scholarly journals Trail making and cognitive set-shifting

2000 ◽  
Vol 58 (3B) ◽  
pp. 826-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
RICARDO DE OLIVERA-SOUZA ◽  
JORGE MOLL ◽  
LEIGH J. PASSMAN ◽  
FERNANDO CIMINI CUNHA ◽  
FLÁVIA PAES ◽  
...  

We tested the hypothesis that Part B of the Trail Making Test (TMT) is a measure of cognitive set-shifting ability in 55 normal subjects with the conventional (written) TMT and a verbal adaptation, the "verbal TMT" (vTMT). The finding of a significant association between Parts B of TMT and vTMT (r = 0,59, p < 0,001), after correcting for age and education, supports the view that Part B of TMT is a valid measure of the ability to alternate between cognitive categories.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiden M. Payne ◽  
Jacqueline A. Palmer ◽  
J. Lucas McKay ◽  
Lena H. Ting

The mechanisms underlying associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and balance dysfunction are unclear. Cognitive set shifting refers to the ability to flexibly adjust behavior to changes in task rules or contexts, which could be involved in flexibly adjusting balance recovery behavior to different contexts, such as the direction the body is falling. Prior studies found associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and severe balance dysfunction in populations experiencing frequent falls. The objective of this study was to test whether cognitive set shifting ability is expressed in successful balance recovery behavior in older adults with high clinical balance ability (N = 19, 71 ± 7 years, 6 female). We measured cognitive set shifting ability using the Trail Making Test and clinical balance ability using the miniBESTest. For most participants, cognitive set shifting performance (Trail Making Test B-A = 37 ± 20 s) was faster than normative averages (46 s for comparable age and education levels), and balance ability scores (miniBESTest = 25 ± 2/28) were above the threshold for fall risk (23 for people between 70 and 80 years). Reactive balance recovery in response to support-surface translations in anterior and posterior directions was assessed in terms of body motion, muscle activity, and brain activity. Across participants, lower cognitive set shifting ability was associated with smaller peak center of mass displacement during balance recovery, lower directional specificity of late phase balance-correcting muscle activity (i.e., greater antagonist muscle activity 200–300 ms after perturbation onset), and larger cortical N1 responses (100–200 ms). None of these measures were associated with clinical balance ability. Our results suggest that cognitive set shifting ability is expressed in balance recovery behavior even in the absence of profound clinical balance disability. Specifically, our results suggest that lower flexibility in cognitive task performance is associated with lower ability to incorporate the directional context into the cortically mediated later phase of the motor response. The resulting antagonist activity and stiffer balance behavior may help explain associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and frequent falls.


NeuroImage ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. S41
Author(s):  
Jorge Moll ◽  
Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza ◽  
Ivanei Edson Bramati ◽  
Flávia Paes ◽  
Fernando Cimini Cunha ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiden Payne ◽  
Jacqueline A Palmer ◽  
J Lucas McKay ◽  
Lena H Ting

The mechanisms underlying associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and balance dysfunction are unclear. Cognitive set shifting refers to the ability to flexibly adjust behavior to changes in task rules or contexts, which could be involved in flexibly adjusting balance recovery behavior to different contexts, such as the direction the body is falling. Prior studies found associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and severe balance dysfunction in populations experiencing frequent falls. The objective of this study was to test whether cognitive set shifting ability is expressed in successful balance recovery behavior in older adults with high clinical balance ability (N=19, 71 ± 7 years, 6 female). We measured cognitive set shifting ability using the Trail Making Test and clinical balance ability using the miniBESTest. For most participants, cognitive set shifting performance (Trail Making Test B-A = 37 ± 20s) was faster than normative averages (46s for comparable age and education levels), and balance ability scores (miniBESTest = 25 ± 2 / 28) were above the threshold for fall risk (23 for people between 70-80 years). Reactive balance recovery in response to support-surface translations in anterior and posterior directions was assessed in terms of body motion, muscle activity, and brain activity. Across participants, lower cognitive set shifting ability was associated with smaller peak center of mass displacement during balance recovery, lower directional specificity of late phase balance-correcting muscle activity (i.e., greater antagonist muscle activity 200-300ms after perturbation onset), and larger cortical N1 responses (100-200ms). None of these measures were associated with clinical balance ability. Our results suggest that cognitive set shifting ability is expressed in balance recovery behavior even in the absence of profound clinical balance disability. Specifically, our results suggest that lower flexibility in cognitive task performance is associated with lower ability to incorporate the directional context into the cortically-mediated later phase of the motor response. The resulting antagonist activity and stiffer balance behavior may help explain associations between cognitive set shifting impairments and frequent falls.


