Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Information Processing Speed, Working Memory, Attention, and Social Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Cortical and thalamic pathologies have been associated with cognitive impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective: We aimed to quantify cortical and thalamic damage in patients with MS using a high-resolution T1 mapping technique and to evaluate the association of these changes with clinical and cognitive impairment.Methods: The study group consisted of 49 patients with mainly relapsing-remitting MS and 17 age-matched healthy controls who received 3T MRIs including a T1 mapping sequence (MP2RAGE). Mean T1 relaxation times (T1-RT) in the cortex and thalami were compared between patients with MS and healthy controls. Additionally, correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between MRI parameters and clinical and cognitive disability.Results: Patients with MS had significantly decreased normalized brain, gray matter, and white matter volumes, as well as increased T1-RT in the normal-appearing white matter, compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). Partial correlation analysis with age, sex, and disease duration as covariates revealed correlations for T1-RT in the cortex (r = −0.33, p < 0.05), and thalami (right thalamus: r = −0.37, left thalamus: r = −0.50, both p < 0.05) with working memory and information processing speed, as measured by the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test.Conclusion: T1-RT in the cortex and thalamus correlate with information processing speed in patients with MS.

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Neuropsychological Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

Zeitschrift für Neuropsychologie ◽

10.1024/1016-264x/a000197 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 117-148 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sascha Hansen ◽

Stefan Lautenbacher

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Diagnostic Procedures ◽

Study Data ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

The Past ◽

Extensive Test ◽

Screening Procedures

Abstract. Neuropsychological deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS) are common. Over the past decades, many different procedures have been employed in diagnosing these deficits. Even though certain aspects of cognitive performance such as information processing speed and working memory may be affected more frequently than other cognitive functions, no specific deficit profile has been established in MS. This article provides an overview of the neuropsychological diagnostic procedures in MS and allows the reader to reach an informed decision on the applicability of specific procedures and the availability of study data in the context of MS. Additionally, it makes recommendations on the compilation of both screening procedures and extensive test batteries.

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Depressive symptoms account for deficient information processing speed but not for impaired working memory in early phase multiple sclerosis (MS)

Journal of the Neurological Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.jns.2003.10.012 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 217 (2) ◽

pp. 211-216 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Nils Inge Landrø ◽

Elisabeth Gulowsen Celius ◽

Helge Sletvold

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Early Phase ◽

Information Processing Speed

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Design, Development, and Testing of an App for Dual-Task Assessment and Training Regarding Cognitive-Motor Interference (CMI-APP) in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Multicenter Pilot Study

JMIR mhealth and uhealth ◽

10.2196/15344 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. e15344 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Tacchino ◽

Renee Veldkamp ◽

Karin Coninx ◽

Jens Brulmans ◽

Steven Palmaers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Motor Tasks ◽

Assessment Tests

Background Interest toward dual-task training (DTT) is increasing as traditional interventions may not prepare patients to adequately face the challenges of most activities of daily living. These usually involve simultaneous cognitive and motor tasks, and they often show a decline in performance. Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) has been investigated in different neurological populations, but limited evidence is present for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of computerized tools is mandatory to allow the application of more standardized assessment and rehabilitation intervention protocols and easier implementation of multicenter and multilanguage studies. Objective To describe the design and development of CMI-APP, an adaptive and interactive technology tablet-based app, and to present the preliminary results of a multicenter pilot study involving people with MS performed in several European centers for evaluating the feasibility of and adherence to a rehabilitation program based on CMI-APP. Methods CMI-APP includes user-friendly interfaces for personal data input and management, assessment of CMI, and DTT. A dedicated team developed CMI-APP for Android tablets above API level 14 (version 4.0), using C# as the programming language and Unity and Visual Studio as development tools. Three cognitive assessment tests for working memory, information processing speed, and sustained attention and four motor assessment tests for walking at different difficulty levels were implemented. Dual cognitive-motor tasks were performed by combining single cognitive and motor tasks. CMI-APP implements exercises for DTT involving the following 12 cognitive functions: sustained attention, text comprehension, verbal fluency, auditory discrimination, visual discrimination, working memory, information processing speed, auditory memory, visual memory, verbal analog reasoning, visual analog reasoning, and visual spatial planning, which can be performed during walking or stepping on the spot. Fifteen people with MS (mean age 52.6, SD 8.6 years; mean disease duration 9.4, SD 8.4 years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3.6, SD 1.1) underwent DTT (20 sessions). Adherence to the rehabilitation program was evaluated according to the percentage of performed sessions, perceived exertion during the training (Borg 15-point Ratings of Perceived Exertion [RPE] Scale), and subjective experience of the training (Intrinsic Motivation Inventory [IMI]). Results The adherence rate was 91%. DTT was perceived as “somewhat difficult” (mean RPE Scale score 12.6, SD 1.9). IMI revealed that participants enjoyed the training and felt that it was valuable and, to some extent, important, without feelings of pressure. They felt competent, although they did not always feel they could choose the exercises, probably because the therapist chose the exercises and many exercises had few difficulty levels. Conclusions CMI-APP is safe, highly usable, motivating, and well accepted for DTT by people with MS. The findings are fundamental for the preparation of future large-sample studies examining CMI and the effectiveness of DTT interventions with CMI-APP in people with MS.

