scholarly journals Cognitive mediated eye movements during the SDMT reveal the challenges with processing speed faced by people with MS

BMC Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bennis Pavisian ◽  
Viral P. Patel ◽  
Anthony Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Test Area ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Matched Healthy Control ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Number Of Visits ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Background The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is regarded as the cognitive test of choice for people with MS (pwMS). While deficits are linked to impaired processing speed, the mechanisms by which they arise are unclear. Cognitive-mediated eye movements offer one putative explanation. The objective of this study was to determine the association between eye movements and performance on the SDMT. Methods Thirty-three people with confirmed MS and 25 matched healthy control subjects (HC) were administered the oral SDMT while eye movements were recorded. Results Mean SDMT scores were significantly lower in pwMS (p < 0.038). Shorter mean saccade distance in the key area (p = 0.007), more visits to the key area per response (p = 0.014), and more total number of fixations in the test area (p = 0.045) differentiated pwMS from HCs. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that the number of visits to the key area per response (p < 0.001; ΔR2 = 0.549) and total number of fixations in the test area (p < 0.001; ΔR2 = 0.782) were the most robust predictors of SDMT scores. Conclusion Cognitive-mediated eye movements help elucidate the processing speed challenges confronted by people with MS. Mechanistic insights such as these can potentially help inform new cognitive rehabilitation strategies.

Taking the tester out of the SDMT: A proof of concept fully automated approach to assessing processing speed in people with MS

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1506-1513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viral Prakash Patel ◽  
Lingkai Shen ◽  
Jonathan Rose ◽  
Anthony Feinstein
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Matched Healthy Control ◽  
Automated Speech Recognition ◽  
Healthy Control

Background: One factor hindering the widespread use of cognitive testing for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is the need for a tester to administer tests. Objective: To undertake a proof of concept study assessing the feasibility of a fully automated speech recognition version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (auto-SDMT) in detecting abnormalities in processing speed in pwMS. Methods: A sample of 50 pwMS and 32 matched healthy control (HC) subjects was tested with the auto-SDMT and the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). Results: The percentages of MS participants impaired on the auto-SDMT and the traditional oral SDMT were 34% and 32%, respectively. Excellent convergent validity was found between the two tests (MS: r = −0.806, p < 0.001 and HC: r = −0.629, p < 0.001). The auto-SDMT had a similar sensitivity and specificity to the traditional oral SDMT in predicting overall impairment on the BICAMS. Conclusion: The auto-SDMT is a sensitive measure for detecting processing speed deficits in pwMS. The test, the first entirely computer administrated oral response version of the SDMT, uses speech recognition technology, thereby eliminating the need for a human tester. Replication of the results is required in a larger representative sample of pwMS.

scholarly journals The association of visuospatial working memory with dysthymic disorder in pre-pubertal children

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Franklin ◽  
A. Lee ◽  
N. Hall ◽  
S. Hetrick ◽  
J. Ong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Dysthymic Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Visuospatial Working Memory ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Spatial Span ◽  
Matched Healthy Control ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
And Performance

BackgroundVisuospatial working memory (VSWM) deficits have not been investigated specifically in children with dysthymic disorder (DD), although they are associated with impairments in attention that commonly occur in DD. This study investigates VSWM impairment in children with DD.MethodA cross-sectional study of VSWM in 6- to 12-year-old children with medication-naive DD (n=26) compared to an age-, gender- and ‘performance IQ’ (PIQ)-matched healthy control group (n=28) was completed.ResultsThe DD group demonstrated impairment in VSWM, including impairment in the spatial span and strategy components of VSWM. Furthermore, the VSWM impairment remained after controlling for spatial span. Inattentive symptoms were significantly associated with the VSWM impairment.ConclusionsThis study of children with DD found deficits in performance on VSWM tasks, suggesting that fronto-striatal–parietal neural networks that underlie processes of attention and the executive component of VSWM are dysfunctional in children with DD. These findings further our understanding of DD and suggest more specific interventions that might improve functioning.

