scholarly journals From aMCI to AD: The Role of Visuo-Spatial Memory Span and Executive Functions in Egocentric and Allocentric Spatial Impairments

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1536
Author(s):  
Tina Iachini ◽  
Francesco Ruotolo ◽  
Alessandro Iavarone ◽  
Michele Carpinelli Mazzi ◽  
Gennaro Ruggiero
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Frontal Functions

A difficulty in encoding spatial information in an egocentric (i.e., body-to-object) and especially allocentric (i.e., object-to-object) manner, and impairments in executive function (EF) are typical in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since executive functions are involved in spatial encodings, it is important to understand the extent of their reciprocal or selective impairment. To this end, AD patients, aMCI and healthy elderly people had to provide egocentric (What object was closest to you?) and allocentric (What object was closest to object X?) judgments about memorized objects. Participants' frontal functions, attentional resources and visual-spatial memory were assessed with the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Corsi Block Tapping Test (forward/backward). Results showed that ADs performed worse than all others in all tasks but did not differ from aMCIs in allocentric judgments and Corsi forward. Regression analyses showed, although to different degrees in the three groups, a link between attentional resources, visuo-spatial memory and egocentric performance, and between frontal resources and allocentric performance. Therefore, visuo-spatial memory, especially when it involves allocentric frames and requires demanding active processing, should be carefully assessed to reveal early signs of conversion from aMCI to AD.

scholarly journals Biases in object location estimation: the role of camera rotations and translation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladislava Segen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Location Estimation ◽  
Object Location ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Accurate Representation ◽  
Object Locations ◽  
Age Related

The current study investigated a systematic bias in spatial memory in which people, following a perspective shift from encoding to recall, indicated the location of an object further to the direction of the shit. In Experiment 1, we documented this bias by asking participants to encode the position of an object in a virtual room and then indicate it from memory following a perspective shift induced by camera translation and rotation. In Experiment 2, we decoupled the influence of camera translations and camera rotations and examined also whether adding more information in the scene would reduce the bias. We also investigated the presence of age-related differences in the precision of object location estimates and the tendency to display the bias related to perspective shift. Overall, our results showed that camera translations led to greater systematic bias than camera rotations. Furthermore, the use of additional spatial information improved the precision with which object locations were estimated and reduced the bias associated with camera translation. Finally, we found that although older adults were as precise as younger participants when estimating object locations, they benefited less from additional spatial information and their responses were more biased in the direction of camera translations. We propose that accurate representation of camera translations requires more demanding mental computations than camera rotations, leading to greater uncertainty about the position of an object in memory. This uncertainty causes people to rely on an egocentric anchor thereby giving rise to the systematic bias in the direction of camera translation.

P3-225: Role of memory span and speed decline in several language measures in healthy elderly people and Alzheimer's disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (4S_Part_13) ◽  
pp. P409-P409
Author(s):  
David Facal ◽  
Mari Feli González ◽  
Cristina Buiza ◽  
Unai Díaz ◽  
Aitziber Etxaniz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Language Measures ◽  
Healthy Elderly People

Processing symmetry between visual and auditory spatial representations in updating working memory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoki Maezawa ◽  
Jun Kawahara
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Spatial Updating ◽  
Spatial Representations ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Matrix Surface ◽  
Memory Representations

Updating spatial representations in visual and auditory working memory relies on common processes, and the modalities should compete for attentional resources. The present study examined the relative dominance of memory updating using incompatible spatial information conveyed from two different cue modalities. Participants maneuvered a designated target on a matrix surface according to visual or auditory stimuli that were simultaneously presented, to identify a terminal location. Prior to the navigation task, the relative perceptual salience of the visual cues was manipulated to be equal, superior, or inferior to the auditory cues. The results demonstrated that visual and auditory inputs competed for attentional resources such that visual/auditory guidance was impaired by incongruent cues delivered from the other modality. Although visual dominance was favored in working memory navigation on average, stimuli of relatively high salience interfered with or facilitated other stimuli regardless of modality, demonstrating the similarity of updating processes in visual and auditory spatial working memory. Furthermore, processing asymmetry can be identified during the encoding of sensory inputs into working memory representations. The present results suggest that auditory spatial updating is comparable to visual spatial updating in that salient stimuli receive a high priority when selecting inputs and are used when tracking spatial representations.

