S66. USING UNITIZATION TO CIRCUMVENT RELATIONAL MEMORY DEFICITS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract Background Relational memory (RM) is disproportionately affected in schizophrenia. Unitization is a cognitive strategy that compensates for RM deficits by facilitating the combination of disparate pieces of information to form a single functional unit. Unitization has been effective in circumventing RM impairment in hippocampal amnesia and older adults with RM deficits when performing a Transverse Patterning (TP) task. We developed a brief intervention using unitization to circumvent RM impairment in individuals with schizophrenia when learning arbitrary item-relations in a TP task. We subsequently developed the Relational Trip Task (RTT), which uses pairs of real-life stimuli (faces, places, objects) and a narrative frame for encoding to investigate if unitization generalizes to a more relatable real-life context. Methods Twenty-two individuals with an RM deficit and a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorder were pseudo-randomized to either the unitization or control condition, from which 19 completed all TP tasks and 17 completed RTT. TP performance was measured at screening. TP and RTT task performances were measured pre-post learning unitization. During the RTT-unitized task, participants created their own unitizations, with assistance (50% of the task) and on their own. The control group received unitization training following study participation. The TP-unitized control group results were included in the analysis. Results TP task performance (percentage of correct trials) did not significantly differ between control (M = 49%, SD = 13%) and unitization groups (M= 60%, SD = 18%) at screening (t(17) = -1.506, p = 0.15). A 2-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not reveal a group-task interaction for unitization and control group accuracy in the four TP versions (F(3,51) = 2.38, p = 0.08). A main effect of task (F(3, 51) = 9.43, p > 0.001) was decomposed using Tukey HSD pairwise post-hoc analyses and showed significantly higher TP task accuracy following unitization (M = 85%, SD = 19%) compared to the TP task at screening (M = 55%, SD = 16% p > 0.001), before unitization (M = 61%, SD = 19%, p = 0.001) and when prompting self-unitization (M = 68%, SD = 28%, p = 0.04). No other significant differences in task accuracies were revealed. Group accuracies in the RTT were compared using a 2-way mixed ANOVA, and yielded a significant interaction between group and task accuracy (F(1,15) = 4.93, p = 0.042). Simple main effect analysis showed that accuracy in the RTT post unitization training (M = 90%, SD = 9%) was higher than before training (M = 77%, SD = 14%, p = 0.046), but performance between the same versions of the RTT did not significantly differ in the control group (M1 = 73%, SD = 19%; M2 = 70%, SD = 23%; p = 0.26). Discussion TP performance improved when the unitization strategy was provided, but not when the self-generation of unitization was encouraged. Improved RTT performance was limited to the unitization group, suggesting that effects were unitization-specific rather than lead by practice. Logic follows that this strategy may be generalizable to more relatable, real-life contexts. Self-generation of unitization was effective in improving task performance when assistance was provided rather than merely encouraged, suggesting that patients may benefit from guidance generating their own unitizations rather than integrating this strategy on their own. These findings should be replicated in a larger sample, and strategies to provide effective self-generation of unitization should be explored. Moreover, the extent to which the RTT can detect differential relational memory impairment in individuals with schizophrenia when compared to healthy controls warrants further investigation.

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Embedded Information Problem-Solving Instruction to Foster Learning from Digital Sources: Longitudinal Effects on Task Performance

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12197919 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (19) ◽

pp. 7919 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Manoli Pifarré ◽

Esther Argelagós

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Task Performance ◽

Secondary Students ◽

Real Life ◽

Task Instruction ◽

Control Group ◽

Internet Information ◽

Information Problem Solving ◽

Information Problem

This research paper is based on a longitudinal study to find out how long-term embedded whole-task instruction can help students to develop more efficient information problem-solving (IPS) skills that could lead to a better use of internet information for learning and solving digital tasks more effectively. To this end, we designed, implemented and evaluated a three-year instruction programme to promote students’ development of key IPS skills in real-life classroom settings. This research involved sixty-one secondary education students. Forty-two of them received the IPS instruction and their results were analysed longitudinally and subsequently compared to a control group which received the regular courses. The results showed that students who received the IPS instruction improved their performance significantly in tasks in which the use of IPS skills was needed and these students organised and presented the information found on the internet critically and gave personal arguments. The findings also revealed that during the three-year project, the scores of IPS task performance were statistically higher in the instructed students than those obtained in control group students. Our study then provides an insight into how secondary students develop IPS skills throughout long-term instructional support and shows a series of educational implications.

