1
|
Tong K, Fu X, Hoo NP, Kean Mun L, Vassiliu C, Langley C, Sahakian BJ, Leong V. The development of cognitive flexibility and its implications for mental health disorders. Psychol Med 2024:1-7. [PMID: 39247963 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291724001508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Tong
- Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Xinchen Fu
- Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Natalie P Hoo
- Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Lee Kean Mun
- Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Early Mental Potential and Wellbeing Research (EMPOWER) Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Victoria Leong
- Cambridge-NTU Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Early Mental Potential and Wellbeing Research (EMPOWER) Centre, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Choo Y, Mather A, Wessel JR. Early Action Error Processing Is Due to Domain-General Surprise, Whereas Later Processing Is Error Specific. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7678-7689. [PMID: 37833065 PMCID: PMC10634573 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1334-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to adapt behavior after erroneous actions is one of the key aspects of cognitive control. Error commission typically causes people to slow down their subsequent actions [post-error slowing (PES)]. Recent work has challenged the notion that PES reflects adaptive, controlled processing and instead suggests that it is a side effect of the surprising nature of errors. Indeed, human neuroimaging suggests that the brain networks involved in processing errors overlap with those processing error-unrelated surprise, calling into question whether there is a specific system for error processing in the brain at all. In the current study, we used EEG decoding and a novel behavioral paradigm to test whether there are indeed unique, error-specific processes that contribute to PES beyond domain-general surprise. Across two experiments in male and female humans (N = 76), we found that both errors and error-unrelated surprise were followed by slower responses when response-stimulus intervals were short. Furthermore, the early neural processes following error-specific and domain-general surprise showed significant cross-decoding. However, at longer intervals, which provided additional processing time, only errors were still followed by post-trial slowing. Furthermore, this error-specific PES effect was reflected in sustained neural activity that could be decoded from that associated with domain-general surprise, with the strongest contributions found at lateral frontal, occipital, and sensorimotor scalp sites. These findings suggest that errors and surprise initially share common processes, but that after additional processing time, unique, genuinely error-specific processes take over and contribute to behavioral adaptation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans typically slow their actions after errors (PES). Some suggest that PES is a side effect of the unexpected, surprising nature of errors, challenging the notion of a genuine error processing system in the human brain. Here, we used multivariate EEG decoding to identify behavioral and neural processes uniquely related to error processing. Action slowing occurred following both action errors and error-unrelated surprise when time to prepare the next response was short. However, when there was more time to react, only errors were followed by slowing, further reflected in sustained neural activity. This suggests that errors and surprise initially share common processing, but that after additional time, error-specific, adaptive processes take over.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoojeong Choo
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Cognitive Control Collaborative, University of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa, 52242
| | - Alec Mather
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
| | - Jan R Wessel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
- Cognitive Control Collaborative, University of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa, 52242
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Fijałkiewicz A, Batko K, Gruszka A. Learned Irrelevance, Perseveration, and Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030473. [PMID: 36979283 PMCID: PMC10046615 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of natural aging on physiologic mechanisms that regulate attentional set-shifting represents an area of high interest in the study of cognitive function. In visual discrimination learning, reward contingency changes in categorization tasks impact individual performance, which is constrained by attention-shifting costs. Perseveration (PE) and learned irrelevance (LI) are viewed as two different mechanisms that shape responses to stimuli, which are predicated on the shift in stimulus form. To date, only studies examining patients with Parkinson’s disease have provided some insight into the relationship between individual age and performance in PE and LI tasks. We enrolled 60 healthy individuals (mean [SD] age, 63.0 [12.6]) without a history of dementia, a cerebrovascular incident, or a neurodegenerative disease. No association was observed between crystallized intelligence or verbal fluency scores and reaction time in both PE (r = 0.074, p = 0.603; r = −0.124, p = 0.346) and LI (r = −0.076, p = 0.562; r = −0.081, p = 0.536) task conditions, respectively. In contrast, a statistically significant linear relationship was observed between age and reaction time (RT) for PE (r = 0.259, p = 0.046) but not for LI (r = 0.226, p = 0.083). No significant linear relationship was observed for changing RTs in PE and LI (r = 0.209, p = 0.110). The present study is the first report that provides a descriptive overview of age-related differences in PE and LI in a sample of cognitively unimpaired middle- to older-aged adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Fijałkiewicz
- Doctoral School in the Social Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-010 Cracow, Poland
- Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Cracow, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-12-663-39-95
| | - Krzysztof Batko
- Department of Research and Design, Medicine Economy Law Society (MELS) Foundation, 30-040 Cracow, Poland
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gullstrand J, Claidière N, Fagot J. Age effect in expert cognitive flexibility in Guinea baboons (Papio papio). Behav Brain Res 2022; 434:114043. [PMID: 35933047 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility in non-human primates is traditionally measured with the conceptual set shifting task (CSST). In our laboratory, Guinea baboons (N = 24) were continuously tested with a CSST task during approximately 10 years. Our task involved the presentation of three stimuli on a touch screen all made from 3 possible colours and 3 shapes. The subjects had to touch the stimulus containing the stimulus dimension (e.g., green) that was constantly rewarded until the stimulus dimension changed. Analysis of perseveration responses, scores and response times collected during the last two years of testing (approximately 1.6 million trials) indicate (1) that the baboons have developed an "expert" form of cognitive flexibility and (2) that their performance was age-dependent, it was at a developing stage in juveniles, optimal in adults, declining in middle-aged, and strongly impaired in the oldest age group. A direct comparison with the data collected by Bonté , Flemming & Fagot (2011) on some of the same baboons and same task as in the current study indicates that (3) the performance of all age groups has improved after 10 years of training, even for the now old individuals. All these data validate the use of non-human primates as models of human cognitive flexibility and suggest that cognitive flexibility in humans has a long evolutionary history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Gullstrand
- Laboratory of Cognitive Psychology, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, and Primatology Station of the CNRS-Celphedia, France.
