The adapted symbol digit modalities test: Examining the impact of response modality

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Silvana L. Costa ◽  
Simone Schwizer Ashkenazi ◽  
Lauren B. Strober ◽  
Nancy D. Chiaravalloti ◽  
Eli Vakil
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Response Modality ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND: Information processing speed is often impaired in neurological disorders, as well as with healthy aging. Thus, being able to accurately assess information processing speed is of high importance. One of the most commonly used tests to examine information processing speed is the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), which has been shown to have good psychometric properties. OBJECTIVES: The current study aims to examine differences between two response modalities, written and oral, on the performance of an adapted version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. METHODS: Ninety-nine individuals completed two alternate forms of the adapted version of the SDMT (aSDMT). Participants were instructed to complete the five lines of the task as quickly and accurately as possible. On one form participants were instructed to provide their response in writing and on the other one, orally. Form and response modality (oral vs. written) were counterbalanced to control for practice effects. RESULTS: On average, there was a significant difference between response modalities, such that participants needed more time to respond when the response modality was written. For both response modalities, time to complete each line of stimuli decreased as the task progressed. While changes in response time on the first four lines of stimuli on the oral version were not found, there was a substantial improvement in response time on the fifth line. In contrast, on the written version a gradual learning effect was observed, in which response time was the slowest on the first two lines, an intermediate response time was noted on line 3, and the fastest response time was achieved on lines four and five. CONCLUSION: The current study demonstrates that response modality, oral versus written, can significantly impact performance efficiency (the length of time it takes to complete a task), but not accuracy (total correct responses), on a new adaptation of the SDMT, the aSDMT.

Abstract NS10: Patients with Mild and Moderate Stroke Have Frequent, Severe, and Persistent Impairment in Information Processing Speed

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Alderman ◽  
Terri Armstrong ◽  
Geri Wood ◽  
Sean Savitz ◽  
Joshua Breier
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Stroke Recovery ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mild Stroke

Background: One year after stroke 50-70% of survivors have information processing speed (IPS) impairment. IPS is a complex, elemental cognitive function with close but separate relationships with memory, attention, executive function, reading, and writing. IPS impairment can be devastating, even without physical deficits. Hypothesis: The frequency and severity of IPS impairment in patients with acute stroke is unrelated to stroke severity. Methods: In a longitudinal study, 30 adults with acute mild (NIHSS <5) versus moderate stroke (NIHSS 5-12) were assessed for IPS and memory impairments at three time points (< 72 hours, Week 3, and Week 12). The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was the primary IPS instrument, scores below the norm (51-62 points) indicate impairment. Results: Using linear mixed model regression, no significant difference was noted between patients with mild and moderate stroke in frequency and severity of IPS impairment (p=0.2). All patients had baseline abnormal SDMT scores, improving 21% by Week 12 (p=.005) with one patient scoring as unimpaired (51 points). Patients with mild stroke (n=18) had baseline scores on average 53% lower than SDMT norm (mean score 24 (12), [95% CI] 6 [18, 30], Standard Error (SEM) 3) and 32% lower at Week 12 (mean 34 (11), [95% CI] 5 [29, 40], SEM 3). Patients with moderate stroke (n=12) had baseline SDMT scores 60% lower than norm (mean 21 (11), [95% CI] 6 [15, 27], SEM 3) and 39% lower by Week 12 (mean 31 (12), [95% CI] 7 [25, 38], SEM 3). Memory impairment at enrollment (<72 hours post stroke) was noted in 100% of patients with moderate stroke and 78% of patients with mild stroke; at Week 12 the frequency of memory impairment was equal in both groups (67%). Conclusion: IPS were critically impaired, in both mild and moderate stroke, with minimal spontaneous recovery at Week 12. IPS impairment is clinically significant during stroke recovery. IPS impairment should be considered in the planning of healthcare of stroke victims even with mild stroke.