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A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF NOISE AND VIBRATION ON OPERATORS’ READABILITY TASK PERFORMANCE IN A MOBILE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development ◽

10.29037/ajstd.240 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 163-176

Author(s):

Iqbal Ahmed Khan ◽

Z. Mallick ◽

Zahid A. Khan

Keyword(s):

Statistical Analysis ◽

Task Performance ◽

Mobile Environment ◽

Effect Analysis ◽

Noise And Vibration ◽

Sitting Posture ◽

Reading Material ◽

Simple Main Effect Analysis ◽

Main Effect ◽

Males And Females

This paper presents a study in which the effect of noise and vibration on the task performance in a mobile driving environment is experimentally investigated. A readability kind of task, where a reading material was presented to the operators on a laptop screen was considered and the operators performed the task in a sitting posture without their back supported with the backrest of the seat. The task performance was measured in terms of mean number of characters read per minute by the operators, which served as data for statistical analysis. Results of the study showed that noise and vibration were statistically significant. The interaction between gender and vibration was also found to be significant. The presence of noise and vibration in a mobile environment decreased the operators’ task performance. The results of the simple main effect analysis indicated that the gender was statistically significant for the last two levels of vibration. However the equivalent acceleration of vibration was found statistically significant for males and females. The findings are in line with previous researches that showed negative significant effect of noise and vibration on operators’ task performance.

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The Effects of a Caffeine Placebo and Experimenter Expectation on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, Well-Being, and Cognitive Performance

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027//1016-9040.6.1.15 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 15-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Harald Walach ◽

Stefan Schmidt ◽

Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽

Susanne Wiesch

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Double Blind ◽

Main Effect ◽

The Difference ◽

Being There ◽

To Receive

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.

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Serum Lutein is related to Relational Memory Performance

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11040768 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 768 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Corinne Cannavale ◽

Kelsey Hassevoort ◽

Caitlyn Edwards ◽

Sharon Thompson ◽

Nicholas Burd ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

High Performance ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Beta Carotene ◽

Study Phase ◽

Relational Memory ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Diet Records ◽

Spatial Reconstruction ◽

Serum Carotenoids

Dietary carotenoids, plant pigments with anti-oxidant properties, accumulate in neural tissue and are often found in lower concentrations among individuals with obesity. Given previous evidence of negative associations between excess adiposity and memory, it is possible that greater carotenoid status may confer neuroprotective effects among persons with overweight or obesity. This study aimed to elucidate relationships between carotenoids assessed in diet, serum, and the macula (macular pigment optical density (MPOD)) and relational memory among adults who are overweight or obese. Adults aged 25–45 years (N = 94) completed a spatial reconstruction task. Task performance was evaluated for accuracy of item placement during reconstruction relative to the location of the item during the study phase. Dietary carotenoids were assessed using 7-day diet records. Serum carotenoids were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between carotenoids and task performance. Although initial correlations indicated that dietary lutein, beta-carotene, and serum beta-carotene were positively associated with memory performance, these relationships were not sustained following adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. Serum lutein remained positively associated with accuracy in object binding and inversely related to misplacement error after controlling for covariates. Macular carotenoids were not related to memory performance. Findings from this study indicate that among the carotenoids evaluated, lutein may play an important role in hippocampal function among adults who are overweight or obese.

