scholarly journals Cannabidiol Does Not Cause Significant Changes to Working Memory Performance in the N-Back Task

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 1165
Author(s):  
Éamon Jones ◽  
Styliani Vlachou
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Common Era ◽  
Back Task

Cannabis use can be traced back to several centuries before the Common Era, when it was used for industrial, medicinal and recreational purposes. More recently, over 100 different cannabinoid compounds have been identified, one of which is cannabidiol (CBD), a compound widely used for anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic treatment. The literature surrounding the cognitive effects of CBD is limited, with most studies focusing on the effects of other cannabinoids on cognition. To expand this literature, this study investigated whether CBD causes significant differences to working memory (WM) functioning, as measured by the N-back task. It was hypothesised that CBD does not cause statistically significant differences to WM. In all, 54 participants, 33 females and 21 males, were recruited, with a mean age of 32.63 years. Of these 54 participants, 26 reported using CBD and no other cannabinoids, while 28 reported not using any cannabinoid. The participants were instructed to answer a short online survey to gather basic demographic data and to complete an online N-back task to measure WM. For the computerised N-back task, the participants completed a practice and three test blocks, where they were instructed to respond to whether a series of letter stimuli were presented one trial back (1-back), two trials back (2-back) or three trials back (3-back). Multivariate analysis of covariance yielded no statistically significant difference on either response time or response accuracy data between groups after controlling for how long the participants use CBD and for what reason they use CBD. These results support our hypothesis that CBD does not cause significant changes to WM functioning. Further research is greatly needed to investigate the long-term effects of CBD use on WM and on general cognitive functioning.

scholarly journals Training Working Memory of Children with and without Dyslexia

Children ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Maehler ◽  
Christina Joerns ◽  
Kirsten Schuchardt
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Operational Efficiency ◽  
Third Graders ◽  
Central Executive ◽  
Phonological Loop ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects

For the future school performance of a child in the fields of literacy and numeracy, the operational efficiency of working memory is a central predictor. Children affected by dyslexia exhibit specific deficits in the functions of working memory. A software application for elementary school-age children has been specifically developed for this study, attempting to improve the working memory’s operational efficiency. Based on Baddeley’s model of working memory (1986), the phonological loop, the visuo-spatial sketchpad, and the central executive were trained in 18 sessions over a period of six weeks. The group of test subjects undergoing this training was composed of third-graders, of which 43 were and 27 were not affected by dyslexia. The untrained control group was made up of 41 third-graders with dyslexia and 28 without dyslexia. While the short-term effects of the program could not be proven, the present analyses focus on long-term effects. The results obtained from a pre-test/follow-up design reveal that no long-term increases in performance regarding phonological and central executive working memory could be confirmed. Only the visuo-spatial Corsi block span exhibited a training effect over a period of three months. Additionally, training did not show any long-term effect of performance improvement, not even for a subgroup of children with dyslexia and an especially low working memory performance. Thus, even after this study, the question whether working memory can be trained or not remains partly unanswered but leaves us predominantly pessimistic.

scholarly journals Working memory training shows immediate and long-term effects on cognitive performance in children

F1000Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Pugin ◽  
Andreas J. Metz ◽  
Madlaina Stauffer ◽  
Martin Wolf ◽  
Oskar G. Jenni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Working Memory Training ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Back Task

Working memory is important for mental reasoning and learning processes. Several studies in adults and school-age children have shown performance improvement in cognitive tests after working memory training. Our aim was to examine not only immediate but also long-term effects of intensive working memory training on cognitive performance tests in children. Fourteen healthy male subjects between 10 and 16 years trained a visuospatial n-back task over 3 weeks (30 min daily), while 15 individuals of the same age range served as a passive control group. Significant differences in immediate (after 3 weeks of training) and long-term effects (after 2-6 months) in an auditory n-back task were observed compared to controls (2.5 fold immediate and 4.7 fold long-term increase in the training group compared to the controls). The improvement was more pronounced in subjects who improved their performance during the training. Other cognitive functions (matrices test and Stroop task) did not change when comparing the training group to the control group. We conclude that visuospatial working memory training in children boosts performance in similar memory tasks such as the auditory n-back task. The sustained performance improvement several months after the training supports the effectiveness of the training.

scholarly journals Working memory training shows immediate and long-term effects on cognitive performance in children

F1000Research ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Pugin ◽  
Andreas J. Metz ◽  
Madlaina Stauffer ◽  
Martin Wolf ◽  
Oskar G. Jenni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Working Memory Training ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Back Task