Neuropsychological Alterations in Narcolepsy with Cataplexy and the Expression of Cognitive Deficits

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-595
Author(s):  
Pablo Medrano-Martinez ◽  
Rosa Peraita-Adrados
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Disease Duration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractObjectives:The objective of our study was to assess attention processes and executive function in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy (NT1). To do so, we compared the results with those of a control group from the general population using an extensive neuropsychological test battery.Methods:We studied 28 patients with NT1 and 28 healthy control participants matched for age, gender, and educational level. They all completed questionnaires on sleepiness, anxiety, and depression symptoms. In addition, they underwent neuropsychological tests. The ability to maintain attention was assessed using three computer tasks with different levels of complexity.Results:Patients had significantly more daytime sleepiness than controls. A significant negative correlation between depression and disease duration was found in NT1 patients. The results of the anxiety questionnaire correlated with the presence of sleep paralysis. There were significant differences in information processing speed subtasks. Patients made significantly more omissions and generally reacted slower and more variably than controls in computerized tasks. As for executive function, patients performed worse in phonologic fluency tasks than controls. However, when the influence of processing speed on fluency tasks was statistically controlled, part of this significant difference disappeared.Conclusions:Our results indicate that the negative correlation between depression and disease duration probably reflects progressive adaptation to the functional burden of the disease. Information processing speed plays a fundamental role in the expression of cognitive deficits. We emphasized the need to control the influence of processing speed and sustained attention in the neuropsychological assessment of NT1 patients.

scholarly journals QOL-40. THE IMPACT OF TASK COMPLEXITY ON INFORMATION PROCESSING SPEED AND NEURAL COMMUNICATION IN PAEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOUR SURVIVORS

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii438-iii438
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cox ◽  
Juanita Atton ◽  
Julie Tseng ◽  
Sonya Bells ◽  
Cynthia de Medeiros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Brain Tumour ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Phase Lag ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Neural Communication ◽  
Paediatric Brain Tumour ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Paediatric brain tumour survivors (PBTS) experience slower information processing speed (IPS) that contributes to difficulty performing tasks of minimal (MC) and greater complexity (GC), and is related to aberrant neural communication. It is still unknown whether deficient IPS exists during increasing complexity. We aim to determine if PBTS experience deficient IPS and neural communication relative to typically developing children (TDC) during an increasingly complex visual-motor reaction time (RT) task. During magnetoencephalography recording, participants (n=58, 12.69 ±3.24 years) pressed a button with their left or right thumb after an arrow pointing in the corresponding direction appeared on a screen. During two MC conditions, the arrow pointed in a single direction. During a GC condition, the arrow alternated direction randomly. Mean RT &gt;3SD and signal artifacts were removed prior to analyses. The phase lag index (PLI) estimated neural communication between 90 cortical sources. Linear regression and Network Based Statistics assessed group differences in mean RT and the PLI. PBTS demonstrated increased RT relative to TDC during the GC condition (p=0.04, MPBTS=354.00s, MTDC=326.00s). Group differences in mean RT during MC conditions and the PLI during all conditions were not detected (p&gt;0.05). These results suggest PBTS experience slower IPS during GC. Reduced IPS is thought to contribute to difficulty recruiting cognitive resources needed to perform more complex tasks. Subtle deficits in neural communication may underlie slower IPS. The weighted PLI is superior to the PLI when estimating small differences in neural communication. We will now use the weighted PLI to assess task-related neural communication.

scholarly journals Information Processing Speed Assessed with Letter Digit Substitution Test in Croatian Sample of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Diagnostics ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Ana Jerković ◽  
Meri Matijaca ◽  
Ana Proroković ◽  
Anđela Šikić ◽  
Vana Košta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Medication Therapy ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
The Impact

Cognitive impairment is a common complaint in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). The study objective was to determine the psychometric properties of the letter digit substitution test (LDST) that measures information processing speed and to investigate the impact of relevant predictors of LDST achievement in pwMS. The design was cross-sectional. The study included 87 pwMS and 154 control subjects. The validity of LDST was examined, and a hierarchical regression model was used to explore relevant predictors of LDST success. The LDST had excellent construct validity, as expressed by differences between pwMS and control subjects. Convergent validity of the LDST was supported by a significant moderate correlation with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) (ρ = −0.36; p < 0.05) and a significantly strong correlation with the multiple sclerosis impact scale (MSIS-29) physical subscale (r = −0.64; p < 0.01). The LDTS score well differentiated the pwMS considering age, education, EDSS, disease duration, comorbidity, and medication therapy. Using the LDST as a criterion variable in pwMS results showed consistent evidence for the age, education, and EDSS impact on LDST performance. The best cut-off score of ≤35 discriminated the control and MS group. LDST proved to be a valid test for assessing information processing speed in pwMS.