Functional consequence of cognitive impairment in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): The role of cancer symptoms as mediators.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 235-235
Author(s):  
I-Chan Huang ◽  
Tara M. Brinkman ◽  
Yin Ting Cheung ◽  
Ching-Hon Pui ◽  
Melissa M. Hudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Functional Status ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Spatial Processing ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Visual Spatial

235 Background: Although cognitive impairment of childhood cancer survivors affects daily functional status, the mechanisms are less understood. This study aimed to examine the role of cancer symptoms on the association of cognitive impairment with functional status in childhood ALL survivors treated on a chemotherapy only protocol. Methods: 213 survivors (mean age = 14.8 years) were assessed at > 5 years post-diagnosis. Testing included measures of executive function (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV [WISC-IV]), processing speed (WISC-IV; Grooved Pegboard), visual-spatial processing (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence), memory span (WISC-IV), and attention (Conners CPT-II). Symptoms (e.g., pain, worry, cognitive, communication) and daily functional status (physical, emotional, social, school) were reported by parents using the PedsQL. Association of cognitive impairment with symptoms and functional status was tested using regression analyses. The extent to which cognitive impairment influences functional status through symptoms was tested using mediation analyses. Results: Cognitive impairment ( > 1SD below age-adjusted norm) was identified in 18-41% of the survivors. Impaired executive function, processing speed, and memory span were associated with high cancer symptoms (all p’s < 0.05), typically driven by perceived cognitive and communication problems. Impaired executive function, processing speed, visual-spatial processing, and memory span were associated with poor functional status (all p’s < 0.05). In each cognitive domain, impairment was related to poor school function (all p’s < 0.05). Impact of cognitive function (except attention) on overall functional status was mediated by overall cancer symptoms (all p’s < 0.05). Conclusions: Although the frequency of impairment in survivors treated with chemotherapy was less than that seen with cranial irradiation, cognitive impairment is related to elevated cancer symptoms and decreased functional status. Mediation analyses suggest that cognitive function works through cancer symptoms to impact functional status.

scholarly journals ROLE OF CEREBELLUM IN FORMATION OF POSTURAL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS: CLINICAL EXAMPLE WITH SCHMAHMANN SYNDROME

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 87-91
Author(s):  
L R Akhmadeeva ◽  
E M Kharisova ◽  
Kh P Derevyanko
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Speech Production ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Clinical Observation ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Personality Changes

The data on the etiology and pathogenesis of cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome (CCAS) as well as clinical observations are presented in the paper. Schmahmann J.D. and Sherman J.C. described the spectrum of behavioral and cognitive disorders, which are the results of cerebellum stroke and are called CCAS. This syndrome includes disturbances of executive functions and is characterized by perseverations, absent-mindedness or disatractibility, visual-spatial disorders, speech production difficulties and personality changes. The authors considered the historical description of this syndrome, its etiology, pathogenesis and presented their own clinical observation of CCAS in a 70-year-old woman.

scholarly journals Parents' Views on Play and the Goal of Early Childhood Education in Relation to Children's Home Activity and Executive Functions: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biruk K. Metaferia ◽  
Judit Futo ◽  
Zsofia K. Takacs
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Preschool Education ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Arts And Crafts ◽  
Cultural Variations ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Motor Activities ◽  
The Cross

The present study investigated the cross-cultural variations in parents' views on the role of play in child development and the primary purpose of preschool education from Ethiopia and Hungary. It also examined the cross-cultural variations in preschoolers' executive functions (EF), the frequency of their engagement in home activities, and the role of these activities in the development of EF skills. Participants included 266 preschoolers (Ethiopia: 139 of which 44.6% boys; Mage = 63.83 months; SD = 7.68 months; Hungary: 127 of which 48% boys; Mage = 62.06 months; SD = 9.37 months) with their parents (Ethiopia: 45.32% male; Mage = 36.66 years; SD = 7.14 years; Hungary: 13.18% male; Mage = 37.71 years; SD = 5.97 years). The independent samples t-test showed that Ethiopian parents view fostering academic skills for preschooler significantly more important than their Hungarian counterparts do. We also found that while Ethiopian parents hold the belief that academic and cognitive development is the major purpose of preschool education, Hungarian prioritize social-emotional development and entertainment. Additionally, preschoolers in Ethiopia were reported to engage in academic and arts and crafts activities after preschool significantly more frequently than their Hungarian counterparts. On the contrary, preschoolers in Hungary were found to engage in fine-motor activities, solitary play, sports and other physical activities significantly more frequently than their Ethiopian counterparts. No significant differences were found in EF skills between preschoolers from Ethiopia and Hungary. Results from hierarchical regression analyses showed that, after accounting for age and SES, preschoolers' frequency of pretend play and their parents' play support beliefs were found to be small to medium-sized predictors of inhibitory control skills in both samples. However, children's frequency of having breakfast at home was another significant predictor in the Ethiopian sample only. The frequency of participation in arts and crafts and other fine-motor activities were found to be important predictors of preschoolers' visual-spatial working memory skills in the Ethiopian and the Hungarian samples, respectively. We also found that, after controlling for SES, parental play support was an important factor associated with preschoolers' shifting skills only in the Hungarian sample. Based on the findings, we made important conclusions.