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Pediatric Residents and Interns in an Italian Hospital Perform Improved Bibliographic Searches when Assisted by a Biomedical Librarian

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/b88321 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 76

Author(s):

Mathew Stone

Keyword(s):

Teaching Hospital ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Real Life ◽

Boolean Logic ◽

Bibliographic Databases ◽

Control Group ◽

Pediatric Residents ◽

Clinical Scenarios

A Review of: Gardois, P., Calabrese, R., Colombi, N., Lingua, C., Longo, F., Villanacci, M., Miniero, R., & Piga, A. (2011). Effectiveness of bibliographic searches performed by paediatric residents and interns assisted by librarian. A randomised controlled trial. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 28(4), 273-284. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-1842.2011.00957.x Objective – To establish whether the assistance of an experienced biomedical librarian delivers an improvement in the searching of bibliographic databases as performed by medical residents and interns. Design – Randomized controlled trial. Setting – The pediatrics department of a large Italian teaching hospital. Subjects – 18 pediatric residents and interns. Methods – 23 residents and interns from the pediatrics department of a large Italian teaching hospital were invited to participate in this study, of which 18 agreed. Subjects were then randomized into two groups and asked to spend between 30 and 90 minutes searching bibliographic databases for evidence to answer a real-life clinical question which was randomly allocated to them. Each member of the intervention group was provided with an experienced biomedical librarian to provide assistance throughout the search session. The control group received no assistance. The outcome of the search was then measured using an assessment tool adapted for the purpose of this study from the Fresno test of competence in evidence based medicine. This adapted assessment tool rated the “global success” of the search and included criteria such as appropriate question formulation, number of PICO terms translated into search terms, use of Boolean logic, use of subject headings, use of filters, use of limits, and the percentage of citations retrieved that matched a gold standard set of citations found in a prior search by two librarians (who were not involved in assisting the subjects) together with an expert clinician. Main Results – The intervention group scored a median average of 73.6 points out of a possible 100, compared with the control group which scored 50.4. The difference of 23.2 points in favour of the librarian assisted group was a statistically significant result (p value = 0.013) with a 95% confidence interval of between 4.8 and 33.2. Conclusion – This study presents credible evidence that assistance provided by an experienced biomedical librarian improves the quality of the bibliographic database searches performed by residents and interns using real-life clinical scenarios.

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620 GASTRODUODENAL EOSINOPHILIA IS UNDER-APPRECIATED IN EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS (EOE) PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL BOWEL SYMPTOMS: A REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE

Diseases of the Esophagus ◽

10.1093/dote/doab052.620 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Kathryn Peterson ◽