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Design, Development, and Testing of an App for Dual-Task Assessment and Training Regarding Cognitive-Motor Interference (CMI-APP) in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Multicenter Pilot Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.15344 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Andrea Tacchino ◽

Renee Veldkamp ◽

Karin Coninx ◽

Jens Brulmans ◽

Steven Palmaers ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Motor Tasks ◽

Assessment Tests

BACKGROUND Interest toward dual-task training (DTT) is increasing as traditional interventions may not prepare patients to adequately face the challenges of most activities of daily living. These usually involve simultaneous cognitive and motor tasks, and they often show a decline in performance. Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) has been investigated in different neurological populations, but limited evidence is present for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The use of computerized tools is mandatory to allow the application of more standardized assessment and rehabilitation intervention protocols and easier implementation of multicenter and multilanguage studies. OBJECTIVE To describe the design and development of CMI-APP, an adaptive and interactive technology tablet-based app, and to present the preliminary results of a multicenter pilot study involving people with MS performed in several European centers for evaluating the feasibility of and adherence to a rehabilitation program based on CMI-APP. METHODS CMI-APP includes user-friendly interfaces for personal data input and management, assessment of CMI, and DTT. A dedicated team developed CMI-APP for Android tablets above API level 14 (version 4.0), using C# as the programming language and Unity and Visual Studio as development tools. Three cognitive assessment tests for working memory, information processing speed, and sustained attention and four motor assessment tests for walking at different difficulty levels were implemented. Dual cognitive-motor tasks were performed by combining single cognitive and motor tasks. CMI-APP implements exercises for DTT involving the following 12 cognitive functions: sustained attention, text comprehension, verbal fluency, auditory discrimination, visual discrimination, working memory, information processing speed, auditory memory, visual memory, verbal analog reasoning, visual analog reasoning, and visual spatial planning, which can be performed during walking or stepping on the spot. Fifteen people with MS (mean age 52.6, SD 8.6 years; mean disease duration 9.4, SD 8.4 years; mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score 3.6, SD 1.1) underwent DTT (20 sessions). Adherence to the rehabilitation program was evaluated according to the percentage of performed sessions, perceived exertion during the training (Borg 15-point Ratings of Perceived Exertion [RPE] Scale), and subjective experience of the training (Intrinsic Motivation Inventory [IMI]). RESULTS The adherence rate was 91%. DTT was perceived as “somewhat difficult” (mean RPE Scale score 12.6, SD 1.9). IMI revealed that participants enjoyed the training and felt that it was valuable and, to some extent, important, without feelings of pressure. They felt competent, although they did not always feel they could choose the exercises, probably because the therapist chose the exercises and many exercises had few difficulty levels. CONCLUSIONS CMI-APP is safe, highly usable, motivating, and well accepted for DTT by people with MS. The findings are fundamental for the preparation of future large-sample studies examining CMI and the effectiveness of DTT interventions with CMI-APP in people with MS.

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The effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on performing a sequential dual task: a randomized experimental study

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica ◽

10.1186/s41155-021-00195-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rasool Abedanzadeh ◽

Saeed Alboghebish ◽

Parisa Barati

Keyword(s):

Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Information Processing ◽

Direct Current ◽

Dual Task ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Dual Tasks ◽

Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Dorsolateral Prefrontal

AbstractWhen it comes to simultaneous processing of two tasks, information processing capacity is usually below par and not desirable. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to investigate the effect of transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on performing dual tasks. Twenty-six students (average age 25.2 ± 2.43 years) were selected and then randomly divided into experimental and sham groups. All of the participants conducted the Stroop effect test in a dual task situation before and after the tDCS. This test included two intervals between the stimuli of 100 and 900 ms. The results of mixed-ANOVA showed that the average second reaction time of the experimental stimulated group was reduced (in both dual tasks with congruent and incongruent stimuli) significantly after the tDCS. Therefore, it can be stated that the tDCS of the DLPFC increases the information processing speed and the capacity of attention and, as a result, decreases the effect of the psychological refractory period.

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Limitations of the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test as a measure of working memory in patients with multiple sclerosis

Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society ◽

10.1017/s1355617701733103 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 363-372 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

JOHN D. FISK ◽

CATHERINE J. ARCHIBALD

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Working Memory ◽

Information Processing ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Control Sample ◽

Memory Task ◽

Stimulus Presentation ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Actual Performance ◽

Serial Addition

The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a commonly used procedure that combines elements of both a working memory task and a test of information processing speed. Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have consistently been found to be impaired on this test and it has been recommended as a core outcome measure in clinical trials. The standard score for this task is the number of correct responses at each stimulus presentation rate but a concern has been raised that subjects may ignore some test items in order to chunk the information into manageable portions and avoid performing several cognitive tasks simultaneously. To account for this strategy, one can examine the proportion of correct responses that are consecutive (termed dyads), since such responses require that the task be performed according to the instructions. We compared a group of 35 mildly to moderately disabled MS patients and matched healthy controls on the PASAT. The MS patients made significantly fewer correct responses at the 2 slowest presentation rates (2.4, 2.0 s/digit) while their scores at faster rates (1.6, 1.2 s/digit) did not discriminate them from controls as well. Nevertheless, the MS patients' percentage of dyads was significantly lower than that of the control sample across all stimulus presentation rates. While our study supports the use of the PASAT as a test that distinguishes MS patients from healthy individuals, our results also illustrate problems that lie in the interpretation of this difference in performance. It appears that a chunking strategy may be common in the PASAT, particularly as task demands increase, and that this may mask actual performance differences. If so, the total correct response score alone is limited as a measure of working memory and information processing speed. More detailed analyses of PASAT performance, coupled with other measures of information processing, may help clarify the underlying cognitive deficits of MS patients. (JINS, 2001, 7, 363–372.)

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