Working memory is important for mental reasoning and learning processes. Several studies in adults and school-age children have shown performance improvement in cognitive tests after working memory training. Our aim was to examine not only immediate but also long-term effects of intensive working memory training on cognitive performance tests in children. Fourteen healthy male subjects between 10 and 16 years trained a visuospatial n-back task over 3 weeks (30 min daily), while 15 individuals of the same age range served as a passive control group. Significant differences in immediate (after 3 weeks of training) and long-term effects (after 2-6 months) in an auditory n-back task were observed compared to controls (2.5 fold immediate and 4.7 fold long-term increase in the training group compared to the controls). The improvement was more pronounced in subjects who improved their performance during the training. Other cognitive functions (matrices test and Stroop task) did not change when comparing the training group to the control group. We conclude that visuospatial working memory training in children boosts performance in similar memory tasks such as the auditory n-back task. The sustained performance improvement several months after the training supports the effectiveness of the training.

scholarly journals Working memory training shows immediate and long-term effects on cognitive performance in children and adolescents

F1000Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Pugin ◽  
Andreas J. Metz ◽  
Madlaina Stauffer ◽  
Martin Wolf ◽  
Oskar G. Jenni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Working Memory Training ◽  
Memory Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Back Task

Working memory is important for mental reasoning and learning processes. Several studies in adults and school-age children have shown performance improvement in cognitive tests after working memory training. Our aim was to examine not only immediate but also long-term effects of intensive working memory training on cognitive performance tests in children and adolescents. Fourteen healthy male subjects between 10 and 16 years trained a visuospatial n-back task over 3 weeks (30 min daily), while 15 individuals of the same age range served as a passive control group. Significant differences in immediate (after 3 weeks of training) and long-term effects (after 2-6 months) in an auditory n-back task were observed compared to controls (2.5 fold immediate and 4.7 fold long-term increase in the training group compared to the controls). The improvement was more pronounced in subjects who improved their performance during the training. Other cognitive functions (matrices test and Stroop task) did not change when comparing the training group to the control group. We conclude that spatial working memory training in children and adolescents boosts performance in similar memory tasks such as the auditory n-back task. The sustained performance improvement several months after the training supports the effectiveness of the training.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Frequency of Adverse Effects in Patients Treated with Favipiravir as SARS-CoV-2 Treatment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Ebru Dogan ◽  
Sevil Alkan Çeviker ◽  
Servan Vurucu ◽  
Alper Sener ◽  
Buse Yuksel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Cardiac Side Effects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Gastrointestinal Side Effects ◽  
Treatment Agent

Objective: For 2019 and 2020, SARS-CoV-2 has been a sensational virus. Unfortunately, a treatment agent specific for SARS-CoV-2 has not been developed yet. Favipiravir is one of the antiviral agents used experimentally in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2. This study aimed to determine the frequency of side effects seen in patients hospitalized in our hospital and received favipiravir at any stage of their treatment. Methods: Our study is a retrospective observational study. Definite and probable COVID-19 cases hospitalized in our hospital between March 23, 2020, May 31, 2020, were determined, and those receiving favipiravir as initial or secondary therapy were included in the study. The demographic data, laboratory tests, observed side effects of the patients were recorded and analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 134 patients, 37.3% using favipiravir at the beginning and 62.7% as secondary, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 66.8±15.7 years. 38.1% (n=51) of the group were female. Side effects were detected in 17 (13%) patients in the whole group. Hepatotoxicity (4.5%), increased serum uric acid (4.5%), nephrotoxicity (1.5%), gastrointestinal side effects (1.5%), cardiac side effects (0.7%) were detected. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of adverse events between the patients who received favipiravir initially or later on disease course. Conclusions: Although some results support the short-term safety of favipiravir, more studies are needed for its long-term effects. Studies on hyperuricemia, QTc prolongation, use in pregnancy, use during lactation and use in children are insufficient. Therefore, although Favipiravir appears to be a good alternative in the treatment of COVID-19, it should be used carefully because the data on its safety is still insufficient.

Short- and long-term memory tasks predict working memory performance, and vice versa.

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Neath ◽  
Jean Saint-Aubin ◽  
Tamra J. Bireta ◽  
Andrew J. Gabel ◽  
Chelsea G. Hudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Short And Long Term

scholarly journals Working memory deficits in schizophrenia are associated with the rs34884856 variant and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene in a sample Mexican population: a case control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ruiz-Sánchez ◽  
Janet Jiménez-Genchi ◽  
Yessica M. Alcántara-Flores ◽  
Carlos J. Castañeda-González ◽  
Carlos L. Aviña-Cervantes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Mexican Population ◽  
High Resolution Melt ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Diseases ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Peripheral Mononuclear Cells

