scholarly journals Why Does Cognitive Reserve Align With Modern Western Ideals of Success? Theoretical & Methodological Proposals

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 710-710
Author(s):  
Douglas Hanes

Abstract Cognitive reserve (CR) is a framework that investigates discrepancies between brain pathology and cognitive decline. In explaining why individuals with similar levels of brain pathology display different levels of functional impairment, CR research focuses on factors that resemble modern, Western ideals of success: greater education, professional achievement, a self-directed life, and physically and intellectually stimulating leisure time. This theoretical paper documents this alignment between CR and modern, Western ideals of success to hypothesize different mechanisms by which CR may operate. The focus in the CR literature has been on investigating and operationalizing the direct cognitive changes that come from intellectual cultivation, and the native abilities that are hypothesized to produce differences in both education and cognitive outcomes. This paper argues that an attention to CR’s relationship to current definitions of success presents alternative hypotheses about the mechanisms by which CR operates. Specifically, the paper outlines two potential mechanisms and frames alternative means of studying them: First, does the accrual of CR simply follow from being successful in conventional ways because of the material benefits of wealth and stability that success brings? Second, does a lack of success carry cognitive risks solely because of material deprivation, or are there additional psychosocial penalties that come from living a non-normative life—especially when that is not of one’s choosing? This paper proposes both cross-cultural and intersectional methods to begin to better understand the relationship between normative success and cognitive health.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 359
Author(s):  
Katharina Hogrefe ◽  
Georg Goldenberg ◽  
Ralf Glindemann ◽  
Madleen Klonowski ◽  
Wolfram Ziegler

Assessment of semantic processing capacities often relies on verbal tasks which are, however, sensitive to impairments at several language processing levels. Especially for persons with aphasia there is a strong need for a tool that measures semantic processing skills independent of verbal abilities. Furthermore, in order to assess a patient’s potential for using alternative means of communication in cases of severe aphasia, semantic processing should be assessed in different nonverbal conditions. The Nonverbal Semantics Test (NVST) is a tool that captures semantic processing capacities through three tasks—Semantic Sorting, Drawing, and Pantomime. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between the NVST and measures of standard neurolinguistic assessment. Fifty-one persons with aphasia caused by left hemisphere brain damage were administered the NVST as well as the Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT). A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted across all AAT and NVST subtests. The analysis resulted in a two-factor model that captured 69% of the variance of the original data, with all linguistic tasks loading high on one factor and the NVST subtests loading high on the other. These findings suggest that nonverbal tasks assessing semantic processing capacities should be administered alongside standard neurolinguistic aphasia tests.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352198925
Author(s):  
Amanda Robinson ◽  
Edith Pituskin ◽  
Colleen M Norris

A descriptive review was conducted to evaluate the evidence of cognitive patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following cardiac surgery. The search of electronic databases resulted in 400 unique manuscripts. Nine studies met the criteria to be part of the final review. Results of the review suggest that there are few validated PROMs that assess cognitive function in the cardiac surgical population. Furthermore, PROMs have not been used to assess overall cognitive function following cardiac surgery within the past decade. However, one domain of cognitive function—memory—was described, with up to half of patients reporting a decline postoperatively. Perceived changes in cognitive function may impact health-related quality of life and a patient’s overall view of the success of their surgery. Early identification of cognitive changes measured with PROMs may encourage earlier intervention and improve patient-centered care. In clinical practice, nurses may be in the best position to administer PROMs preoperatively and postoperatively.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 461-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Koenig ◽  
Rishi K. Bhalla ◽  
Meryl A. Butters

AbstractThis brief report provides an introduction to the topic of cognitive functioning in late-life depression (LLD). In addition to providing a review of the literature, we present a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of cognitive outcomes in this highly prevalent disorder. In addition, we discuss the relationship between LLD and dementia, and highlight the importance of regularly assessing cognitive functioning in older adults who present with depressive symptoms. If cognitive deficits are discovered during a neuropsychological assessment, we recommend referral to a geriatric psychiatrist or cognitive neurologist, for evaluation and treatment of the patient’s symptoms. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–7)


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Pires ◽  
Guilherme Trez

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the different approaches to the corporate reputation construct, in order to identify a comprehensive definition that can be used for measurement purposes, gaps identified by previous literature identified. Design/methodology/approach This is a theoretical essay. The authors analyzed studies that involve the relationship between corporate reputation and organizational performance, and the attributes of national and international corporate reputation ratings. Findings The authors identified a more comprehensive definition for the reputation construct, and indicated courses for the construct’s measurement, by considering: the judgment by the stakeholders (internal, suppliers, clients and the financial market); periodical evaluations under different organizational perspectives; attention to theoretical assumptions, among other aspects. Research limitations/implications The study is a theoretical paper that presents that the research field has many definitions that cannot be used interchangeably. It indicated how the reputation construct should be operationalized for measurement purposes. This study presented a reflection on the relationship between corporate reputation and performance, showing that it is not a settled topic in the academy. Practical implications The study advances the understanding of the reputation construct measurement, considering the adopted definition and the discussion of the attributes of the main ratings on corporate reputation. The adoption of a measurement method that takes into account the definition used in this study and the features of the methodologies discussed will improve the corporate reputation assessment. Social implications Literature indicates that a good corporate reputation can affect organizational performance and the inverse relationship is also true. As a social implication, it is extremely relevant to improve the understanding the definition and measurement methods of this construct. Originality/value This study discusses one of the most important intangible resources for organizations, contributing to the understanding of the difference between the market value and the book value of public companies. Besides it should be considered that there is one lack of a definition directly related to the measurement of the reputation construct in the literature, a gap in which this study contributes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Marx ◽  
David R. Skvarc ◽  
Mohammadreza Mohebbi ◽  
Adam J. Walker ◽  
Alcy Meehan ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive impairment is prevalent and often highly burdensome in people with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate if mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) pericarp extract may be an effective intervention to improve cognitive performance in this population.Methods: This was a secondary analysis of a larger randomized placebo-controlled trial that investigated a 24-weeks intervention of mangosteen pericarp extract supplementation in people diagnosed with schizophrenia. A subset of n = 114 participants with completed cognitive outcomes at follow up were included in this analysis. Using the Cogstate Brief Battery, the following cognitive outcomes were assessed: psychomotor function, attention, visual learning and memory (visual and working). Subgroup analyses investigated whether baseline clinical parameters (baseline cognitive functioning, illness severity and duration, depressive symptoms) moderated the relationship between mangosteen pericarp extract intervention and change in cognitive outcomes.Results: There were no significant between-group changes in any cognitive outcomes assessed. Subgroup analysis based on baseline cognition and clinical characteristics did not reveal any significant between-group difference in change.Conclusions: Mangosteen pericarp extract did not affect cognitive outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Further investigation regarding optimal dosing strategies for mangosteen interventions and the testing of additional cognitive domains may be warranted.Trial Registration:ANZCTR.org.au identifier: ACTRN12616000859482, registered 30 June 3 2016.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huseyin Duman ◽  
Doğan Uğur Şanlı