Animal Recognition and Eye Movements

2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby J. Lloyd-Jones ◽  
Juergen Gehrke ◽  
Jason Lauder
Keyword(s):  
Eye Movements ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Object Orientation ◽  
Decision Task ◽  
Line Drawings ◽  
Object Decision ◽  
Individual Features ◽  
And Performance

We assessed the importance of outline contour and individual features in mediating the recognition of animals by examining response times and eye movements in an animal-object decision task (i.e., deciding whether or not an object was an animal that may be encountered in real life). There were shorter latencies for animals as compared with nonanimals and performance was similar for shaded line drawings and silhouettes, suggesting that important information for recognition lies in the outline contour. The most salient information in the outline contour was around the head, followed by the lower torso and leg regions. We also observed effects of object orientation and argue that the usefulness of the head and lower torso/leg regions is consistent with a role for the object axis in recognition.

scholarly journals Effect of computer-assisted-learning and simulation clinics on dental students’ cognitive and performance skills: panoramic image errors related to patient’s head position

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 20200154
Author(s):  
Ann Wenzel ◽  
Louise Hauge Matzen ◽  
Rubens Spin-Neto ◽  
Lars Schropp
Keyword(s):  
Test Scores ◽  
Cognitive Skills ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Head Position ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Patient Exposure ◽  
Performance Skills ◽  
Positioning Errors ◽  
And Performance

Objectives: To assess dental students’ ability to recognize head positioning errors in panoramic (PAN) images after individual learning via computer-assisted-learning (CAL) and in a simulation clinic (SIM). Both cognitive skills and performance in patient examination were assessed. Methods and materials: 60 students (mean age 23.25 years) participated in lectures on the relation between PAN-image errors and patient’s head position. Immediately after they took a test, based on which they were randomized to three groups: control (CON) group, CAL group, and SIM group (both CAL and training in a simulation clinic with a phantom). 4–5 weeks after intervention/no intervention, all students individually examined a patient with PAN-exposure. A blinded rater, not knowing group allocation, supervised patient exposure and assessed student’s performance (correct/incorrect head position in three planes). 1–2 weeks after, the students scored positioning errors in 40 PAN-images. Differences in cognitive test scores between groups were evaluated by ANOVA and in patient examination by χ2 tests, and within-group differences by sign-tests. Results: No statistically significant difference in cognitive test scores was seen between the SIM and CAL group, while the CON group scored lower (p < 0.003). In all groups, several students positioned the patient incorrectly in the Frankfort horizontal plane. All students performed well in the sagittal plane. Students in SIM group positioned the patient more correctly in the coronal plane. Conclusions: Training with CAL increased students’ cognitive skills compared with a control group. Simulated patient exposure with a phantom increased to some extent their performance skills in examination of patients.

Cognitive profiles of children with autism spectrum disorder with parent-reported extraordinary talents and personal strengths

Autism ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 136236132110206
Author(s):  
Vanessa H Bal ◽  
Ellen Wilkinson ◽  
Megan Fok
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
General Population ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Profiles ◽  
Personal Strengths ◽  
Simons Simplex Collection ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship

