ◽

Negative Picture ◽

Picture Stimuli ◽

The Impact ◽

Negative Stimuli

The impact of negative affect on working memory performance is unclear. Visuospatial and verbal working memory are critical in many settings, but may be impaired during exposure to negative stimuli. In Experiment 1, the impact of task-irrelevant negative picture stimuli on verbal compared to visuospatial working memory performance was investigated. Unexpectedly, visuospatial memory performance was superior for trials containing negative stimuli than trials with neutral stimuli. The impact of negative picture stimuli on visuospatial working memory was further examined in Experiment 2. Performance was again superior for negative stimuli relative to neutral stimuli. While much previous research has reported that negative affect is disruptive of visuospatial working memory, the improved performance found here is consistent with other research particularly where negative or arousing stimuli are thought to increase the pool of available processing resources or effort. Implications for contexts where working memory demands occur alongside distressing stimuli are discussed, as well as future research suggestions.

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Dissociating the Impact of Auditory Access and Language Access in Deaf Children’s Cognitive Development

The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies in Learning and Cognition ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190054045.013.19 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 98-122

Author(s):

Matthew L. Hall

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Function ◽

Cognitive Development ◽

Implicit Learning ◽

Educational Practice ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Psychological Theory ◽

Future Research ◽

Language Access ◽

The Impact

Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children have been claimed to lag behind their hearing peers in various domains of cognitive development, especially in implicit learning, executive function, and working memory. Two major accounts of these deficits have been proposed: one based on a lack of auditory access, and one based on a lack of language access. This chapter reviews these theories in relation to the available evidence and concludes that there is little evidence of direct effects of diminished auditory access on cognitive development that could not also be explained by diminished language access. Specifically, reports of deficits in implicit learning are not broadly replicable. Some differences in executive function do stem from deafness itself but are not necessarily deficits. Where clinically relevant deficits in executive function are observed, they are inconsistent with the predictions of accounts based on auditory access, but consistent with accounts based on language access. Deaf–hearing differences on verbal working memory tasks may indicate problems with perception and/or language, rather than with working memory. Deaf–hearing differences on nonverbal tasks are more consistent with accounts based on language access, but much more study is needed in this area. The chapter concludes by considering the implications of these findings for psychological theory and for clinical/educational practice and by identifying high-priority targets for future research.

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The Impact of Stereotype Threat on Memory and Cognition in Older Adults

Western Journal of Nursing Research ◽

10.1177/01939459211029718 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 019394592110297

Author(s):

Graham J. McDougall ◽

Todd B. Monroe ◽

Keenan A. Pituch ◽

Michael A. Carter ◽

Laurie Abbott

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Stereotype Threat ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Training Group ◽

Memory Training ◽

Unique Contribution ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Bivariate Correlation ◽

The Impact

Cultural stereotypes that equate aging with decreased competence and increased forgetfulness have persisted for decades. Stereotype threat (ST) refers to the psychological discomfort people experience when confronted by a negative, self-relevant stereotype in a situation where their behavior could be construed as confirming that belief. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships of ST on memory performance in older adults over 24 months. The ST levels on average significantly declined, or improved in the memory training, but not the health training group. Although not significant at the .01 level, the bivariate correlation indicated that change in ST was moderately related to change in verbal memory, suggesting the possibility that improvements (or reductions) in ST may be related to increases in verbal memory scores. We discovered that the unique contribution of ST into the memory performance of healthy older adults offers a possible malleable trait.

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EXPRESS: Bored, distracted and forgetful – The impact of mind wandering and boredom on memory encoding

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology ◽

10.1177/17470218211026301 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174702182110263

Author(s):

Philippe Blondé ◽

Marco Sperduti ◽

Dominique Makowski ◽

Pascale Piolino

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Memory Load ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Load Condition ◽

Recognition Task ◽

Mind Wandering ◽

Memory Encoding ◽

Working Memory Load ◽

Thought Probes ◽

The Impact

Mind wandering, defined as focusing attention toward task unrelated thoughts, is a common mental state known to impair memory encoding. This phenomenon is closely linked to boredom. Very few studies, however, have tested the potential impact of boredom on memory encoding. Thus, the present study aimed at manipulating mind wandering and boredom during an incidental memory encoding task, to test their differential impact on memory encoding. Thirty-two participants performed a variant of the n-back task in which they had to indicate if the current on-screen object was the same as the previous one (1-back; low working memory load) or the one presented three trials before (3-back; high working memory load). Moreover, thought probes assessing either mind wandering or boredom were randomly presented. Afterward, a surprise recognition task was delivered. Results showed that mind wandering and boredom were highly correlated, and both decreased in the high working memory load condition, while memory performance increased. Although both boredom and mind wandering predicted memory performance taken separately, we found that mind wandering was the only reliable predictor of memory performance when controlling for boredom and working memory load. Model comparisons also revealed that a model with boredom only was outperformed by a model with mind wandering only and a model with both mind wandering and boredom, suggesting that the predictive contribution of boredom in the complete model is minimal. The present results confirm the high correlation between mind wandering and boredom and suggest that the hindering effect of boredom on memory is subordinate to the effect of mind wandering.

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