Cool and Hot Executive Functions in Relation to Aggression and Testosterone/Cortisol Ratios in Male Prisoners

‘Cool’ executive functions (EF) refer to logical and strategic cognitive processes such as planning and reasoning, whereas ‘hot’ EF include affect-driven cognitive processes, such as risk-taking in decision making. In the present crosssectional study was investigated whether prisoners perform worse than non-prisoners on measures of hot and cool EF. Subsequent objectives were to determine if performance on tasks of executive functioning was related to measures of (reactive and proactive) aggression within the offender group, and whether testosterone and cortisol influenced the latter relationship. Male prisoners (n = 125) and a non-offender control group (n = 32) completed frequently applied measures of hot and cool EF (assessed with the Iowa Gambling task and Wisconsin Card Sorting Task respectively). Aggression characteristics in prisoners were assessed through self-report questionnaires, behavioural observations, and conviction histories. Endogenous testosterone and cortisol levels were obtained through saliva samples, while prenatal testosterone exposure was determined using the finger length of the index and ring fingers (the ‘2D:4D ratio’). The results indicated that prisoners performed significantly worse than non-prisoners on cool EF, and to a lesser extent on hot EF, but no meaningful relationship could be proven between measures of EF and aggression in the offender group. Weak to moderate significant correlations were found between testosterone/cortisol ratios (not prenatal testosterone exposure) and hot EF as well as self-reported aggression. These results lead to the conclusion that prisoners show significant problems in cool and hot EF compared to non-prisoners. These problems are not clearly associated with characteristics of aggression, but preliminary results indicate that these may be related to having high endogenous testosterone levels relative to cortisol levels.

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Executive Functions and Social Cognition in Juveniles Who Have Sexually Offended

Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1177/1079063218807487 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 179-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christian C. Joyal ◽

Monique Tardif ◽

Jo-Annie Spearson-Goulet

Keyword(s):

Sex Offenders ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

Social Problem Solving ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Child Victims ◽

Unexpected Finding ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Adult Sex Offenders ◽

Sexually Offended

Although neuropsychological assessments provide valuable information for those working in forensic mental health, few neuropsychological studies concern persons who sexually offend, particularly juveniles who have sexually offended (JSO). It has been suggested that, contrary to current theories, executive function in JSO, as a group, is no more impaired than it is in juvenile delinquents in general. However, JSO with child victims seem to be more impulsive than JSO whose victims are peers or adults. To verify this potentially important (and unexpected) finding, a sample of adolescent males ( N = 134; 15.6 ± 1.5 years old) that included JSO, general delinquents, and underprivileged nondelinquents was assessed using a battery of behavioral and psychological tests that focus on impulsivity. No difference was found between groups regarding higher order executive functions as measured with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task but JSO with child victims were found to be the most impulsive subgroup as evidenced with the Iowa Gambling Task, the Stop-Signal Reaction Task, and the Impulsive scale of the Social Problem Solving Inventory. They also had the highest number of prescriptions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. These results, which contradict hypotheses derived from assessment of adult sex offenders, illustrate an important difference between the cognitive profiles of adult and juvenile males who sexually offended. They also confirm that JSO whose victims are children appear to be more impulsive.

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Relation of individual differences in impulsivity to nonclinical emotional decision making

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617708080934 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. 878-882 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

MAGGIE M. SWEITZER ◽

PHILIP A. ALLEN ◽

KEVIN P. KAUT

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

Self Report ◽

Behavioral Measure ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Prefrontal Function ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal

Impulsivity has been identified as a behavioral precursor to addiction, and may be the manifestation of a neurological vulnerability. The present study investigated whether individual differences in impulsivity were associated with performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT, a test of emotional decision making thought to be associated in part with ventromedial prefrontal cortex function) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST, a set-shifting thought to be associated in part with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex function). Subjects were screened for impulsivity using the BIS-11 (self-report) and a delay discounting questionnaire (a behavioral measure of impulsivity). High impulsivity was associated with poorer performance on the final block of trials of the IGT but was not significantly related to WCST performance. Both measures were significantly correlated with scores on the BIS. These results provide support for hypothesis that, in a nonclinical sample, impulsivity may vary systematically with performance on neuropsychological indicators of prefrontal function. (JINS, 2008, 14, 878–882.)

