scholarly journals Executive Functions in Aging: An Experimental and Computational Study of the Wisconsin Card Sorting and Brixton Spatial Anticipation Tests

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Andrea Caso ◽  
R. P. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Computational Study ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting

Dopaminergic Genes Polymorphisms and Prefrontal Cortex Efficiency Among Obese People - Whether Gender is a Differentiating Factor?

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 405-418
Author(s):  
Maciej Bieliński ◽  
Natalia Lesiewska ◽  
Roman Junik ◽  
Anna Kamińska ◽  
Andrzej Tretyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Variable Number ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Obese People ◽  
Perseverative Errors ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test

Background:Obesity is a chronic condition associated with poorer cognitive functioning. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a useful tool for evaluating executive functions. In this study, we assessed the association between dopaminergic gene polymorphisms: DAT1 (SLC6A3), COMTVal158Met, DRD4 (48-bp variable number of tandem repeats - VNTR) and WCST parameters to investigate the functions of the frontal lobes in obese individuals.Objective:To find the significant correlations between polymorphisms of DAT1, COMTVal158Met, DRD4 and executive functions in obese subjects.Methods:The analysis of the frequency of individual alleles was performed in 248 obese patients (179 women, 69 men). Evaluation of the prefrontal cortex function (operating memory and executive functions) was measured with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Separate analyzes were performed in age subgroups to determine different activities and regulation of genes in younger and older participants.Results:Scores of WCST parameters were different in the subgroups of women and men and in the age subgroups. Regarding the COMT gene, patients with A/A and G/A polymorphisms showed significantly better WCST results in WCST_P, WCST_CC and WCST_1st. Regarding DAT1 men with L/L and L/S made less non-perseverative errors, which was statistically significant. In DRD4, significantly better WCST_1st results were found only in older women with S allele.Conclusion:Obtained results indicate the involvement of dopaminergic transmission in the regulation of prefrontal cortex function. Data analysis indicates that prefrontal cortex function may ensue, from different elements such as genetic factors, metabolic aspects of obesity, and hormonal activity (estrogen).

scholarly journals Automatic Intra-/Extra-Dimensional Attentional Set-Shifting Task in Adolescent Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariasole Ciampoli ◽  
Diego Scheggia ◽  
Francesco Papaleo
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Attentional Set ◽  
Attentional Set Shifting ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test ◽  
Set Shifting Task

Adolescence is a developmental period crucial for the maturation of higher-order cognitive functions. Indeed, adolescence deficits in executive functions are strong predictors of increased vulnerability to several mental disabilities later in life. Here, we tested adolescent mice in a fully-automated attentional set-shifting task equivalent to the humans’ Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Intra-/Extra-Dimensional set-shift task (ID/ED). Compared to an adult, adolescent mice required more time to complete the task (≈16 days), and a higher percentage failed to finish the entire task. Nevertheless, adolescent mice completing this demanding task showed an increased effort in solving the extradimensional shift stage (EDS) compared to previous stages. Moreover, we found that this paradigm can be used to detect early cognitive dysfunctions in adolescent genetically modified mice. Thus, this automatic paradigm provides a further tool to assess attentional control in adolescent mice, and the development of dysfunctional executive functions from adolescence to adulthood.

scholarly journals The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Split-Half Reliability Estimates for a Self-Administered Computerized Variant

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 529
Author(s):  
Alexander Steinke ◽  
Bruno Kopp ◽  
Florian Lange
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Computerized Assessment ◽  
Digital Assessment ◽  
Reliability Estimates ◽  
Sample Characteristics ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test

Self-administered computerized assessment has the potential to increase the reach of neuropsychological assessment. The present study reports the first split-half reliability estimates for a self-administered computerized variant of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which is considered as a gold standard for the neuropsychological assessment of executive functions. We analyzed data from a large sample of young volunteers (N = 375). Split-half reliability estimates for perseveration errors, set-loss errors, and inference errors were all above 0.90. Split-half reliability estimates for response time measures on switch and repeat trials exceeded 0.95. Our results indicated sufficient split-half reliability for a self-administered computerized WCST, paving the way for an advanced digital assessment of executive functions. We discuss potential effects of test formats, administration variants, and sample characteristics on split-half reliability.