Robert Genta ◽

Henrik Rasmussen ◽

Bradford Youngblood ◽

Amol Kamboj

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Pain ◽

Small Bowel ◽

Eosinophilic Esophagitis ◽

Life Experience ◽

Real Life ◽

Gastrointestinal Disorder ◽

Control Group ◽

Abdominal Symptoms ◽

Gi Symptoms ◽

Initial Work

Abstract Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is currently thought to be the most common Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorder. EoE patients often present with non-esophageal GI symptoms. Presence of EoE increases one’s risk of developing distal eosinophilia, including eosinophilic gastritis (EG) and duodenitis (EoD). A diagnosis of EG/EoD often takes years due to lack of provider awareness and absence of consensus diagnostic guidelines. The aim was to evaluate the prevalence of EG/EoD in patients with EoE and functional abdominal symptoms. Methods 52 EoE patients with extra-esophageal GI symptoms (i.e. abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, irritable bowel) who had stomach and small bowel biopsies interpreted as non-specific inflammation or normal were identified (‘EoE + S’). 15 EoE patients without extra-esophageal complaints who had routine screening stomach and small bowel biopsies at their initial endoscopies were included as a control group (‘EoE-S’). Biopsies taken at initial work up were identified and blocks were cut for H&E staining and assessment by an independent, blinded GI pathologist skilled in eosinophil (eos) assessment. Results 45 EoE + S and 12 EoE-S patients were evaluated (Table 1). Common symptoms were abdominal pain, bloating and nausea. All prior pathology reports were consistent with non-specific inflammation or normal tissue. Upon blinded re-assessment, 8/45 (17.8%) EoE + S patients met criteria for EG (≥30 eos/hpf in ≥5 gastric hpfs). None of the EoE-S patients met criteria for EG. 24/45 (53%) EoE + S patients met criteria for EoD (≥30 eos/hpf in ≥3 duodenal hpfs). 7 patients had concomitant EG + EoD. 3/12 EoE-S patients met criteria for EoD. Peak gastric and duodenal eos counts for the EoE + S group were higher than for the EoE-S group. Conclusion In patients with EoE and extra-esophageal GI complaints, review of gastric and duodenal biopsies previously reported as normal or ‘non-specific inflammation’ demonstrated a high discovery rate of gastroduodenal eosinophilia. These findings suggest that intentional evaluation of gastric and duodenal eos is indicated in patients with EoE and persistent non-esophageal GI symptoms. Increased awareness of EG/EoD and consensus diagnostic criteria may lead to the identification of currently undiagnosed patients with EG/EoD.

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Perceived and actual arm performance in multiple sclerosis: relationship with clinical tests according to hand dominance

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458513475832 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 1341-1348 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Ilse Lamers ◽

Lore Kerkhofs ◽

Joke Raats ◽

Daphne Kos ◽

Bart Van Wijmeersch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Real Life ◽

Activity Level ◽

International Classification Of Functioning ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Control Group ◽

Hand Dominance ◽

Clinical Tests

Background: The real-life relevance of frequently applied clinical arm tests is not well known in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: This study aimed to determine the relation between real-life arm performance and clinical tests in MS. Methods: Thirty wheelchair-bound MS patients and 30 healthy controls were included. Actual and perceived real-life arm performance was measured by using accelerometry and a self-reported measure (Motor Activity Log). Clinical tests on ‘body functions & structures’ (JAMAR handgrip strength, Motricity Index (MI), Fugl Meyer (FM)) and ‘activity’ level (Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT), Action Research Arm test) of the International Classification of Functioning were conducted. Statistical analyses were performed separately for current dominant and non-dominant arm. Results: For all outcome measures, MS patients scored with both arms significantly lower than the control group. Higher correlations between actual arm performance and clinical tests were found for the non-dominant arm (0.63–0.80). The FM (55%) was a good predictor of actual arm performance, while the MI (46%) and NHPT (55%) were good predictors of perceived arm performance. Conclusions: Real-life arm performance is decreased in wheelchair-bound MS patients and can be best predicted by measures on ‘body functions & structures’ level and fine motor control. Hand dominance influenced the magnitude of relationships.

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Acupuncture for Low Back Pain in Pregnancy – a Prospective, Quasi- Randomised, Controlled Study

Acupuncture in Medicine ◽

10.1136/aim.22.2.60 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 60-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

João Bosco Guerreiro da Silva ◽

Mary Uchiyama Nakamura ◽

José Antonio Cordeiro ◽

Luiz Kulay

Keyword(s):

Pelvic Pain ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Numerical Rating Scale ◽

Real Life ◽

Acupuncture Group ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Low Back ◽

Average Pain

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of acupuncture in low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy under real life conditions, as compared with patients undergoing conventional treatment alone. A total of 61 conventionally treated pregnant women were allocated randomly into two groups to be treated or not by acupuncture. Twenty-seven patients formed the study group and 34 the control group. They reported the severity of pain using a Numerical Rating Scale from 0 to 10, and their capacity to perform general activities, to work, and to walk. We also assessed the use of analgesic drugs. Women were followed up for eight weeks and interviewed five times, at two-week intervals. All women completed the study. In the study group the average pain during the study period showed a larger reduction (4.8 points) than the control group (−0.3 points) (P<0.0001). Average pain scores decreased by at least 50% over time in 21 (78%) patients in the acupuncture group and in five (15%) patients in the control group (P<0.0001). Maximum pain and pain at the moment of interview were also less in the acupuncture group compared with the control group. The capacity to perform general activities, to work and to walk was improved significantly more in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). The use of paracetamol was lower in the acupuncture group (P<0.01). These results indicate that acupuncture seems to alleviate low back and pelvic pain during pregnancy, as well as to increase the capacity for some physical activities and to diminish the need for drugs, which is a great advantage during this period.