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Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of executive function in a sample of children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/0004-282x20140191 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 72 (12) ◽

pp. 954-959 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Andrea Bandeira de Lima ◽

Fernanda Moreira ◽

Marleide da Mota Gomes ◽

Heber Maia-Filho

Keyword(s):

Academic Performance ◽

Executive Function ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Clinical Data ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Idiopathic Epilepsy ◽

Control Group ◽

Seizure Type ◽

Card Sorting

Objective To compare the executive functions of children and adolescents with idiopathic epilepsy with a control group and to correlate with clinical data, intelligence and academic performance. Method Cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. Thirty-one cases and thirty-five controls were evaluated by the WCST (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test).The results were compared with clinical data (seizure type and frequency, disease duration and number of antiepileptic drugs used), IQ (WISC-III) and academic performance (APT). Results Patients with epilepsy had poorer executive function scores. There was no positive linear correlation between test scores and epilepsy variables. There was a positive association between academic performance and some executive function results. Conclusion Children with well controlled idiopathic epilepsy may show deficits in executive functions in spite of clinical variables. Those deficits may influence academic performance.

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Compartmentalization of self-representations in female survivors of sexual abuse and assault, with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291719000837 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (6) ◽

pp. 956-963 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Georgina Clifford ◽

Caitlin Hitchcock ◽

Tim Dalgleish

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

The Self ◽

Self Concept ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Control Group ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Negative Attributes

AbstractBackgroundThis study examined the structure of the self-concept in a sample of sexual trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to healthy controls using a self-descriptive card-sorting task. We explored whether individuals with PTSD possess a highly affectively-compartmentalized self-structure, whereby positive and negative self-attributes are sectioned off into separate components of self-concept (e.g. self as an employee, lover, mother). We also examined redundancy (i.e. overlap) of positive and negative self-attributes across the different components of self-concept.MethodParticipants generated a set of self-aspects that reflected their own life (e.g. ‘self at work’). They were then asked to describe their self-aspects using list of positive or negative attributes.ResultsResults revealed that, relative to the control group, the PTSD group used a greater proportion of negative attributes and had a more compartmentalized self-structure. However, there were no significant differences between the PTSD and control groups in positive or negative redundancy. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the key findings were not accounted for by comorbid diagnosis of depression.ConclusionFindings indicated that the self-structure is organized differently in those with PTSD, relative to those with depression or good mental health.

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The effect of alcohol on the nature of lexical representations in different taste domains

Psychological Thought ◽

10.5964/psyct.v9i2.190 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 222-235

Author(s):

Maria Baskini ◽

Hariklia Proios

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Verbal Fluency ◽

Positive Association ◽

Sweet Taste ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Moderate Alcohol Consumption ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Lexical Representations

Moderate alcohol consumption may be involved in cognitive feedback mechanisms (Hofmann & Friese, 2008), participants execute verbal fluency test (VFT) better (Cerhan et al., 1998) and there is positive association between sweet taste and excessive alcohol intake (Lange, Kampov-Polevoy, & Garbutt, 2010). We investigate the immediate pharmacological consequences of moderate to light alcohol consumption in verbal fluency and categorical sorting within the different taste domains (i.e. sweet, salty, sour and bitter). Our hypothesis is that subjects under the influence of light to moderate alcohol will produce more items in the sweet domain. 53 healthy adults had moderate alcohol consumption and were compared in two semantic tasks to 53 adults, who did not drink alcohol. Mann-Whitney U tests showed that the total number of clusters, switches, and repetitions were equal between the two groups in all taste domains (p-values: .211, .401, and .684 respectively). The number of responses in the alcohol group generated more disinhibiting intrusive words during the VFTs as compared to the control group (p-value: <.001). VFTs and the order of taste preference in the card-sorting task showed positive correlation and agreement. Light to moderate alcohol did not affect verbal fluency. However, participants under the influence of alcohol generated significantly more errors in the VFTs that were emotionally laden. This corroborates with research that certain emotions are innervated with taste domains. This leaves open question about the effects of alcohol on decision making in eating and executive functions as they relate to lexical representations.