| | - Nicolas Claidière
- Laboratory of Cognitive Psychology, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, and Primatology Station of the CNRS-Celphedia, France
| | - Joel Fagot
- Laboratory of Cognitive Psychology, CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, and Primatology Station of the CNRS-Celphedia, France.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Makmee P, Wongupparaj P. Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Intervention for Enhancing Executive Functions in Community-dwelling Older Adults. INTERVENCION PSICOSOCIAL 2022; 31:133-144. [PMID: 37361011 PMCID: PMC10268555 DOI: 10.5093/pi2022a10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid growth of the older population globally, it is anticipated that age-related cognitive decline in the prodromal phase and more severe pathological decline will increase. Moreover, currently, no effective treatment options for the disease exist. Thus, early and timely prevention actions are promising and prior strategies to preserve cognitive functions by preventing symptomatology from increasing the age-related deterioration of the functions in healthy older adults. This study aims to develop the virtual reality-based cognitive intervention for enhancing executive functions (EFs) and examine the EFs after training with the virtual reality-based cognitive intervention in community-dwelling older adults. Following inclusion/exclusion criteria, 60 community-dwelling older adults aged 60-69 years were involved in the study and randomly divided into passive control and experimental groups. Eight 60 min virtual reality-based cognitive intervention sessions were held twice a week and lasted for 1 month. The EFs (i.e., inhibition, updating, and shifting) of the participants were assessed by using standardized computerized tasks, i.e., Go/NoGo, forward and backward digit span, and Berg's card sorting tasks. Additionally, a repeated-measure ANCOVA and effect sizes were applied to investigate the effects of the developed intervention. The virtual reality-based intervention significantly improved the EFs of older adults in the experimental group. Specifically, the magnitudes of enhancement were observed for inhibitory as indexed by the response time, F(1) = 6.95, p < .05, ηp2 = .11, updating as represented by the memory span, F(1) = 12.09, p < .01, ηp2 = .18, and the response time, F(1) = 4.46, p = .04, ηp2 = .07, and shifting abilities as indexed by the percentage of correct responses, F(1) = 5.30, p = .03, ηp2 = .09, respectively. The results indicated that the simultaneous combined cognitive-motor control as embedded in the virtual-based intervention is safe and effective in enhancing EFs in older adults without cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, further studies are required to investigate the benefits of these enhancements to motor functions and emotional aspects relating to daily living and the well-being of older populations in communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pattrawadee Makmee
- Burapha UniversityCollege of Research Methodology and Cognitive ScienceCognitive Science and Innovation Research UnitThailandCognitive Science and Innovation Research Unit, College of Research Methodology and Cognitive Science, Burapha University, Thailand
| | - Peera Wongupparaj
- Burapha UniversityCollege of Research Methodology and Cognitive ScienceCognitive Science and Innovation Research UnitThailandCognitive Science and Innovation Research Unit, College of Research Methodology and Cognitive Science, Burapha University, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cammarata C, De Rosa ED. Interaction of cholinergic disruption and age on cognitive flexibility in rats. Exp Brain Res 2022; 240:2989-2997. [PMID: 36198843 PMCID: PMC9587929 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-022-06472-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with a functional reduction of the basal forebrain (BF) system that supplies the neurochemical acetylcholine (ACh) to the cortex, and concomitant challenges to cognition. It remains unclear how aging and ACh loss interact to shape cognition in the aging brain. We used a proactive interference (PI) odor discrimination task, shown to depend on the BF in young adults, wherein rats acquired new associations that conflicted with past learning or associations that did not conflict. This manipulation allowed independent assessment of encoding alone vs. encoding in the face of interference. Adult (9.8 ± 1.3 months) or aged male Long-Evans rats (20.7 ± 0.5 months) completed the PI task with systemic administration of a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist, scopolamine, or a pharmacological control. Aged rats were less able to resolve PI than adult rats. Moreover, while scopolamine reduced efficient PI resolution in adult rats, this cholinergic antagonism had no additional effect on aged rat performance, counter to our expectation that scopolamine would further increase perseveration in the aged group. Scopolamine did not impair encoding of non-interfering associations regardless of age. These data suggest that natural aging changes the effect of cholinergic pharmacology on encoding efficiency when past learning interferes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Cammarata
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ,Human Neuroscience Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710 USA
| | - Eve D. De Rosa
- Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA ,Human Neuroscience Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Eckert MA, Teubner-Rhodes S, Vaden KI, Ahlstrom JB, McClaskey CM, Dubno JR. Unique patterns of hearing loss and cognition in older adults' neural responses to cues for speech recognition difficulty. Brain Struct Funct 2022; 227:203-218. [PMID: 34632538 PMCID: PMC9044122 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Older adults with hearing loss experience significant difficulties understanding speech in noise, perhaps due in part to limited benefit from supporting executive functions that enable the use of environmental cues signaling changes in listening conditions. Here we examined the degree to which 41 older adults (60.56-86.25 years) exhibited cortical responses to informative listening difficulty cues that communicated the listening difficulty for each trial compared to neutral cues that were uninformative of listening difficulty. Word recognition was significantly higher for informative compared to uninformative cues in a + 10 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) condition, and response latencies were significantly shorter for informative cues in the + 10 dB SNR and the more-challenging + 2 dB SNR conditions. Informative cues were associated with elevated blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast in visual and parietal cortex. A cue-SNR interaction effect was observed in the cingulo-opercular (CO) network, such that activity only differed between SNR conditions when an informative cue was presented. That is, participants used the informative cues to prepare for changes in listening difficulty from one trial to the next. This cue-SNR interaction effect was driven by older adults with more low-frequency hearing loss and was not observed for those with more high-frequency hearing loss, poorer set-shifting task performance, and lower frontal operculum gray matter volume. These results suggest that proactive strategies for engaging CO adaptive control may be important for older adults with high-frequency hearing loss to optimize speech recognition in changing and challenging listening conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark A. Eckert