2002 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 900-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Moll ◽  
Ricardo de Oliveira-Souza ◽  
Fernanda Tovar Moll ◽  
Ivanei Edson Bramati ◽  
Pedro Angelo Andreiuolo

The trail making test (TMT) pertains to a family of tests that tap the ability to alternate between cognitive categories. However, the value of the TMT as a localizing instrument remains elusive. Here we report the results of a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of a verbal adaptation of the TMT (vTMT). The vTMT takes advantage of the set-shifting properties of the TMT and, at the same time, minimizes the visuospatial and visuomotor components of the written TMT. Whole brain BOLD fMRI was performed during the alternating execution of vTMTA and vTMTB in seven normal adults with more than 12 years of formal education. Brain activation related to the set-shifting component of vTMTB was investigated by comparing performance on vTMTB with vTMTA, a simple counting task. There was a marked asymmetry of activation in favor of the left hemisphere, most notably in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 6 lateral, 44 and 46) and supplementary motor area/cingulate sulcus (BA 6 medial and 32). The intraparietal sulcus (BA 7 and 39) was bilaterally activated. These findings are in line with clinico-anatomic and functional neuroimaging data that point to a critical role of the dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortices as well as the intraparietal sulci in the regulation of cognitive flexibility, intention, and the covert execution of saccades/anti-saccades. Many commonly used neuropsychological paradigms, such as the Stroop, Wisconsin Card Sorting, and go - no go tasks, share some patterns of cerebral activation with the TMT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doortje C. Engel ◽  
Lukas Pirpamer ◽  
Edith Hofer ◽  
Reinhold Schmidt ◽  
Cornelia Brendle

Abstract Background The etiology of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) remains unclear. Little is known about the pre-symptomatic stage. This study aimed to investigate the association of neuropsychological data with iNPH-characteristic imaging changes compared to normal imaging and unspecific atrophy in a healthy population. Methods We extracted data from the community-dwelling Austrian Stroke Prevention Family Study (ASPS-Fam) database (2006–2010). All subjects underwent a baseline and identical follow-up examination after 3–5 years with MR imaging and an extensive neuropsychological test battery (Trail Making Test B, short physical performance balance, walking speed, memory, visuo-practical skills, composite scores of executive function and g-factor). We categorized the subjects into “iNPH”-associated, non-specific “atrophy,” and “normal” based on the rating of different radiological cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space parameters. We noted how the categories developed over time. We assessed the association of the image categories with the neuropsychological data, different demographic, and lifestyle parameters (age, sex, education, alcohol intake, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia), and the extent of white matter hyperintensities. We investigated whether neuropsychological data associated with the image categories were independent from other parameters as confounders. Results One hundred and thirteen subjects, aged 50–70 years, were examined. The imaging category “iNPH” was only present at follow-up. A third of subjects with “atrophy” at baseline changed to the category “iNPH” at follow-up. More white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were present in later “iNPH” subjects. Subjects with “iNPH” performed worse than “normal” subjects on executive function (p = 0.0118), memory (p = 0.0109), and Trail Making Test B (TMT-B. p < 0.0001). Education, alcohol intake, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia had no effect. Age, number of females, and the extent of white matter hyperintensities were higher in “iNPH” than in “normal” subjects but did not significantly confound the neuropsychological results. Conclusions Apparent asymptomatic subjects with “iNPH” imaging characteristics presented with subclinical cognitive decline and showed worse executive function, memory, and TMT-B results than “normal” subjects. WMH seem to play a role in the etiology before ventriculomegaly. Clinical screening of individuals with incidental iNPH-characteristic imaging and conspicuous results sof these neurocognitive tests needs further validation.


Cortex ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 132 ◽  
pp. 238-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Mandonnet ◽  
Marion Vincent ◽  
Antoni Valero-Cabré ◽  
Valentine Facque ◽  
Marion Barberis ◽  
...  

1993 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Noble ◽  
J. G. Jones ◽  
E. J. Davis

The effect of hypoxaemia (mean SpO2 78%) on cognitive function was measured in two groups of twelve normal subjects. A series of psychometric tests was administered to each subject in the same sequence and consisted of the Reitan trail-making test, a digit symbol substitution test, a visuospatial orientation test and the simple unprepared reaction-time test. Psychomotor performance was assessed in a double-blind manner while the subjects were breathing first air and then either air or a hypoxic mixture. While there was improvement in time for the trail-making test during a repeat study breathing air, there was significant deterioration of time to completion of the test in conditions of hypoxia. A significant learning effect in the orientation test was seen in the control group but this did not occur in hypoxic subjects. Hypoxaemia was shown to cause a significant impairment of simple unprepared reaction time compared with controls. All the changes in cognitive function were small and there were no subjective differences in the air or hypoxic groups. The usefulness of the Reitan trail-making and the simple unprepared reaction-time test in the assessment of psychomotor performance deficit under conditions of hypoxaemia has been demonstrated by this study in normal subjects. It was concluded that a mean oxygen saturation of 78% caused only minor changes in cognitive function in normal subjects.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 231-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Kundermann ◽  
Stanislava Fockenberg ◽  
Nicole Cabanel ◽  
Matthias J. Müller

