scholarly journals Cognitive and perceptual responses during passive heat stress in younger and older adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (10) ◽  
pp. R847-R854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Schlader ◽  
Daniel Gagnon ◽  
Amy Adams ◽  
Eric Rivas ◽  
C. Munro Cullum ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Spatial Span ◽  
Time Control ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Rapid Visual Processing

We tested the hypothesis that attention, memory, and executive function are impaired to a greater extent in passively heat-stressed older adults than in passively heat-stressed younger adults. In a randomized, crossover design, 15 older (age: 69 ± 5 yr) and 14 younger (age: 30 ± 4 yr) healthy subjects underwent passive heat stress and time control trials. Cognitive tests (outcomes: accuracy and reaction time) from the CANTAB battery evaluated attention [rapid visual processing (RVP), choice reaction time (CRT)], memory [spatial span (SSP), pattern recognition memory (PRM)], and executive function [one touch stockings of Cambridge (OTS)]. Testing was undertaken on two occasions during each trial, at baseline and after internal temperature had increased by 1.0 ± 0.2°C or after a time control period. For tests that measured attention, reaction time during RVP and CRT was slower ( P ≤ 0.01) in the older group. During heat stress, RVP reaction time improved ( P < 0.01) in both groups. Heat stress had no effect ( P ≥ 0.09) on RVP or CRT accuracy in either group. For tests that measured memory, accuracy on SSP and PRM was lower ( P < 0.01) in the older group, but there was no effect of heat stress ( P ≥ 0.14). For tests that measured executive function, overall, accuracy on OTS was lower, and reaction time was slower in the older group ( P ≤ 0.05). Reaction time generally improved during heat stress, but there was no effect of heat stress on accuracy in either group. These data indicate that moderate increases in body temperature during passive heat stress do not differentially compromise cognitive function in younger and older adults.

scholarly journals Teasing apart factors influencing executive function performance in bilinguals and monolinguals at different ages

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 605-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia C. Mueller Gathercole ◽  
Enlli Môn Thomas ◽  
Nestor Viñas Guasch ◽  
Ivan Kennedy ◽  
Cynog Prys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Simon Task ◽  
Relative Age ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Different Ages

Abstract This study attempts to tease apart a variety of factors that may contribute to performance on executive function tasks. Data from the Simon task is re-examined to determine the contributions of age, SES, language proficiency/vocabulary, general cognitive performance, and bilingualism on performance. The results suggest influence from a variety of factors, with a major contribution from relative age and from language proficiency, as measured by vocabulary. Bilingualism showed some effect in relation to older adults’ accuracy of performance, in both congruent and incongruent conditions, but not to reaction time.

scholarly journals Beyond Feeling Sick: The Visual and Cognitive Aftereffects of Virtual Reality

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ancret Szpak ◽  
Stefan Carlo Michalski ◽  
Dimitrios Saredakis ◽  
Celia Chen ◽  
Tobias Loetscher
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Table Tennis ◽  
Head Mounted Displays ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Rapid Visual Processing

Developing an understanding of how virtual reality (VR) aftereffects may influence later activities could help to minimise the risk of using head-mounted displays (HMDs) for various applications. This study investigated the visual and cognitive aftereffects of using HMDs and their relationship to the reporting of VR sickness symptoms. Visual (accommodation and vergence) and cognitive (reaction time and rapid visual processing) assessments were employed before and after participants engage in a 30-minute VR table tennis game (VR group, n = 27) or went about their daily activities (control group, n = 28). VR sickness symptoms were captured using the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). The data showed changes in accommodation but no concurrent changes in vergence, which likely stems from decoupling accommodation and vergence in VR. Furthermore, larger changes in accommodation were linked to a greater reporting of sickness symptoms suggesting that decoupling accommodation and vergence could be more adverse than previously thought. Participants in the VR group also showed slower decision (cognitive) times, but VR did not seem to affect their movement times in a five-choice reaction time task. The novel visual and cognitive findings from this study may be valuable to obtain a better understanding of the user issues and safety around VR usage.