The Development of Visuo-spatial Memory: How to Remember Location

1992 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Schumann-Hengsteler
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Simultaneous Presentation ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Object Identity ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Age Dependent

Recent studies on developmental differences in spatial memory have reported equivocal results. Some found an age-dependent improvement of memory performance whereas others did not. The two studies reported here investigate age differences in memory for visual-spatial information. A picture reconstruction task with simultaneous presentation of scene-like visual-spatial arrangements was used. Subjects had to recognise objects and to reconstruct the initial spatial arrangement. The first study with 5to 10year-olds produced the typical age-dependent improvement in recognising visual material as well as in remembering the locations of specific objects. No effect for age was obtained in memory for the critical loci themselves. The second study with 4to 6-year-olds revealed similar results. Error analyses indicated that in younger children the association between object identity and object location is weaker than in older children. The results are considered as evidence for the assumption that spatial information is not necessarily represented as a feature of an item. Alternative types of representations of spatial information in the picture reconstruction task are discussed.

The Role of Visual Distractors in the Simon Effect

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Lugli ◽  
Stefania D’Ascenzo ◽  
Roberto Nicoletti ◽  
Carlo Umiltà
Keyword(s):  
Simon Effect ◽  
Simon Task ◽  
Automatic Generation ◽  
Spatial Code ◽  
Attentional Model ◽  
Previous Evidence ◽  
Spatial Stimulus ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Code Changes

Abstract. The Simon effect lies on the automatic generation of a stimulus spatial code, which, however, is not relevant for performing the task. Results typically show faster performance when stimulus and response locations correspond, rather than when they do not. Considering reaction time distributions, two types of Simon effect have been individuated, which are thought to depend on different mechanisms: visuomotor activation versus cognitive translation of spatial codes. The present study aimed to investigate whether the presence of a distractor, which affects the allocation of attentional resources and, thus, the time needed to generate the spatial code, changes the nature of the Simon effect. In four experiments, we manipulated the presence and the characteristics of the distractor. Findings extend previous evidence regarding the distinction between visuomotor activation and cognitive translation of spatial stimulus codes in a Simon task. They are discussed with reference to the attentional model of the Simon effect.

Working Memory and Number Sense as Predictors of Mathematical (Dis-)Ability

2015 ◽  
Vol 223 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn H. Kroesbergen ◽  
Marloes van Dijk
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Number Sense ◽  
Mathematical Learning ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Mathematical Learning Disabilities ◽  
Visual Spatial Working Memory ◽  
And Mathematics

Recent research has pointed to two possible causes of mathematical (dis-)ability: working memory and number sense, although only few studies have compared the relations between working memory and mathematics and between number sense and mathematics. In this study, both constructs were studied in relation to mathematics in general, and to mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) in particular. The sample consisted of 154 children aged between 6 and 10 years, including 26 children with MLD. Children performing low on either number sense or visual-spatial working memory scored lower on math tests than children without such a weakness. Children with a double weakness scored the lowest. These results confirm the important role of both visual-spatial working memory and number sense in mathematical development.

The Effect of Path Length and Display Size on Memory for Spatial Information

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Guérard ◽  
Sébastien Tremblay
Keyword(s):  
Path Length ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Recall Performance ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
Length Effect ◽  
Serial Memory ◽  
Fixed Reference ◽  
A Minor

In serial memory for spatial information, some studies showed that recall performance suffers when the distance between successive locations increases relatively to the size of the display in which they are presented (the path length effect; e.g., Parmentier et al., 2005) but not when distance is increased by enlarging the size of the display (e.g., Smyth & Scholey, 1994). In the present study, we examined the effect of varying the absolute and relative distance between to-be-remembered items on memory for spatial information. We manipulated path length using small (15″) and large (64″) screens within the same design. In two experiments, we showed that distance was disruptive mainly when it is varied relatively to a fixed reference frame, though increasing the size of the display also had a small deleterious effect on recall. The insertion of a retention interval did not influence these effects, suggesting that rehearsal plays a minor role in mediating the effects of distance on serial spatial memory. We discuss the potential role of perceptual organization in light of the pattern of results.

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