Zolpidem Maintains Memories for Negative Emotions Across a Night of Sleep

Zolpidem, a common medication for sleep complaints, also shows secondary, unexpected memory benefits. We previously found that zolpidem prior to a nap enhanced negative, highly arousing picture memory. As zolpidem is typically administered at night, how it affects overnight emotional memory processing is relevant. We used a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject, cross-over design to investigate if zolpidem boosted negative compared to neutral picture memory. Subjects learned both pictures sets in the morning. That evening, subjects were administered zolpidem or placebo and slept in the lab. Recognition was tested that evening and the following morning. We found that zolpidem maintained negative picture memory compared to forgetting in the placebo condition. Furthermore, zolpidem increased slow-wave sleep time, decreased rapid eye movement sleep time, and increased the fast spindle range in NREM. Our results suggest that zolpidem may enhance negative memory longevity and salience. These findings raise concerns for zolpidem administration to certain clinical populations.

NCOG-37. THE UTILITY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINICS FOR PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY POPULATIONS

BACKGROUND The purpose of this project was to examine the utility of neuropsychological screening in multidisciplinary clinics for pediatric neuro-oncology populations and determine whether a brief evaluation can adequately screen children for cognitive dysfunction or psychiatric comorbidities. METHODS Children underwent neuropsychological screening as part of their multidisciplinary clinic visit. This screening evaluation consisted of clinical interview, neuropsychological testing, and the completion of emotional/behavioral checklists. Our neuropsychological test battery included the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test-Second Edition (KBIT-2) and the NIH Toolbox Fluid Cognition Composite (consisting of 6 subtests). RESULTS Over a six-month period 40 children and adolescents with CNS tumors and/or NF1 were seen in our neuropsychology screening clinic. Females made up 37.5% of the sample. The average age was 11.1 years (range=5-25 years). The average time to complete neuropsychological testing was 56.8 minutes. On average, children in this sample met criteria for 1.8 neuropsychological diagnoses with an average of 1.2 new diagnoses that had not been given prior to their neuropsychological screening. The most common new diagnoses were major or mild neurocognitive disorder (mild=27.5%, major=20%), anxiety (27.5%), ADHD (15%), mood disorder (12.5%), and intellectual disability (10%). On average, these children performed lower than expectation on neurocognitive tests, including intellectual functioning (KBIT-2 Verbal IQ=93.1; KBIT-2 Nonverbal IQ=88.7; KBIT-2 Total IQ=90.1), attention (NIH Flanker T-Score=44.1), working memory (NIH Working Memory T-Score=42.9), processing speed (NIH Processing Speed T-Score=39.9), cognitive flexibility (NIH Card Sort T-Score=43.4), memory (NIH Picture Memory T-Score=44.5), and fluid cognition (NIH Fluid Cognition Composite T-Score=38.7). Behavioral health recommendations were needed for 72.5% of this sample. Educational recommendations were needed for 62.5%. CONCLUSIONS Brief neuropsychological screening completed as part of multidisciplinary clinics for pediatric neuro-oncology patients was efficient and useful in identifying neuropsychological diagnoses in children.

HUBUNGAN SENAM VITALISASI OTAK TERHADAP DAYA INGAT JANGKA PENDEK PADA WANITA LANSIA ( USIA 60 – 70 TAHUN )

Tujuan: Untuk mengetahui hubungan senam vitalisasi otak terhadap peningkatan daya ingat jangka pendek pada wanita lansia usia 60 – 70 tahun. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan jenis penelitian non eksperimental berupa studi korelasi. Sampel dipilih menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Total sampel dalam penelitian ini adalah 50 orang yang dibagi menjadi 2 kelompok dan tiap kelompok berjumlah 25 orang. Kelompok I mengikuti senam vitalisasi otak dan kelompok II tidak mengikuti senam vitalisasi otak. Nilai daya ingat jangka pendek diukur dengan Scenery Picture Memory Test (SPMT). Hasil: Uji Mann-whitney U didapatkan p= <0,001. Rata-rata dan daya ingat jangka pendek wanita lansia 20,36±1,03. Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan senam vitalisasi otak terhadap peningkatan daya ingat jangka pendek pada wanita lansia usia 60 – 70 tahun di Posyandu Lansia Ayah Bunda Ganting, Padang