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Executive Function Deficits in Patients after Cerebellar Neurosurgery

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617715001174 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 47-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Monika Mak ◽

Ernest Tyburski ◽

Łukasz Madany ◽

Andrzej Sokołowski ◽

Agnieszka Samochowiec

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Response Times ◽

Digit Span ◽

Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Regulatory Processes ◽

Perseverative Errors

AbstractThe cerebellum has long been perceived as a structure responsible for the human motor function. According to the contemporary approach, however, it plays a significant role in complex behavior regulatory processes. The aim of this study was to describe executive functions in patients after cerebellar surgery. The study involved 30 patients with cerebellar pathology. The control group comprised 30 neurologically and mentally healthy individuals, matched for sex, age, and number of years of education. Executive functions were measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and working memory by the Digit Span. Compared to healthy controls, patients made more Errors and Perseverative errors in the WCST, gave more Perseverative responses, and had a lower Number of categories completed. The patients exhibited higher response times in all three parts of the SCWT and TMT A and B. No significant differences between the two groups were reported in their performance of the SCWT and TMT with regard to the measures of absolute or relative interference. The patients had lower score on the backward Digit Span. Patients with cerebellar pathology may exhibit some impairment within problem solving and working memory. Their worse performance on the SCWT and TMT could, in turn, stem from their poor motor–somatosensory control, and not necessarily executive deficits. Our results thus support the hypothesis of the cerebellum’s mediating role in the regulation of the activity of the superordinate cognitive control network in the brain. (JINS, 2016, 22, 47–57)

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Amphetamine Modestly Improves Conners’ Continuous Performance Test Performance in Healthy Adults

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s135561771700090x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 283-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

David A. MacQueen ◽

Arpi Minassian ◽

Brook L. Henry ◽

Mark A. Geyer ◽

Jared W. Young ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Test Performance ◽

Performance Test ◽

Iowa Gambling Task ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Time Variability ◽

Continuous Performance ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Vigilance Decrement ◽

Reaction Time Variability

AbstractObjectives: Amphetamine improves vigilance as assessed by continuous performance tests (CPT) in children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Less is known, however, regarding amphetamine effects on vigilance in healthy adults. Thus, it remains unclear whether amphetamine produces general enhancement of vigilance or if these effects are constrained to the remediation of deficits in patients with ADHD. Methods: We tested 69 healthy adults (35 female) on a standardized CPT (Conner’s CPT-2) after receiving 10- or 20-mg d-amphetamine or placebo. To evaluate potential effects on learning, impulsivity, and perseveration, participants were additionally tested on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST). Results: Participants receiving placebo exhibited the classic vigilance decrement, demonstrated by a significant reduction in attention (D’) across the task. This vigilance decrement was not observed, however, after either dose of amphetamine. Consistent with enhanced vigilance, the 20-mg dose also reduced reaction time variability across the task and the ADHD confidence index. The effects of amphetamine appeared to be selective to vigilance since no effects were observed on the IGT, WCST, or response inhibition/perseveration measures from the CPT. Conclusions: The present data support the premise that amphetamine improves vigilance irrespective of disease state. Given that amphetamine is a norepinephrine/dopamine transporter inhibitor and releaser, these effects are informative regarding the neurobiological substrates of attentional control. (JINS, 2018, 24, 283–293)

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The Spanish Version of the Self-Statements During Public Speaking Scale

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000018 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 129-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Raul Rivero ◽