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 55, Charleston, SC 29425-5500, USA
| | | | - Kenneth I. Vaden
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 55, Charleston, SC 29425-5500, USA
| | - Jayne B. Ahlstrom
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 55, Charleston, SC 29425-5500, USA
| | - Carolyn M. McClaskey
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 55, Charleston, SC 29425-5500, USA
| | - Judy R. Dubno
- Hearing Research Program, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 55, Charleston, SC 29425-5500, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Don HJ, Davis T, Ray KL, McMahon MC, Cornwall AC, Schnyer DM, Worthy DA. Neural regions associated with gain-loss frequency and average reward in older and younger adults. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 109:247-258. [PMID: 34818618 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research on the biological basis of reinforcement-learning has focused on how brain regions track expected value based on average reward. However, recent work suggests that humans are more attuned to reward frequency. Furthermore, older adults are less likely to use expected values to guide choice than younger adults. This raises the question of whether brain regions assumed to be sensitive to average reward, like the medial and lateral PFC, also track reward frequency, and whether there are age-based differences. Older (60-81 years) and younger (18-30 years) adults performed the Soochow Gambling task, which separates reward frequency from average reward, while undergoing fMRI. Overall, participants preferred options that provided negative net payoffs, but frequent gains. Older adults improved less over time, were more reactive to recent negative outcomes, and showed greater frequency-related activation in several regions, including DLPFC. We also found broader recruitment of prefrontal and parietal regions associated with frequency value and reward prediction errors in older adults, which may indicate compensation. The results suggest greater reliance on average reward for younger adults than older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hilary J Don
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA.
| | - Tyler Davis
- Texas Tech University, Department of Psychological Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kimberly L Ray
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Megan C McMahon
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Astin C Cornwall
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - David M Schnyer
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Darrell A Worthy
- Texas A&M University, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, College Station, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Kupis L, Goodman ZT, Kornfeld S, Hoang S, Romero C, Dirks B, Dehoney J, Chang C, Spreng RN, Nomi JS, Uddin LQ. Brain Dynamics Underlying Cognitive Flexibility Across the Lifespan. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:5263-5274. [PMID: 34145442 PMCID: PMC8491685 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural mechanisms contributing to flexible cognition and behavior and how they change with development and aging are incompletely understood. The current study explored intrinsic brain dynamics across the lifespan using resting-state fMRI data (n = 601, 6-85 years) and examined the interactions between age and brain dynamics among three neurocognitive networks (midcingulo-insular network, M-CIN; medial frontoparietal network, M-FPN; and lateral frontoparietal network, L-FPN) in relation to behavioral measures of cognitive flexibility. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed brain dynamics among a brain state characterized by co-activation of the L-FPN and M-FPN, and brain state transitions, moderated the relationship between quadratic effects of age and cognitive flexibility as measured by scores on the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) test. Furthermore, simple slope analyses of significant interactions revealed children and older adults were more likely to exhibit brain dynamic patterns associated with poorer cognitive flexibility compared with younger adults. Our findings link changes in cognitive flexibility observed with age with the underlying brain dynamics supporting these changes. Preventative and intervention measures should prioritize targeting these networks with cognitive flexibility training to promote optimal outcomes across the lifespan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Kupis
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Zachary T Goodman
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Salome Kornfeld
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Stephanie Hoang
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Celia Romero
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Bryce Dirks
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Joseph Dehoney
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Catie Chang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Jason S Nomi
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Juszczak GR, Bobrowska A. Assessment of Problem-Solving Skills and Inhibitory Control in Mice Using Water Escape Detour Test. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 10:e82. [PMID: 32870595 DOI: 10.1002/cpmo.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the importance of emotional intelligence, its biological mechanism is still not well understood. For this reason, we have developed a rodent detour task which requires an animal to reach a highly desired object placed directly behind a transparent barrier that blocks the direct route to the target. This apparently simple task is highly dependent on the emotional control that is necessary to inhibit prepotent and counterproductive responses driven by the sight of a desired object. The water escape detour task designed for mice enables testing the ability to solve emotionally challenging problems, as well as identification of an impairment termed perseveration. Such a maladaptive reaction to a challenging situation is characterized by difficulty in terminating an unsuccessful response, leading to persistent repetition of inappropriate behavior. This issue is important because perseveration is associated with schizophrenia, drug abuse, and aging. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol: Water escape detour task Support Protocol 1: Preparation of escape platform Support Protocol 2: Preparation of the transparent barrier Alternate Protocol: Water escape detour task for testing acute effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz R Juszczak
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Magdalenka, Poland
| | - Anna Bobrowska
- Department of Animal Behavior and Welfare, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Magdalenka, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