Multilab Direct Replication of Flavell, Beach, and Chinsky (1966): Spontaneous Verbal Rehearsal in a Memory Task as a Function of Age

Work by Flavell, Beach, and Chinsky indicated a change in the spontaneous production of overt verbalization behaviors when comparing young children (age 5) with older children (age 10). Despite the critical role that this evidence of a change in verbalization behaviors plays in modern theories of cognitive development and working memory, there has been only one other published near replication of this work. In this Registered Replication Report, we relied on researchers from 17 labs who contributed their results to a larger and more comprehensive sample of children. We assessed memory performance and the presence or absence of verbalization behaviors of young children at different ages and determined that the original pattern of findings was largely upheld: Older children were more likely to verbalize, and their memory spans improved. We confirmed that 5- and 6-year-old children who verbalized recalled more than children who did not verbalize. However, unlike Flavell et al., substantial proportions of our 5- and 6-year-old samples overtly verbalized at least sometimes during the picture memory task. In addition, continuous increase in overt verbalization from 7 to 10 years old was not consistently evident in our samples. These robust findings should be weighed when considering theories of cognitive development, particularly theories concerning when verbal rehearsal emerges and relations between speech and memory.

Indirect modulation of human visual memory

Conditions in which memories become maladaptive have inspired extensive research geared to modulate memory by targeting it directly and explicitly. Given limitations of direct memory modulation, we asked the following: can the target memories be modulated indirectly? To address this question, we uniquely targeted visual memories, and leveraged a paradigm utilizing instructions to either forget or remember newly encoded memories. We used a multi-domain approach, and applied the instructions to embedded verbal information presented during encoding (words), with the intention to indirectly modulate recognition of the target visual context memory itself (pictures). Accordingly, participants were presented with two lists of words, where each word was preceded and followed by pictures. Participants were instructed to either remember or forget the first list of words. As expected, the instruction to either remember or forget the words differentially influenced word memory strength. Importantly, the instruction regarding the words, indirectly modulated picture memory strength. Better memory for words resulted in reduced picture memory strength and vice versa, with the instruction to remember the words reducing picture memory strength. Together with a negative correlation between word and picture memory strength, the results suggest a competition for shared resources between memory for content and context. These findings may open new avenues to indirectly modulate maladaptive memories.

THE EFFECT OF HIGH INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT) ON SHORT-TERM MEMORY AMONG MEDICAL STUDENT OF DIPONEGORO UNIVERSITY

Background: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an aerobic exercise consisting of high intensity of physical exercise interspersed with low intensity of physical exercise. HIIT has been known that can improve cognitive function. Medical students has low physical activity that can affect on cognitive function including short-term memory. Short-term memory is important in learning process which can affect on academic performance. Objective: To determine the effect of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on an individual’s short-term memory. Methods: This study used quasi experimental pretest and posttest design. The research subjects were 29 female students of the Faculty of Medicine, Diponegoro University with the average age of 19-22 years with normal BMI, divided in 2 groups. Experimental group (n=14) was instructed to do 6 weeks of HIIT (3 times a week) and control group (n=15) was instructed to not to do any exercises. Short-term memory was measured with Scenery Picture Memory Test (SPMT). The significance of the data was analyzed with paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test. Results : A significant increase (p<0.001) in memory score before and after HIIT, from 18.07±1.49 to 20.21±1.37. The posttest memory score of HIIT group (20.21±1.37) was significantly (p=0.034) higher than the control group (18.67±2.23). Meanwhile, the memory score at the pretest between the 2 groups was no significant differences (p=0.621). Conclusion: HIIT can improves short-term memory.Keywords: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Short-term Memory, Scenery Picture Memory Test (SPMT).