LuisJoaquin Garcia-Lopez ◽

Stefan G. Hofmann

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Social Anxiety Disorder ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Public Speaking ◽

Community Sample ◽

The Self ◽

Self Report ◽

Spanish Version ◽

Control Group

Contemporary theories of social anxiety emphasize the role of cognitive processes. Although social anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health problems in adolescents, there are very few self-report instruments available to measure cognitive processes related to social anxiety in adolescents, let alone non-English instruments. The Self-Statements During Public Speaking Scale (SSPS; Hofmann & DiBartolo, 2000 ) is a brief self-report measure designed to assess self-statements related to public speaking, the most commonly feared social performance situation. In order to fill this gap in the literature, we translated the SSPS into Spanish and administered it to 1,694 adolescents from a community sample, a clinical sample composed of 71 subjects with a principal diagnosis of social anxiety disorder, and a clinical control group consisting of 154 patients. The scale showed good psychometric properties, supporting the use of the Spanish version of the SSPS in adolescents.

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Compartmentalization of self-representations in female survivors of sexual abuse and assault, with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

10.31234/osf.io/xms5f ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Georgina Clifford ◽

Caitlin Hitchcock ◽

Tim Dalgleish

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

The Self ◽

Self Concept ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Sorting Task ◽

Control Group ◽

Card Sorting ◽

Negative Attributes

This study examined the structure of the self-concept in a sample of sexual trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to healthy controls using a self-descriptive card-sorting task. We explored whether individuals with PTSD possess a highly affectively-compartmentalized self-structure, whereby positive and negative self-attributes are sectioned off into separate components of self-concept (e.g., self as an employee, lover, mother). We also examined redundancy (i.e., overlap) of positive and negative self-attributes across the different components of self-concept. Participants generated a set of self-aspects that reflected their own life (e.g., ‘self at work’,). They were then asked to describe their self-aspects using list of positive or negative attributes. Results revealed that, relative to the control group, the PTSD group used a greater proportion of negative attributes and had a more compartmentalized self-structure. However, there were no significant differences between the PTSD and control groups in positive or negative redundancy. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the key findings were not accounted for by comorbid diagnosis of depression. Findings indicated that the self-structure is organized differently in those with PTSD, relative to those with depression or good mental health.

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Evaluación de procesos cognitivos en niños de siete años de edad nacidos pretérmino.

Anales de Psicología ◽

10.6018/analesps.31.3.151881 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 1052 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Montserrat Megías ◽

Laura Esteban ◽

M. Dolores Roldán-Tapia ◽

Ángeles F. Estévez ◽

M. Mar Sánchez-Joya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Executive Functions ◽

Cognitive Processes ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Functional Integration ◽

Learning Disorders ◽

Control Group ◽

Motor Processing ◽

New Findings ◽

Premature Children

Introduction. Several studies have shown that the cognitive development of premature children is affected. In fact, it appears to be a close relationship between prematurity, executive deficits, learning disorders, language disorders and behavioral problems. Premature children present also difficulties in viso-perceptive tasks and functional integration tasks. Objective. The main goal of this study was to assess cognitive processes (executive functions, viso-perceptual integration, viso-motor coordination, memory, environmental knowledge, language, viso-motor processing and motor skills) in seven-year-old children who were born preterm and to compare them with those of a control group, matching in sociocultural level, sex and age. Subjects and method. 20 children ranging in age between seven years and two months and seven years and 11 months, assigned to two groups (premature vs. control) participated in the present study. A protocol including standardized neuropsychological tests was designed to assess the different cognitive mentioned domains. Results. We observed that there was worse performance in several evaluated domains (v.g., executive functions and viso-motor processing) in premature children than in the control group. Conclusions. There are few studies that explore cognitive processes in hispanic-speaking children born prematurely. In the present study we selected the seven-year age window, a time in life in which essential processes begin –reading, writing and mathematical calculation-. To detect neuropsychological problems that might be influencing the academic achievement of this population, adding new findings to the field of child neuropsychology.

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