Zusammenfassung. Die Beziehung zwischen kognitiven Defiziten und Schlafstörungen depressiver Patienten wurde bisher wenig untersucht. Stationär behandelte depressive Patienten beantworteten Fragebögen zur Depressivität und Schlafqualität (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, PSQI), gefolgt von neuropsychologischen Untersuchungen zu attentional-exekutiven Funktionsleistungen (Trail Making Test: TMT-A, TMT-B) an Tag 1 (abends) und Tag 2 (morgens). Patienten mit schweren Schlafstörungen (PSQI > 10, n = 8) erbrachten gegenüber Patienten mit maximal moderat ausgeprägten Schlafstörungen (PSQI ≤ 10, n = 8) signifikant geringere Leistungen im Rahmen des TMT-A und TMT-B. Signifikante positive Korrelationen zwischen dem Globalwert des PSQI und der TMT-B-Bearbeitungszeit blieben auch unter statistischer Berücksichtigung von Kovariaten erhalten. Diese Ergebnisse unterstreichen die enge Beziehung zwischen kognitiven Dysfunktionen und Schlafstörungen bei depressiven Patienten. Mögliche therapeutische Implikationen werden diskutiert.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Bodenburg

Negative Antwortverzerrungen werden quantitativ mit expliziten Beschwerdenvalidierungstests oder mit eingebetteten Parametern untersucht. Es wird die Kriteriumsvalidität der Standardabweichung von Reaktionszeiten als eingebetteter Parameter zur Untersuchung negativer Antwortverzerrungen überprüft. In die Studie wurden 26 Frauen und 65 Männer mit Schädelhirnverletzungen einbezogen. Abhängige Variable war die Standardabweichung der Reaktionszeiten (Untertest Alertness, Testbatterie zur Aufmerksamkeitsprüfung). Prädiktorvariablen in der multivariaten Kovarianzanalyse waren das Alter der Probanden und folgende Testrohwerte: Trail Making Test (Formen A und B), Parameter GSI der Symptomcheckliste, Untertest Zahlennachsprechen vorwärts aus der Wechsler Memory Scale, Strukturierter Fragebogen Simulierter Symptome, der mittlere Wert der in Prozentzahlen ausgedrückten richtigen Antworten der Parameter IR, DR und CNS des Word Memory Tests (WMT), das Geschlecht der Probanden sowie die dichotomisierte Gruppierung von Patienten mit oder ohne klinisch fassbaren Auffälligkeiten der Aufmerksamkeit. Von den Prädiktorvariablen stellte sich allein der mittlere Wert der in Prozent ausgedrückten richtigen Antworten des WMT als signifikant heraus. Probanden mit einer geringen Anzahl richtiger Antworten im WMT zeigten größere Standardabweichungen. Alle weiteren einbezogenen Prädiktoren – insbesondere beide Aufmerksamkeitsparameter – hatten in Bezug auf die Standardabweichungen keinen signifikanten Einfluss.


Author(s):  
Micha Werner ◽  
Maike Hofsaess ◽  
Anina Burgbacher ◽  
Katarina Müller ◽  
Matthias Martin ◽  
...  

Zusammenfassung. Fragestellung: Das Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung ist es, das neuropsychologische Funktionsniveau, die Behandlungszufriedenheit und die Medikation bei Kindern und Jugendlichen zu evaluieren, die an einer Psychose aus dem schizophrenen Formenkreis erkrankt sind und zum Zeitpunkt der Untersuchung an einer stationären Eingliederungsmaßnahme in dem Kinder- und Jugendwohnheim Leppermühle teilnahmen. Zusätzlich sollen bekannte Prädiktoren auf ihren Einfluss auf verschiedene Verlaufsvariablen hin untersucht werden. Methodik: Es konnten 42 Patienten (37.2 %) der insgesamt 113 Bewohner des Kinder- und Jugendwohnheims mit einer entsprechenden Diagnose untersucht werden. Ergebnisse: Die Patienten waren bei Erkrankungsbeginn durchschnittlich 14.5 Jahre alt und zum Zeitpunkt der Untersuchung waren sie im Mittel 20.0 Jahre alt. Für den Gesamtintelligenzquotient lag der Wert bei 87.0 Punkten, für den Trail Making Test Teil A (TMT-A) bei 73.1 Punkten und für den Trail Making Test Teil B (TMT-B) bei 75.6 Punkten. Die Behandlungszufriedenheit lag in allen Skalen und Subskalen des Fragebogens zur Beurteilung der Behandlung (FBB) bei 2.50 bis 3.50 Punkten, was einer guten Bewertung entspricht. Die Medikation entsprach nicht in allen Punkten den Leitlinien. Als Prädiktoren für das neuropsychologische Funktionsniveau konnte nur die prämorbide kognitive Leistungsfähigkeit bestätigt werden. Schlussfolgerungen: Die gefundenen Ergebnisse im Wechsler Adult Intelligence Score IV (WAIS-IV) und im TMT-A/B sprechen für eine deutliche Beeinträchtigung der Patienten im neuropsychologischen Funktionsniveau und decken sich überwiegend mit den Werten bisher durchgeführter Studien.


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