McQuail JA, Beas BS, Kelly KB, Hernandez CM, Bizon JL, Frazier CJ. Attenuated NMDAR signaling on fast-spiking interneurons in prefrontal cortex contributes to age-related decline of cognitive flexibility. Neuropharmacology 2021; 197:108720. [PMID: 34273386 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate receptors of the NMDA and AMPA subtypes transduce excitatory signaling on neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in support of cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is reliably observed to decline at advanced ages, coinciding with changes in PFC glutamate receptor expression and neuronal physiology. However, the relationship between age-related impairment of cognitive flexibility and changes to excitatory signaling on distinct classes of PFC neurons is not known. In this study, one cohort of young adult (4 months) and aged (20 months) male F344 rats were characterized for cognitive flexibility on an operant set-shifting task. Expression of the essential NMDAR subunit, NR1, was correlated with individual differences in set-shifting abilities such that lower NR1 in the aged PFC was associated with worse set-shifting. In contrast, lower expression of two AMPAR subunits, GluR1 and GluR2, was not associated with set-shift abilities in aging. As NMDARs are expressed by both pyramidal cells and fast-spiking interneurons (FSI) in PFC, whole-cell patch clamp recordings were performed in a second cohort of age-matched rats to compare age-associated changes on these neuronal subtypes. Evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents were generated using a bipolar stimulator while AMPAR vs. NMDAR-mediated components were isolated using pharmacological tools. The results revealed a clear increase in AMPA/NMDA ratio in FSIs that was not present in pyramidal neurons. Together, these data indicate that loss of NMDARs on interneurons in PFC contributes to age-related impairment of cognitive flexibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A McQuail
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - B Sofia Beas
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA; Unit on the Neurobiology of Affective Memory, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Kyle B Kelly
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Caesar M Hernandez
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA; Department of Cellular, Development, and Integrative Biology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Charles J Frazier
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA; Department of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Oleson EB, Hamilton LR, Gomez DM. Cannabinoid Modulation of Dopamine Release During Motivation, Periodic Reinforcement, Exploratory Behavior, Habit Formation, and Attention. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:660218. [PMID: 34177546 PMCID: PMC8222827 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.660218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Motivational and attentional processes energize action sequences to facilitate evolutionary competition and promote behavioral fitness. Decades of neuropharmacology, electrophysiology and electrochemistry research indicate that the mesocorticolimbic DA pathway modulates both motivation and attention. More recently, it was realized that mesocorticolimbic DA function is tightly regulated by the brain's endocannabinoid system and greatly influenced by exogenous cannabinoids-which have been harnessed by humanity for medicinal, ritualistic, and recreational uses for 12,000 years. Exogenous cannabinoids, like the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, produce their effects by acting at binding sites for naturally occurring endocannabinoids. The brain's endocannabinoid system consists of two G-protein coupled receptors, endogenous lipid ligands for these receptor targets, and several synthetic and metabolic enzymes involved in their production and degradation. Emerging evidence indicates that the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol is necessary to observe concurrent increases in DA release and motivated behavior. And the historical pharmacology literature indicates a role for cannabinoid signaling in both motivational and attentional processes. While both types of behaviors have been scrutinized under manipulation by either DA or cannabinoid agents, there is considerably less insight into prospective interactions between these two important signaling systems. This review attempts to summate the relevance of cannabinoid modulation of DA release during operant tasks designed to investigate either motivational or attentional control of behavior. We first describe how cannabinoids influence DA release and goal-directed action under a variety of reinforcement contingencies. Then we consider the role that endocannabinoids might play in switching an animal's motivation from a goal-directed action to the search for an alternative outcome, in addition to the formation of long-term habits. Finally, dissociable features of attentional behavior using both the 5-choice serial reaction time task and the attentional set-shifting task are discussed along with their distinct influences by DA and cannabinoids. We end with discussing potential targets for further research regarding DA-cannabinoid interactions within key substrates involved in motivation and attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erik B. Oleson
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Lindsey R. Hamilton
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Devan M. Gomez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Garrido MA, Mark L, Parra M, Nowak D, Radon K. Executive Function among Chilean Shellfish Divers: A Cross-Sectional Study Considering Working and Health Conditions in Artisanal Fishing. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115923. [PMID: 34073026 PMCID: PMC8199200 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge about professional diving-related risk factors for reduced executive function is limited. We therefore evaluated the association between decompression illness and executive functioning among artisanal divers in southern Chile. The cross-sectional study included 104 male divers and 58 male non-diving fishermen from two fishing communities. Divers self-reported frequency and severity of symptoms of decompression illness. Executive function was evaluated by perseverative responses and perseverative errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Age, alcohol consumption, and symptoms of depression were a-priori defined as potential confounders and included in linear regression models. Comparing divers and non-divers, no differences in the executive function were found. Among divers, 75% reported a history of at least mild decompression sickness. Higher frequency and severity of symptoms of decompression illness were associated with reduced executive function. Therefore, intervention strategies for artisanal divers should focus on prevention of decompression illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Astrid Garrido
- Center for International Health@Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany; (L.M.); (M.P.); (K.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-9-78783908
| | - Lorenz Mark
- Center for International Health@Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany; (L.M.); (M.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Manuel Parra
- Center for International Health@Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany; (L.M.); (M.P.); (K.R.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Atacama, Atacama 1532297, Chile
| | - Dennis Nowak
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany;
| | - Katja Radon
- Center for International Health@Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80539 Munich, Germany; (L.M.); (M.P.); (K.R.)