It is essential to recognize the strengths and talents of autistic individuals. Previous studies of extraordinary talents (i.e. skills that stand out relative to the general population) have combined individuals with different skills (e.g. calendrical calculation, drawing) into one group. There has been limited investigation of talents in specific areas and even less consideration of personal strengths (i.e. skills that stand out relative to that person’s other abilities, but not the general population). We extend this literature by examining the relationship between parent-reported talents and strengths and performance on standardized cognitive tests in 1470 children (4–18 years) from the Simons Simplex Collection with autism and IQ above 70. Almost half (46%) had at least one parent-reported talent and an additional 23% without extraordinary talents had at least one personal strength. Children with parent-reported talents and strengths had different cognitive profiles than children with no reported skill in visuospatial, drawing, computation, or music. Those highlighted for their memory abilities had somewhat more even verbal and nonverbal abilities, relative to children whose memory was not emphasized as a special skill. These results emphasize the importance of exploring strengths separately by domain and a need for more research in this area. Lay abstract Previous research has suggested that focusing on impairments can be detrimental to the well-being of autistic individuals, yet little research has focused on strengths and positive qualities in autism. Some studies explored “savant skills” (herein referred to as “extraordinary talents”), that is, skills that stand out compared to the general population. These often group everyone who has a specific talent, rather than exploring subgroups with strengths in specific areas. There has been even less research focused on personal strengths (i.e. skills that stand out relative to the individual’s other abilities, but not the general population). To expand this research, we use a sample of 1470 children (ages 4–18 years) from the Simons Simplex Collection without cognitive impairment to examine the relationship between having a parent-reported skill in a specific area and performance on a standardized cognitive test. Almost half (46%) had at least one parent-reported talent and an additional 23% without extraordinary talents had at least one personal strength. Children with these parent-reported skills had different patterns of performance on these standardized tests than children without skills in that area (i.e. visuospatial, drawing, computation, reading, and memory). Specific skills in computation or reading were associated with higher overall performance on the standardized tests. These results emphasize the importance of considering strengths separately by area, rather than combining individuals with different types of strengths. The high number of children with skills in this study underscores the need for more research in this area, particularly using instruments focused on understanding the nuances of these strengths. It is important for future studies to consider these skills in children with cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Validation of Cognitive Rehabilitation as a Balance Rehabilitation Strategy in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Aida Arroyo-Ferrer ◽  
Francisco José Sánchez-Cuesta ◽  
Yeray González-Zamorano ◽  
María Dolores del Castillo ◽  
Carolina Sastre-Barrios ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Therapy ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
The Impact

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. This disease is characterized by motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Although balance impairment is characteristic of advanced stages, it can be present with less intensity since the beginning of the disease. Approximately 60% of PD patients fall once a year and 40% recurrently. On the other hand, cognitive symptoms affect up to 20% of patients with PD in early stages and can even precede the onset of motor symptoms. There are cognitive requirements for balance and can be challenged when attention is diverted or reduced, linking a worse balance and a higher probability of falls with a slower cognitive processing speed and attentional problems. Cognitive rehabilitation of attention and processing speed can lead to an improvement in postural stability in patients with Parkinson’s. Methods: We present a parallel and controlled randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the impact on balance of a protocol based on cognitive rehabilitation focused on sustained attention through the NeuronUP platform (Neuronup SI, La Rioja, Spain) in patients with PD. For 4 weeks, patients in the experimental group will receive cognitive therapy three days a week while the control group will not receive any therapy. The protocol has been registered at trials.gov NCT04730466. Conclusions: Cognitive therapy efficacy on balance improvement may open the possibility of new rehabilitation strategies for prevention of falls in PD, reducing morbidity, and saving costs to the health care system.

Entrepreneurs and Burnout. How Hardy Pesonality works in this process

2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412199697
Author(s):  
Laura Quiun ◽  
Marta Herrero ◽  
Maria del Carmen Yeo Ayala ◽  
Bernardo Moreno-Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Exhaustion ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Occupational Factors ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Background Considering the importance of entrepreneurship and the impact of burnout on workers’ health, this study aims to explore the presence of burnout in entrepreneurs and the interaction of hardy personality (HP) in this process. Method The sample included 255 Spanish entrepreneurs. Occupational factors, working hours, labour immersion, HP, burnout syndrome (i.e. Emotional exhaustion, Depersonalization and Lack of accomplishment) and burnout consequences were assessed. Results Descriptive analysis showed that entrepreneurs had low levels of occupational factors, burnout syndrome and consequences. Hierarchical regression exploratory results indicated that working hours, labour immersion, and Emotional exhaustion were the most relevant predictors of the consequences. Besides, mediation models with PROCESS macro (v.3.0) highlighted the indirect effect of occupational factors and showed that emotional exhaustion was the only component of burnout that mediated in between the predictors and the consequences. As well, HP moderated the relationship between occupational factors and emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Occupational factors are the main predictor of burnout in entrepreneurs and HP could prevent their effect on Emotional exhaustion. The results suggest the importance of training to promote HP for better health and performance of entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Firm Level Strategy, Organization Culture and Performance of Food and Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Kenya