scholarly journals The effect of elevations in internal temperature on event-related potentials during a simple cognitive task in humans

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (1) ◽  
pp. R33-R38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabu Shibasaki ◽  
Mari Namba ◽  
Misaki Oshiro ◽  
Craig G. Crandall ◽  
Hiroki Nakata
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Esophageal Temperature ◽  
Internal Temperature ◽  
Auditory Oddball ◽  
Time Control ◽  
Related Potentials

The effect of hyperthermia on cognitive function remains equivocal, perhaps because of methodological discrepancy. Using electroencephalographic event-related potentials (ERPs), we tested the hypothesis that a passive heat stress impairs cognitive processing. Thirteen volunteers performed repeated auditory oddball paradigms under two thermal conditions, normothermic time control and heat stress, on different days. For the heat stress trial, these paradigms were performed at preheat stress (i.e., normothermic) baseline, when esophageal temperature had increased by ∼0.8°C, when esophageal temperature had increased by ∼2.0°C, and during cooling following the heat stress. The reaction time and ERPs were recorded in each session. For the time control trial, subjects performed the auditory oddball paradigms at approximately the same time interval as they did in the heat stress trial. The peak latency and amplitude of an indicator of auditory processing (N100) were not altered regardless of thermal conditions. An indicator of stimulus classification/evaluation time (latency of P300) and the reaction time were shortened during heat stress; moreover an indicator of cognitive processing (the amplitude of P300) was significantly reduced during severe heat stress (8.3 ± 1.3 μV) relative to the baseline (12.2 ± 1.0 μV, P < 0.01). No changes in these indexes occurred during the time control trial. During subsequent whole body cooling, the amplitude of P300 remained reduced, and the reaction time and latency of P300 remained shortened. These results suggest that excessive elevations in internal temperature reduce cognitive processing but promote classification time.

Better Executive Function Is Associated With Faster On-Transition Aerobic Metabolism Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 823-840
Author(s):  
Ligita Siline ◽  
Arvydas Stasiulis ◽  
Loreta Stasiule
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Ventilatory Threshold ◽  
Aerobic Metabolism ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Interference Score

The present study aimed to examine relationships between executive function (EF) and variables of aerobic fitness. Participants were 32 healthy older adults ( M age = 65.1, SD = 6.6 years). We measured the first ventilatory threshold (VeT1) and the kinetics of oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2), heart rate (HR), and muscle deoxygenation [HHb] during treadmill walking of either constant, moderate intensity, or increasing intensity. We assessed EF with a computerized Stroop test and Stroop measures of correct answers, reaction time, and percent interference. We found the Stroop interference score to be negatively associated with the VeT1 ( r = –0.387, p = 0.031) and positively associated with the on-transition aerobic metabolism time constant (τ) of HR ( r = 0.519, p = 0.003), [Formula: see text]O2 ( r = 0.454; p = 0.010), and [HHb] ( r = 0.644, p = 0.001). Correct responses were negatively related with τHR ( r = –0.372, p = 0.039) and τ[Formula: see text]O2 ( r = –0.500, p = 0.004). The Stroop average reaction time, congruent reaction time and incongruent reaction time were positively related to τ[HHb] ( r = 0.507, p = 0.010; r = 0.437, p = 0.029; r = 0.558, p = 0.004, respectively). Better EF was associated with faster on-transition aerobic metabolism and higher aerobic fitness among older adults.

scholarly journals EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND PHYSICAL DECLINE TRAJECTORIES IN COMMUNITY DWELLING NON-DEMENTED OLDER ADULTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 801-801
Author(s):  
V. Del Panta ◽  
M. Colpo ◽  
G. Sini ◽  
B. Stefania
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Physical Decline

scholarly journals Combining tDCS With a Motor-Cognitive Task to Reduce the Negative Impact of Dual-Tasking on the Gait of Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 287-288
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Hausdorff ◽  
Nofar Schneider ◽  
Marina Brozgol ◽  
Pablo Cornejo Thumm ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
Dual Tasking ◽  
Concurrent Performance ◽  
Dual Task Cost