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sombric CJ, Torres-Oviedo G. Cognitive and Motor Perseveration Are Associated in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:610359. [PMID: 33986654 PMCID: PMC8110726 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.610359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging causes perseveration (difficulty to switch between actions) in motor and cognitive tasks, suggesting that the same neural processes could govern these abilities in older adults. To test this, we evaluated the relation between independently measured motor and cognitive perseveration in young (21.4 ± 3.7 y/o) and older participants (76.5 ± 2.9 y/o). Motor perseveration was measured with a locomotor task in which participants had to transition between distinct walking patterns. Cognitive perseveration was measured with a card matching task in which participants had to switch between distinct matching rules. We found that perseveration in the cognitive and motor domains were positively related in older, but not younger individuals, such that participants exhibiting greater perseveration in the motor task also perseverated more in the cognitive task. Additionally, exposure reduces motor perseveration: older adults who had practiced the motor task could transition between walking patterns as proficiently as naïve, young individuals. Our results suggest an overlap in neural processes governing cognitive and motor perseveration with aging and that exposure can counteract the age-related motor perseveration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gelsy Torres-Oviedo
- Sensorimotor Learning Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
PSD-95 in CA1 Area Regulates Spatial Choice Depending on Age. J Neurosci 2021; 41:2329-2343. [PMID: 33472821 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1996-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive processes that require spatial information rely on synaptic plasticity in the dorsal CA1 area (dCA1) of the hippocampus. Since the function of the hippocampus is impaired in aged individuals, it remains unknown how aged animals make spatial choices. Here, we used IntelliCage to study behavioral processes that support spatial choices of aged female mice living in a group. As a proxy of training-induced synaptic plasticity, we analyzed the morphology of dendritic spines and the expression of a synaptic scaffold protein, PSD-95. We observed that spatial choice training in young adult mice induced correlated shrinkage of dendritic spines and downregulation of PSD-95 in dCA1. Moreover, long-term depletion of PSD-95 by shRNA in dCA1 limited correct choices to a reward corner, while reward preference was intact. In contrast, old mice used behavioral strategies characterized by an increased tendency for perseverative visits and social interactions. This strategy resulted in a robust preference for the reward corner during the spatial choice task. Moreover, training decreased the correlation between PSD-95 expression and the size of dendritic spines. Furthermore, PSD-95 depletion did not impair place choice or reward preference in old mice. Thus, our data indicate that while young mice require PSD-95-dependent synaptic plasticity in dCA1 to make correct spatial choices, old animals observe cage mates and stick to a preferred corner to seek the reward. This strategy is resistant to the depletion of PSD-95 in the CA1 area. Overall, our study demonstrates that aged mice combine alternative behavioral and molecular strategies to approach and consume rewards in a complex environment.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It remains poorly understood how aging affects behavioral and molecular processes that support cognitive functions. It is, however, essential to understand these processes to develop therapeutic interventions that support successful cognitive aging. Our data indicate that while young mice require PSD-95-dependent synaptic plasticity in dCA1 to make correct spatial choices (i.e., choices that require spatial information), old animals observe cage mates and stick to a preferred corner to seek the reward. This strategy is resistant to the depletion of PSD-95 in the CA1 area. Overall, our study demonstrates that aged mice combine alternative behavioral and molecular strategies to approach and consume rewards in a complex environment. Second, the contribution of PSD-95-dependent synaptic functions in spatial choice changes with age.