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Awino ◽  
Dominic C. Muteshi ◽  
Reginah K. Kitiabi ◽  
Ganesh P. Pokhariyal
Keyword(s):  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Organization Culture ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The study tested the impact of organization culture on the on the relationship between firm-level strategy and performance of food and beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya. The opinion of the CEO/MDs from 125 firms in this sector was sought by application of a structured questionnaire; the collected data was analysed using hierarchical regression analysis. The paper stated hypothesis that organizational culture has a significant effect on the relationship between firm-level strategy and performance. The results supported the hypothesis. Therefore, firm development of strong organization culture to support firm-level strategy for higher performance is paramount. These findings will contribute to government policy formulation for sector’s expansion and competitiveness and management drives in building a positive organization culture to support firm-level strategy for improved performance.

Self-monitoring in patients with schizophrenia

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1561-1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
GÜNTHER KNOBLICH ◽  
FRANK STOTTMEISTER ◽  
TILO KIRCHER
Keyword(s):  
Hand Movements ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Formal Thought Disorder ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
The Core ◽  
Matched Healthy Control ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
Core Symptoms ◽  
The Relationship

Background. The present study investigated whether a failure of self-monitoring contributes to core syndromes of schizophrenia.Method. Three groups of patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia (n=27), with either prominent paranoid hallucinatory or disorganization syndrome, or without these symptoms, and a matched healthy control group (n=23) drew circles on a writing pad connected to a PC monitor. Subjects were instructed to continuously monitor the relationship between their hand movements and their visual consequences. They were asked to detect gain changes in the mapping. Self-monitoring ability and the ability to automatically correct movements were assessed.Results. Patients with either paranoid-hallucinatory syndrome or formal thought disorder were selectively impaired in their ability to detect a mismatch between a self-generated movement and its consequences, but not impaired in their ability to automatically compensate for the gain change.Conclusions. These results support the claim that a failure of self-monitoring may underlie the core symptoms of schizophrenia.

Novel severe traumatic brain injury blood outcome biomarkers identified with proximity extension assay

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas D. Fraser ◽  
Michelle Chen ◽  
Annie Ren ◽  
Michael R. Miller ◽  
Claudio Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Roc Curve ◽  
Vascular Pathology ◽  
Targeted Proteomics ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Matched Healthy Control ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Age And Sex

Abstract Objectives Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) patients suffer high mortality. Accurate prognostic biomarkers have not been identified. In this exploratory study, we performed targeted proteomics on plasma obtained from sTBI patients to identify potential outcome biomarkers. Methods Blood sample was collected from patients admitted to the ICU suffering a sTBI, using standardized clinical and computerized tomography (CT) imaging criteria. Age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects and sTBI patients were enrolled. Targeted proteomics was performed on plasma with proximity extension assays (1,161 proteins). Results Cohorts were well-balanced for age and sex. The majority of sTBI patients were injured in motor vehicle collisions and the most frequent head CT finding was subarachnoid hemorrhage. Mortality rate for sTBI patients was 40%. Feature selection identified the top performing 15 proteins for identifying sTBI patients from healthy control subjects with a classification accuracy of 100%. The sTBI proteome was dominated by markers of vascular pathology, immunity/inflammation, cell survival and macrophage/microglia activation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses demonstrated areas-under-the-curves (AUC) for identifying sTBI that ranged from 0.870-1.000 (p≤0.005). When mortality was used as outcome, ROC curve analyses identified the top 3 proteins as vWF, WIF-1, and CSF-1. Combining vWF with either WIF-1 or CSF-1 resulted in excellent mortality prediction with AUC of 1.000 for both combinations (p=0.011). Conclusions Targeted proteomics with feature classification and selection distinguished sTBI patients from matched healthy control subjects. Two protein combinations were identified that accurately predicted sTBI patient mortality. Our exploratory findings require confirmation in larger sTBI patient populations.

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