Abstract The simultaneous performance of a secondary task while walking (i.e., dual tasking) increases motor-cognitive interference and fall risk in older adults. Combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the concurrent performance of a task that putatively involves the same brain networks targeted by the tDCS may reduce the negative impact of dual-tasking on walking. We examined whether tDCS applied while walking reduces the dual-task costs to gait and whether this combination is better than tDCS alone or walking alone (with sham stimulation). In 25 healthy older adults (aged 75.7±10.5yrs), a double-blind, within-subject, cross-over pilot study evaluated the acute after-effects of 20 minutes of tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex and the dorsal lateral pre frontal cortex during three separate sessions:1) tDCS while walking on a treadmill in a virtual-reality environment (tDCS+walking), 2) tDCS while seated (tDCS+seated), and 3) walking in the virtual-reality environment with sham tDCS (sham+walking). The complex walking condition taxed motor and cognitive abilities. During each session, single- and dual-task walking and cognitive function were assessed before and immediately after stimulation. Compared to pre-tDCS performance, tDCS+walking reduced the dual-task cost to gait speed (p=0.004) and other gait features (e.g., variability p=0.02), and improved (p&lt;0.001) executive function (Stroop interference score). tDCS+seated and sham+walking did not affect the dual-task cost to gait speed (p&gt;0.17). These initial findings demonstrate that tDCS delivered during challenging walking ameliorates dual-task gait and executive function in older adults, suggesting that the concurrent performance of related tasks enhances the efficacy of the neural stimulation and mobility.

scholarly journals The effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yifan Chen ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Zijing Hong ◽  
Rongrong Hu ◽  
Zhibin Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Prospective Memory ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Executive Function Training ◽  
Encoding Strategy

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the effects of combined cognitive training on prospective memory ability of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A total of 113 participants were divided into a control group and three intervention groups. Over three months, the control group received only community education without any training, whereas for the first six weeks, an executive function training group received executive function training, a memory strategy training group received semantic encoding strategy training, and the combined cognitive training group received executive function training twice a week for the first six weeks, and semantic encoding strategy training twice a week for the next six weeks. The combined cognitive training group showed improvement on the objective neuropsychological testing (Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale). The memory strategy training group showed improvement on the self-evaluation scales (PRMQ-PM). Combined cognitive training improved the prospective memory and cognitive function of older adults with MCI.

scholarly journals Prevalence of High Resilience in Old Age and Association with Perceived Threat of COVID-19—Results from a Representative Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7173
Author(s):  
Elena Caroline Weitzel ◽  
Margrit Löbner ◽  
Susanne Röhr ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Ulrich Reininghaus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Representative Survey ◽  
Resilience Scale ◽  
Perception Of Threat ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Demographic Correlates ◽  
Education Levels

Little is known about resilience in old age and its manifestation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of high resilience in the German old age population. We further examine the socio-demographic correlates and whether high resilience reflects on older adults’ perception of the threat posed by COVID-19. The data were derived from a representative telephone survey of n = 1005 older adults (≥65 years) during the first COVID-19 lockdown. Assessments included socio-demographic variables, the perceived threat of COVID-19, and high resilience (Brief Resilience Scale; cutoff: ≥4.31). The association between high resilience and threat from COVID-19 was analyzed using ordinal logistic regression. The study sample had a mean age (SD) of 75.5 (7.1) years, and n = 566 (56.3%) were female. The estimated prevalence of high resilience was 18.7% (95% CI = [16.3; 21.2]). High resilience was more prevalent in the younger age group and participants with higher education levels. High resilience was significantly associated with a lower perception of threat from COVID-19. The results of the representative survey in the German old age population showed that one out of five adults aged 65 years and older had high resilience. Older adults with high resilience tended to feel less threatened by COVID-19. Further research on resilience in old age is needed to support vulnerable groups in the context of care.

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