Collapse
|
16
|
Toovey BRW, Kattner F, Schubert T. Cross-Modal Transfer Following Auditory Task-Switching Training in Old Adults. Front Psychol 2021; 12:615518. [PMID: 33716880 PMCID: PMC7947189 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.615518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining and coordinating multiple task-sets is difficult and leads to costs, however task-switching training can reduce these deficits. A recent study in young adults demonstrated that this training effect occurs at an amodal processing level. Old age is associated with reduced cognitive plasticity and further increases the performance costs when mixing multiple tasks. Thus, cognitive aging might be a limiting factor for inducing cross-modal training effects in a task-switching environment. We trained participants, aged 62-83 years, with an auditory task-switching paradigm over four sessions (2880 total trials), to investigate whether training-related reductions in task-switching costs would also manifest in an untrained visual modality version of the task. Two control groups trained with single tasks (active control) or not trained (passive control) allowed us to identify improvements specific to task-switching training. To make statistical evaluations of any age differences in training and cross-modal transfer, the data from the Kattner cohort were incorporated into the present analysis. Despite the tendency for older adults to respond more cautiously, task-switching training specifically led to a mixing cost reduction in both trained and untrained modalities, the magnitude of which was statistically similar regardless of age. In line with a growing body of research, we failed to observe any far transfer effects in measures of inhibition, working memory or fluid intelligence. Overall, we conclude that any apparent cognitive limitations associated with aging do not prevent cognitive control processes which support set-shifting from improving at an amodal level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Florian Kattner
- Institute of Psychology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Torsten Schubert
- Department of Psychology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Tsuda B, Tye KM, Siegelmann HT, Sejnowski TJ. A modeling framework for adaptive lifelong learning with transfer and savings through gating in the prefrontal cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:29872-29882. [PMID: 33154155 PMCID: PMC7703668 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009591117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prefrontal cortex encodes and stores numerous, often disparate, schemas and flexibly switches between them. Recent research on artificial neural networks trained by reinforcement learning has made it possible to model fundamental processes underlying schema encoding and storage. Yet how the brain is able to create new schemas while preserving and utilizing old schemas remains unclear. Here we propose a simple neural network framework that incorporates hierarchical gating to model the prefrontal cortex's ability to flexibly encode and use multiple disparate schemas. We show how gating naturally leads to transfer learning and robust memory savings. We then show how neuropsychological impairments observed in patients with prefrontal damage are mimicked by lesions of our network. Our architecture, which we call DynaMoE, provides a fundamental framework for how the prefrontal cortex may handle the abundance of schemas necessary to navigate the real world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Tsuda
- Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037;
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Kay M Tye
- Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Hava T Siegelmann
- Biologically Inspired Neural & Dynamical Systems Laboratory, School of Computer Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, 01003
| | - Terrence J Sejnowski
- Computational Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037;
- Institute for Neural Computation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Steinke A, Lange F, Kopp B. Parallel model-based and model-free reinforcement learning for card sorting performance. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15464. [PMID: 32963297 PMCID: PMC7508815 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72407-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is considered a gold standard for the assessment of cognitive flexibility. On the WCST, repeating a sorting category following negative feedback is typically treated as indicating reduced cognitive flexibility. Therefore such responses are referred to as 'perseveration' errors. Recent research suggests that the propensity for perseveration errors is modulated by response demands: They occur less frequently when their commitment repeats the previously executed response. Here, we propose parallel reinforcement-learning models of card sorting performance, which assume that card sorting performance can be conceptualized as resulting from model-free reinforcement learning at the level of responses that occurs in parallel with model-based reinforcement learning at the categorical level. We compared parallel reinforcement-learning models with purely model-based reinforcement learning, and with the state-of-the-art attentional-updating model. We analyzed data from 375 participants who completed a computerized WCST. Parallel reinforcement-learning models showed best predictive accuracies for the majority of participants. Only parallel reinforcement-learning models accounted for the modulation of perseveration propensity by response demands. In conclusion, parallel reinforcement-learning models provide a new theoretical perspective on card sorting and it offers a suitable framework for discerning individual differences in latent processes that subserve behavioral flexibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Steinke
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Florian Lange
- Behavioral Engineering Research Group, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
van de Vijver I, Ligneul R. Relevance of working memory for reinforcement learning in older adults varies with timescale of learning. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 27:654-676. [PMID: 31544587 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2019.1664389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In young adults, individual differences in working memory (WM) contribute to reinforcement learning (RL). Age-related RL changes, however, are mostly attributed to decreased reward prediction-error (RPE) signaling. Here, we investigated the contribution of WM to RL in young (18-35) and older (≥65) adults. Because WM supports maintenance across a limited timescale, we only expected a relation between RL and WM with short delays between stimulus repetitions. Our results demonstrated better learning with short than long delays. A week later, however, long-delay associations were remembered better. Computational modeling corroborated that during learning, WM was more engaged by young adults in the short-delay condition than in any other age-condition combination. Crucially, both model-derived and neuropsychological assessments of WM predicted short-delay learning in older adults, who further benefitted from using self-conceived learning strategies. Thus, depending on the timescale of learning, age-related RL changes may not only reflect decreased RPE signaling but also WM decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irene van de Vijver
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University , Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Romain Ligneul
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Program, Champalimaud Foundation , Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Coumans JM, Danner UN, Hadjigeorgiou C, Hebestreit A, Hunsberger M, Intemann T, Lauria F, Michels N, Kurdiné EM, Moreno LA, Reisch LA, Thumann BF, Veidebaum T, Adan RA. Emotion-driven impulsiveness but not decision-making ability and cognitive inflexibility predicts weight status in adults. Appetite 2019; 142:104367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
|
21
|