scholarly journals Cognitive Impairment in Opium Use Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Hossein Sanjari Moghaddam ◽  
Behrang Shadloo ◽  
Helen Shahkhah ◽  
Abbas Tafakhori ◽  
Maryam Haghshomar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Opium Use

This cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the effects of opium use disorder (OUD) on attention, working memory, and information-processing speed. Thirty outpatients with OUD and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were assessed using a neuropsychological battery consisted of Auditory Verbal Learning Test-Revised (AVLT-R), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), Digit Forward and Backward Tests (DFT and DBT), and WAIS-R Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). The most affected cognitive functions in patients with OUD were detected by DBT and DSST. However, we found no significant difference between patients according to the route of administration. Within patients with OUD, DBT score was associated with opium use quantity (OUQ) ( r = − 0.385 ), and DBT ( r = 0.483 ) and DSST ( r = 0.542 ) scores were correlated with duration of use. Our findings indicated that working memory and information-processing speed are the most affected domains of cognitive functioning. DBT and DSST could be used as brief assessments in clinical settings to screen for cognitive deficits in patients with OUD.

scholarly journals Do Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Explain Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning in Old Age?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Maria van Zutphen ◽  
Judith Johanna Maria Rijnhart ◽  
Didericke Rhebergen ◽  
Majon Muller ◽  
Martijn Huisman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Information Processing Speed

Background: Sex differences in cognitive functioning in old age are known to exist yet are still poorly understood. Objective: This study examines to what extent differences in cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease between men and women explain sex differences in cognitive functioning. Methods: Data from 2,724 older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used. Information processing speed and episodic memory, measured three times during six years of follow-up, served as outcomes. The mediating role of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease was examined in single and multiple mediator models. Determinant-mediator effects were estimated using linear or logistic regression, and determinant-outcome and mediator-outcome effects were estimated using linear mixed models. Indirect effects were estimated using the product-of-coefficients estimator. Results: Women scored 1.58 points higher on information processing speed and 1.53 points higher on episodic memory. Several cardiovascular risk factors had small mediating effects. The sex difference in information processing speed was mediated by smoking, depressive symptoms, obesity, and systolic blood pressure. The sex difference in episodic memory was mediated by smoking, physical activity, and depressive symptoms. Effects of smoking, LDL cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus on information processing speed differed between men and women. Conclusion: Differences in cardiovascular risk factors between women and men partially explained why women had better cognitive functioning. A healthy cardiovascular lifestyle seems beneficial for cognition and sex-specific strategies may be important to preserve cognitive functioning at older age.

Habituation Rate and Free Exploration Tempo in 4-Month-Old Infants

1983 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Germaine Pecheux ◽  
Roger Lécuyer
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Cognitive Style ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Individual Characteristic ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Habituation Rate ◽  
Geometric Patterns ◽  
Free Exploration ◽  
Methodological Aspects ◽  
Common Situation

If rate of habituation reflects information processing speed and is a stable individual characteristic, fast habituators should habituate relatively quickly to any stimulus, and slow habituators relatively slowly. Moreover, rate of habituation should be related to the baby's tendency to explore in any common situation. To examine these inferences, 24 four-month-old infants were habituated to four stimuli (two geometric patterns and two faces) successively, in two sessions, and observed in a free-exploration situation. The number of trials required to reach criterion in the habituation situations were not correlated, but total looking times to criterion were. Also, slow habituators stayed in the exploration situation for a relatively longer time and also explored a new toy for a longer time. Methodological aspects of habituation are discussed, and an interpretation of habituation sequences in terms of cognitive style is suggested.

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