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The Impact of Exposure With No Training: Implications for Future Partner Training Research

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2018_jslhr-l-17-0413 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 61 (9) ◽

pp. 2347-2352 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aura Kagan ◽

Nina Simmons-Mackie ◽

J. Charles Victor

Keyword(s):

Controlled Trial ◽

Real Life ◽

Positive Outcome ◽

Control Group ◽

Nocebo Effect ◽

Negative Finding ◽

Conversational Skills ◽

Training Studies ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

The Impact

Purpose This research note reports on an unexpected negative finding related to behavior change in a controlled trial designed to test whether partner training improves the conversational skills of volunteers. Method The clinical trial involving training in “Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia” utilized a single-blind, randomized, controlled, pre–post design. Eighty participants making up 40 dyads of a volunteer conversation partner and an adult with aphasia were randomly allocated to either an experimental or control group of 20 dyads each. Descriptive statistics including exact 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the percentage of control group participants who got worse after exposure to individuals with aphasia. Results Positive outcomes of training in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia for both the trained volunteers and their partners with aphasia were reported by Kagan, Black, Felson Duchan, Simmons-Mackie, and Square in 2001. However, post hoc data analysis revealed that almost one third of untrained control participants had a negative outcome rather than the anticipated neutral or slightly positive outcome. Conclusions If the results of this small study are in any way representative of what happens in real life, communication partner training in aphasia becomes even more important than indicated from the positive results of training studies. That is, it is possible that mere exposure to a communication disability such as aphasia could have negative impacts on communication and social interaction. This may be akin to what is known as a “nocebo” effect—something for partner training studies in aphasia to take into account.

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The Experimental Effects of Acute Exercise on Long-Term Emotional Memory

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm7120486 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 486 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Breanna Wade ◽

Paul Loprinzi

Keyword(s):

Acute Exercise ◽

Group Interaction ◽

Emotional Memory ◽

Exercise Group ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Control Group ◽

Moderate Intensity Exercise ◽

Main Effect ◽

Randomized Controlled Experiment ◽

Memory Recognition

Emerging work suggests that acute, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may help to subserve episodic memory of neutral stimuli. Less investigated, however, is whether acute exercise is associated with enhanced memory recognition of emotional stimuli, which was the purpose of this experiment. A parallel-group randomized controlled experiment was employed. Participants (mean age = 20 yr) were randomized into an exercise (n = 17) or control group (n = 17). The exercise group engaged in a 15-min bout of moderate-intensity treadmill walking. Emotional memory recognition was assessed via images from the International Affective Picture System, including assessments of varying degrees of valence and arousal. Memory recognition was assessed at 1 day, 7 days, and 14 days post-memory encoding. We observed a significant main effect for time (F(2) = 104.2, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.77) and a significant main effect for valence–arousal classification (F(4) = 21.39, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.40), but there was no significant time by group interaction (F(2) = 1.09, p = 0.34, η2p = 0.03), classification by group interaction (F(4) = 0.12, p = 0.97, η2p = 0.01), time by classification interaction (F(8) = 1.78, p = 0.08, η2p = 0.05), or time by classification by group interaction (F(8) = 0.78, p = 0.62, η2p = 0.02). In conclusion, emotional memory recognition decreased over the 14-day follow-up period and this rate of memory decay was not altered by acute moderate-intensity exercise engagement. We discuss these findings in the context of exercise intensity and the temporal effects of exercise.

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