Faja S, Nelson L. Variation in restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests relates to inhibitory control and shifting in children with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2019; 23:1262-1272. [PMID: 30394786 PMCID: PMC6499722 DOI: 10.1177/1362361318804192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Symptoms of restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests in autism are theoretically linked to executive functioning, which includes problem-solving abilities such as inhibition and cognitive flexibility. This study examined whether inhibition and flexibility are related to higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (e.g. circumscribed interests and ritualistic behavior) and sensorimotor behaviors (e.g. stereotyped and repetitive movements and sensory preoccupations) among 102 school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder who had cognitive abilities in the average or above average range. The ability to inhibit interfering information and shifting ability were related to higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, and each uniquely accounted for variance. This suggests that the ability to suppress interfering information as well as the ability to flexibly shift between patterns of responding is protective against higher order restricted and repetitive behaviors and interest symptoms in autism. In addition, the ability to proactively slow one's reaction time in order to respond more carefully was related to sensorimotor restricted and repetitive behaviors. These results support the importance of distinguishing between higher order and sensorimotor symptoms due to their distinct relationships to executive functioning abilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Faja
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 02215
- Harvard Medical School, 02215
| | | |
Collapse
|
22
|
Kopp B, Steinke A, Bertram M, Skripuletz T, Lange F. Multiple Levels of Control Processes for Wisconsin Card Sorts: An Observational Study. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9060141. [PMID: 31213007 PMCID: PMC6627185 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9060141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We explored short-term behavioral plasticity on the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST) by deriving novel error metrics by stratifying traditional set loss and perseverative errors. Separating the rule set and the response set allowed for the measurement of performance across four trial types, crossing rule set (i.e., maintain vs. switch) and response demand (i.e., repeat vs. alternate). Critically, these four trial types can be grouped based on trial-wise feedback on t − 1 trials. Rewarded (correct) maintain t − 1 trials should lead to error enhancement when the response demands shift from repeat to alternate. In contrast, punished (incorrect) t − 1 trials should lead to error suppression when the response demands shift from repeat to alternate. The results supported the error suppression prediction: An error suppression effect (ESE) was observed across numerous patient samples. Exploratory analyses show that the ESE did not share substantial portions of variance with traditional neuropsychological measures of executive functioning. They further point into the direction that striatal or limbic circuit neuropathology may be associated with enhanced ESE. These data suggest that punishment of the recently executed response induces behavioral avoidance, which is detectable as the ESE on the WCST. The assessment of the ESE might provide an index of response-related avoidance learning on the WCST.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Alexander Steinke
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Malte Bertram
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Thomas Skripuletz
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Florian Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
- Behavioral Engineering Research Group, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 69, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Martins B, Sheppes G, Gross JJ, Mather M. Age Differences in Emotion Regulation Choice: Older Adults Use Distraction Less Than Younger Adults in High-Intensity Positive Contexts. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2019; 73:603-611. [PMID: 27013535 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbw028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Previous research demonstrates that younger and older adults prefer distraction over engagement (reappraisal) when regulating high-intensity negative emotion. Older adults also demonstrate a greater bias for positive over negative information in attention and memory compared with younger adults. In this study, we investigated whether emotion regulation choice preferences may differ as a function of stimulus valence with age. Method The effect of stimulus intensity on negative and positive emotion regulation strategy preferences was investigated in younger and older men. Participants indicated whether they favored distraction or reappraisal to attenuate emotional reactions to negative and positive images that varied in intensity. Results Men in both age-groups preferred distraction over reappraisal when regulating high-intensity emotion. As no age-related strategic differences were found in negative emotion regulation preferences, older men chose to distract less from high-intensity positive images than did younger men. Discussion Older men demonstrated greater engagement with highly positive emotional contexts than did younger men. Thus, age differences in emotion regulation goals when faced with intense emotional stimuli depend on the valence of the emotional stimuli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Martins
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Gal Sheppes
- The School of Psychological Sciences/Child Clinical, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Mara Mather
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.,Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dehais F, Hodgetts HM, Causse M, Behrend J, Durantin G, Tremblay S. Momentary lapse of control: A cognitive continuum approach to understanding and mitigating perseveration in human error. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 100:252-262. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
25
|
Irwin LN, Kofler MJ, Soto EF, Groves NB. Do children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have set shifting deficits? Neuropsychology 2019; 33:470-481. [PMID: 30945912 PMCID: PMC6668027 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Set shifting, or cognitive flexibility, is a core executive function involving the ability to quickly and efficiently shift back and forth between mental sets. Meta-analysis suggests medium-magnitude shifting impairments in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, this conclusion may be premature because the evidence-base relies exclusively on tasks that have been criticized for poor construct validity and may better reflect general neuropsychological functioning rather than shifting specifically. METHOD A well-characterized sample of 77 children ages 8-13 (M = 10.46, SD = 1.54; 32 girls; 66% Caucasian/non-Hispanic) with ADHD (n = 43) and without ADHD (n = 34) completed the criterion global-local set shifting task and 2 counterbalanced control tasks that were identical in all aspects except the key processes. RESULTS The experimental manipulation was successful at evoking set shifting demands during the global-local versus both nonshift control tasks (p < .001; ω2 = .12-.14). Mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) revealed that the ADHD group did not demonstrate disproportional decrements in speed shift costs on the shifting versus nonshift control tasks (p = .30; ω2 = .002), suggesting no evidence of impaired set shifting abilities in ADHD. In contrast, the ADHD group made disproportionately more shifting errors than the non-ADHD group (p = .03; ω2 = 0.03) that were more parsimoniously attributable to prerequisite (nonshifting) processes necessary for successful performance on the global-local task. CONCLUSIONS Children with ADHD's impaired performance on shifting tasks may be attributable to difficulties maintaining competing rule sets and/or inhibiting currently active rule sets prior to shifting. However, when these higher-order processes are executed successfully, there is no significant evidence to suggest a unique set shifting deficit in ADHD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elia F. Soto