<p>In the analysis of GNSS time series, when the sampling frequency and time-series lengths are almost identical, it is possible to highlight a linear relationship between the series repeatabilities (i.e. WRMS) and noise magnitudes. In the literature, linear equations as a function of WRMSs allowed many researchers to estimate the noise magnitudes. However, this was built upon homoskedasticity. We experienced the higher WRMSs, the more erroneous analysis results using the noise magnitudes from the linear equations stated. We hence studied whether or not homoscedasticity clearly describes the modeling errors. To test that, we used the published results of GPS baseline components from the previous work in the literature and realized here that each component forms part of the totality. We introduced all baseline component results as a whole into statistical analysis to check heteroskedasticity. We established null and alternative hypotheses on the residuals which are homoscedastic (H0) or heteroskedastic (HA). We adopted both the Breusch-Pagan test and the Goldfeld-Quandt test to prove heteroskedasticity and obtained p-values for both methods. The p-value, which is the probability measure, equals to almost zero for both test methods, that is, we fail to accept the null hypothesis. Consequently, we can confidently state that the relationship between the WRMSs and the noise magnitudes is heteroskedastic.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Noise magnitudes, repeatabilities, heteroskedasticity, time-series analysis</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srikant S Chakravarthi ◽  
Amin B Kassam ◽  
Melanie B Fukui ◽  
Alejandro Monroy-Sosa ◽  
Nichelle Rothong ◽  
...  

AbstractBACKGROUNDEndoscopic and microneurosurgical approaches to third ventricular lesions are commonly performed under general anesthesia.OBJECTIVETo report our initial experience with awake transsulcal parafascicular corridor surgery (TPCS) of the third ventricle and its safety, feasibility, and limitations.METHODSA total of 12 cases are reviewed: 6 colloid cysts, 2 central neurocytomas, 1 papillary craniopharyngioma, 1 basal ganglia glioblastoma, 1 thalamic glioblastoma, and 1 ependymal cyst. Lesions were approached using TPCS through the superior frontal sulcus. Pre-, intra-, and postoperative neurocognitive (NC) testing were performed on all patients.RESULTSNo cases required conversion to general anesthesia. Awake anesthesia changed intraoperative management in 4/12 cases with intraoperative cognitive changes that required port re-positioning; 3/4 recovered. Average length of stay (LOS) was 6.1 d ± 6.6. Excluding 3 outliers who had preoperative NC impairment, the average LOS was 2.5 d ± 1.2. Average operative time was 3.00 h ± 0.44. Average awake anesthesia time was 5.05 h ± 0.54. There were no mortalities.CONCLUSIONThis report demonstrated the feasibility and safety of awake third ventricular surgery, and was not limited by pathology, size, or vascularity. The most significant factor impacting LOS was preoperative NC deficit. The most significant risk factor predicting a permanent NC deficit was preoperative 2/3 domain impairment combined with radiologic evidence of invasion of limbic structures – defined as a “NC resilience/reserve” in our surgical algorithm. Larger efficacy studies will be required to demonstrate the validity of the algorithm and impact on long-term cognitive outcomes, as well as generalizability of awake TPCS for third ventricular surgery.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Batchelor

This article considers ideas of image and space as they apply to acousmatic music and to sound art, establishing overlaps and compatibilities which are perhaps overlooked in the current trend to consider these two genres incompatible. Two issues in particular are considered: compositional (especially mimesis and the construction of image, and what shall be termed ‘ephemeral narrative’) and presentational (in particular multichannel speaker deployment). While exploring several relevant works within this discussion, by way of a case study the article introduces the author’s GRIDs project – a series of four multichannel sound sculptures united in their arrangement in geometric arrays of many (in some cases potentially hundreds of) loudspeakers. These permit, by virtue of being so massively (and geometrically) multichannel, the generation of extremely intricate spatial sound environments – fabricated landscapes – that emerge directly from an acousmatic compositional aesthetic. Owing to their alternative means of presentation and presentation contexts, however, they offer very different experiences from those of acousmatic music encountered in the concert hall. So the latter part of this article explores the various ways in which the listener might engage with constructed image space within these sound sculptures, along with the relationship of the audio content of each with its visual and situational setup – that is, its environment.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document