Screening for Cognitive Function in Primary Care

A comprehensive program for early detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s and related dementias requires a systematic process for provider education, assessment of cognitive function and referral to appropriate resources when indicated. This discussion will focus on the implementation of cognitive screening into primary care. Over 200 staff across 11 primary care sites were trained on screening for dementia in the annual wellness visit. In the following 6 months nearly 2000 annual wellness visits were conducted. The annual wellness visit was designed to include a cognitive screen. 83% of the patients were asked the cognitive screen questions and 13% responded “yes” to the question. Further testing was offered to that group and 71% of those who had responded “yes” agreed to be tested with a picture memory screen. 32% scored less than 5 on that screen and were referred to gero-psychiatry, geriatricians and community based organizations for caregiver support services.

Peningkatan Fungsi Atensi dan Memori Jangka Pendek pada Wanita Dewasa Muda dengan Ansietas setelah Terapi Mewarnai

Kecemasan dapat mempengaruhi fungsi atensi dan memori. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh terapi mewarnai terhadap peningkatan fungsi atensi dan memori jangka pendek pada wanita dewasa muda dengan ansietas. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode analitik eksperimental kuasi yang bersifat komparatif dengan rancangan pre-test dan post-test. Data yang diukur adalah atensi (skor Stroop test) dan memori jangka pendek (skor Scenery Picture Memory Test / SPMT). Subjek penelitian ini adalah 25 orang mahasiswi dengan ansietas (skor A pada kuesioner Depression Anxiety Stress Scale / DASS-42 ?8). Hasil penelitian rerata skor Stroop test pada pre-test dan post-test adalah 136,20 dan 72,60 detik, sedangkan rerata skor SPMT pada pre-test dan post-test adalah 17,88 dan 20,92. Penelitian ini menggunakan uji analisis statistik Wilcoxon dengan nilai ?=0,05 dan menunjukkan hasil nilai p 0,000 untuk skor Stroop test dan SPMT (sangat signifikan). Simpulan penelitian ini adalah terapi mewarnai meningkatkan fungsi atensi dan memori jangka pendek pada wanita dewasa muda dengan ansietas. Kata Kunci: terapi mewarnai, atensi, memori jangka pendek, kognitif, ansietas

I recognise your name but I can’t remember your face: An advantage for names in recognition memory

Forgetting someone’s name is a common failure of memory, and often occurs despite being able to recognise that person’s face. This gives rise to the widespread view that memory for names is generally worse than memory for faces. However, this everyday error confounds stimulus class (faces vs. names) with memory task: recognition versus recall. Here we compare memory for faces and names when both are tested in the same recognition memory framework. Contrary to the common view, we find a clear advantage for names over faces. Across three experiments, we show that recognition of previously unfamiliar names exceeds recognition of previously unfamiliar faces. This advantage persists, even when the same face pictures are repeated at learning and test—a picture-memory task known to produce high levels of performance. Differential performance between names and faces disappears in recognition memory for familiar people. The results are discussed with reference to representational complexity and everyday memory errors.

Screening for dementia using picture memory impairment screen among older adults in an urban underprivileged area of Bangalore city, India

Background: Under detection of dementia is a major challenge in low and middle income countries with 90% of dementia cases remaining unidentified in India. The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of dementia among older adults living in an urban underprivileged area of Bangalore city, India using the picture memory impairment screen (PMIS).Methods: This community based cross sectional study was conducted between September and November 2013 among 202 elderly people in an underprivileged area of Bangalore city. Dementia was defined using a validated cut-off score on the PMIS.Results: The mean age of the participants was 68 years and 65% were illiterate. The overall prevalence of dementia using the screen among elderly people was 15.3%. Age specific prevalence rates were 7.8% (60 to 70), 30.6% (71 to 80) and 61.5% (>80 years) respectively. Increasing age, family history, lower educational and functional status were significantly associated (p<0.05) with dementia.Conclusions: High prevalence of dementia was identified among an urban underprivileged elderly population. The PMIS can be used to triage older adults for further evaluation and management.