Abstract Background Cognitive functions represent useful endophenotypes to identify the association between genetic variants and schizophrenia. In this sense, the NR4A2 gene has been implicated in schizophrenia and cognition in different animal models and clinical trials. We hypothesized that the NR4A2 gene is associated with working memory performance in schizophrenia. This study aimed to analyze two variants and the expression levels of the NR4A2 gene with susceptibility to schizophrenia, as well as to evaluate whether possession of NR4A2 variants influence the possible correlation between gene expression and working memory performance in schizophrenia. Methods The current study included 187 schizophrenia patients and 227 controls genotyped for two of the most studied NR4A2 genetic variants in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Genotyping was performed using High Resolution Melt and sequencing techniques. In addition, mRNA expression of NR4A2 was performed in peripheral mononuclear cells of 112 patients and 118 controls. A group of these participants, 54 patients and 87 controls, performed the working memory index of the WAIS III test. Results Both genotypic frequencies of the two variants and expression levels of the NR4A2 gene showed no significant difference when in patients versus controls. However, patients homozygous for the rs34884856 promoter variant showed a positive correlation between expression levels and auditory working memory. Conclusions Our finding suggested that changes in expression levels of the NR4A2 gene could be associated with working memory in schizophrenia depending on patients’ genotype in a sample from a Mexican population.

scholarly journals Long-COVID Syndrome? A Study on the Persistence of Neurological, Psychological and Physiological Symptoms

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 575
Author(s):  
Graziella Orrù ◽  
Davide Bertelloni ◽  
Francesca Diolaiuti ◽  
Federico Mucci ◽  
Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Targeted Treatments ◽  
Euroqol 5D

Background: Emerging aspects of the Covid-19 clinical presentation are its long-term effects, which are characteristic of the so-called “long COVID”. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of physical, psychological, and sleep disturbances and the quality of life in the general population during the ongoing pandemic. Methods: This study, based on an online survey, collected demographic data, information related to COVID-19, sleep disturbances, and quality of life data from 507 individuals. The level of sleep disturbances and quality of life was assessed through the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), respectively. Results: In total, 507 individuals (M = 91 and F = 416 women) completed the online survey. The main symptoms associated with “long COVID” were headache, fatigue, muscle aches/myalgia, articular pains, cognitive impairment, loss of concentration, and loss of smell. Additionally, the subjects showed significant levels of insomnia (p < 0.05) and an overall reduced quality of life (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study appear in line with recent publications, but uncertainty regarding the definition and specific features of “long COVID” remains. Further studies are needed in order to better define the clinical presentation of the “long COVID” condition and related targeted treatments.

scholarly journals The Influence of Race and Gender on Staff-Resident Interactions in Nursing Homes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 185-185
Author(s):  
Rachel McPherson ◽  
Barbara Resnick ◽  
Elizabeth Galik
Keyword(s):  
Racial Differences ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Positive Interactions ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Communication and interactions are an integral part of care in long-term care settings. Resident variables, such as race and gender, shape communication and interaction between staff and residents. The Quality of Interactions Schedule (QuIS) was developed to measure the quality of verbal and nonverbal interactions among nursing staff and older adults initially for those in acute care and later used as well in a variety of long term care settings. A quantified measurement of the quality of interactions between residents and staff was created to quantify the QuIS. The purpose of this study was to describe the gender and racial differences in scored quality of interactions. Data for the present study was based on baseline data from the Evidence Integration Triangle for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (EIT-4-BPSD) implementation study. A total of 535 residents from 55 settings were included in the analyses. An analysis of covariance was conducted to determine a difference in QuIS scores between males and females while controlling for age. The second model tested for differences in QuIS scores between blacks and whites while controlling for age and gender. There was not a statistically significant difference in QuIS scores between male and female residents. There was a significant difference in QuIS scores between those who were black versus white, such that those who were black received more positive interactions from staff than those who were white. Future work should focus on a deeper examination of resident factors and staff factors that may influence these interactions.

scholarly journals Transitional Cell Carcinomas of the Urinary Tract in a Colony of Beagle Dogs

1989 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. J. Nikula ◽  
S. A. Benjamin ◽  
G. M. Angleton ◽  
A. C. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Tract ◽  
Transitional Cell ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Beagle Dogs ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Microscopic Features

Gross and light microscopic features of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary tract were examined in Beagle dogs used for the study of the long-term effects of low-dose, whole-body, 60Co gamma radiation. Thirty-eight cases of TCC occurred among 990 dogs that were from 0 to 14 years of age. There was no conclusive evidence of a radiation effect. The 38 TCC were equally divided between male and female dogs, but there was a significant difference in the sex distribution of urethra-origin TCC. Eleven males had a primary urethral TCC compared to only two females. There was no significant difference between the urethra-origin and bladder-origin TCCs in the number of tumors that caused clinical signs, metastasized, or that contributed to the death of the dog. All cases of urethral TCC in male dogs occurred in the prostatic urethra. The majority of these cases were not recognized to be neoplasms at gross necropsy, but microscopic examination revealed the TCC. Our findings differ from previous reports stating that TCC occurs more frequently in female than male dogs, and they especially differ from reports claiming that urethra-origin TCC is predominately a disease of female dogs.

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