scholarly journals Typical performance of elderly patients with Alzheimer disease on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST)

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Humberto Silva-Filho ◽  
Sonia Regina Pasian ◽  
Francisco de Assis Carvalho do Vale
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Neuropsychological Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Sorting Test

Abstract The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a neuropsychological assessment tool designed to assess executive functions, frequently used in cases of cognitive disorders. However, Brazilian neuroscientific settings lack standardization studies of psychological assessment instruments, especially in the neuropsychological area. Thus, the assessment of clinical groups including dementias and particularly Alzheimer´s disease (AD) patients, may be compromised by the lack of analytical references. Objective: To characterize the performance of elderly patients with Alzheimer´s disease on the WCST, aiming at establishing preliminary evaluative norms. Method: Thirty-six elderly patients (mean age of 75.8 years) with mild AD from a teaching hospital were assessed using the printed form of the WCST. Results: The elderly patients with AD had impaired performance on the various WCST technical indicators, highlighting cognitive deficit with traces of stereotyped behavior and failures in working memory, conceptualization and learning. The results allowed preliminary norms to be defined for elderly AD patients on the various WCST indicators, grading their performance in eight diagnostic areas and yielding the identification of different levels of impairment of executive functions in these elderly patients. Conclusions: The results demonstrated specific aspects of performance on the WCST by elderly people with AD, highlighting the effect of the disease on cognitive performance and executive functioning. Those normative references, although preliminary make a significant contribution to the neuropsychological assessment of AD patients in the Brazilian context, within the informative scope of the WCST.

scholarly journals Brazilian preliminary norms and investigation of age and education effects on the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Color and Word test and Digit Span test in adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle Zimmermann ◽  
Caroline de Oliveira Cardoso ◽  
Clarissa Marceli Trentini ◽  
Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira ◽  
Rochele Paz Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Stroop Test ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Word Test ◽  
Span Test ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Education Effects ◽  
Sorting Test

Executive functions are involved in a series of human neurological and psychiatric disorders. For this reason, appropriate assessment tools with age and education adjusted norms for symptom diagnosis are necessary. OBJECTIVE: To present normative data for adults (19-75 year-olds; with five years of education or more) on the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MWCST), Stroop color and word test and Digit Span test. Age and education effects were investigated. METHODS: Three samples were formed after inclusion criteria and data analysis: MWCST (n=124); Digit Span (n=123), and Stroop test (n=158). Groups were divided into young (19-39), middle-aged (40-59) and older (60-75) participants with five to eight years of education and nine years of education or more. Two-way ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses were used. RESULTS: Education effects were found in most variables of the three tasks. An age effect was only found on color naming and color-word naming speed from the Stroop test. No interactions were detected. CONCLUSION: In countries with heterogeneous educational backgrounds, the use of stratified norms by education to assess at least some components of executive functions is essential for an ethical and accurate cognitive diagnosis.

Assessment of Executive Functions in a Brazilian Sample of Bipolar Subjects

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 859-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Oliveira ◽  
Flávio Kapczinski ◽  
Suzi Camey ◽  
Clarissa Trentini
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Type I ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Brazilian Sample ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting ◽  
Main Instrument ◽  
Bipolar Patients ◽  
Sorting Test ◽  
Depressive Episodes

Research has demonstrated impairments in executive functions in Bipolar Mood Disorder patients. Evidence shows that this impairment is present in both periods of active symptoms of the disorder, as well as euthymic stages, and is compounded by mood episodes, especially manic phases. The purpose of this study was to compare the executive performance of a sample of Brazilian bipolar patients in depressive episodes, (44 participants), euthymia (37 participants), and in controls (43 participants). The main instrument for evaluation was the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Significant differences were found in performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test between Bipolar subjects (Type I) (both in depression and euthymia) and the controls. No significant correlations were found between the number of manic episodes and the performance on execute measurement variables. The findings suggest that the executive dysfunctions in Bipolar Disorder may be related to both transitory and permanent deficits.

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