- Florida State University, Department of Psychology
| | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Cheung F, Yeung DY, Wu AMS. Occupational Future Time Perspective and Successful Aging at Work. JOURNAL OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0894845317696805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we examine whether occupational future time perspective, developmental proactivity, and cognitive constraints (attention and concentration, planning and organization) are related to successful aging in the workplace. We also test whether occupational future time perspective and developmental proactivity moderate the association between cognitive constraints and successful aging in the workplace. A total of 350 Chinese working adults in Hong Kong (mean = 51.88, standard deviation = 5.15) were recruited in this study. Results suggested that occupational future time perspective, developmental proactivity, and cognitive constraints (planning and organization) were significant predictors of successful aging in the workplace. Results did not support the moderating hypotheses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis Cheung
- Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Fu Tei, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
| | - Dannii Y. Yeung
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Anise M. S. Wu
- Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Scopolamine increases perseveration in mice subjected to the detour test. Behav Brain Res 2019; 356:71-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2018.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
28
|
Matthews ML, Pike KE, Wright BJ, Kinsella GJ. Predictors of Long-Term Improvement in Subjective Everyday Memory Following a Memory Group Program for Older Adults. J Aging Health 2018; 32:216-226. [PMID: 30501478 DOI: 10.1177/0898264318814997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine predictors of improvement in subjective everyday memory ability 5 years following participation in a group cognitive-behavioral memory intervention for community-living older adults, the La Trobe and Caulfield Hospital (LaTCH) Memory Group program. Method: Participants were 61 healthy older adults and data were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), hierarchical regression, and moderator analyses. Results: Although the group as a whole did not show significant gains in subjective memory ability following the intervention, greater gains in subjective memory ability were associated with poorer baseline associative memory, better baseline cognitive flexibility, and more subjective memory concerns prior to intervention. There was no interaction between the cognitive predictors and subjective memory concerns in predicting gains in subjective memory ability. Discussion: Differential benefits for more cognitively flexible individuals may derive from a greater capacity to engage skillfully in the expectancy modification aspects of the program.
Collapse
|
29
|
Tomm RJ, Tse MT, Tobiansky DJ, Schweitzer HR, Soma KK, Floresco SB. Effects of aging on executive functioning and mesocorticolimbic dopamine markers in male Fischer 344 × brown Norway rats. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 72:134-146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
|
30
|
Lange F, Brückner C, Knebel A, Seer C, Kopp B. Executive dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease: A meta-analysis on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test literature. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2018; 93:38-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
31
|
Lange F, Kip A, Klein T, Müller D, Seer C, Kopp B. Effects of rule uncertainty on cognitive flexibility in a card-sorting paradigm. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2018; 190:53-64. [PMID: 30015136 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive flexibility has been studied in two separate research traditions. Neuropsychologists typically rely on rather complex assessment tools such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). In contrast, task-switching paradigms are used in experimental psychology to obtain more specific measures of cognitive flexibility. We aim to contribute to the integration of these research traditions by examining the role of the key factor that differs between the WCST and experimental task-switching paradigms: rule uncertainty. In two experimental studies, we manipulated the degree of rule uncertainty after rule switches in a computerized version of the WCST. Across a variety of task parameters, reducing rule uncertainty consistently impaired the speed and accuracy of responses when the rule designated to be more likely turned out to be incorrect. Other performance measures such as the number of perseverative errors were not significantly affected by rule uncertainty. We conclude that a fine-grained analysis of WCST performance can dissociate behavioural indicators that are affected vs. unaffected by rule uncertainty. By this means, it is possible to integrate WCST results and findings obtained from task-switching paradigms that do not involve rule uncertainty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Behavioral Engineering Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Ahlke Kip
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Tabea Klein
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Dorothea Müller
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Caroline Seer
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Phillips HN, Cope TE, Hughes LE, Zhang J, Rowe JB. Monitoring the past and choosing the future: the prefrontal cortical influences on voluntary action. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7247. [PMID: 29739978 PMCID: PMC5940796 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25127-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Choosing between equivalent response options requires the resolution of ambiguity. One could facilitate such decisions by monitoring previous actions and implementing transient or arbitrary rules to differentiate response options. This would reduce the entropy of chosen actions. We examined voluntary action decisions during magnetoencephalography, identifying the spatiotemporal correlates of stimulus- and choice-entropy. Negative correlations between frontotemporal activity and entropy of past trials were observed after participants’ responses, reflecting sequential monitoring of recent events. In contrast, choice entropy correlated negatively with prefrontal activity, before and after participants’ response, consistent with transient activation of latent response-sets ahead of a decision and updating the monitor of recent decisions after responding. Individual differences in current choices were related to the strength of the prefrontal signals that reflect monitoring of the statistical regularities in previous events. Together, these results explain individual expressions of voluntary action, through differential engagement of prefrontal areas to guide sequential decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H N Phillips
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK. .,Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.
| | - T E Cope
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK
| | - L E Hughes
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.,Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK
| | - J Zhang
- School of Psychology, University of Cardiff, Cardiff, CF2 2AT, UK
| | - J B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ, UK.,Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, CB2 7EF, UK.,Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Combalbert N, Pennequin V, Ferrand C, Armand M, Anselme M, Geffray B. Cognitive impairment, self-perceived health and quality of life of older prisoners. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH : CBMH 2018; 28:36-49. [PMID: 28276180 DOI: 10.1002/cbm.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a wealth of studies of somatic and mental illness among prisoners, but little on older prisoners and their cognitive aging. AIMS Our study examines the cognitive performance of older male prisoners and its effect on their perceived health and quality of life. METHODS A total of 138 men aged 50 or over were recruited in seven French prisons and 138 men of similar ages from the general population. Two assessments of executive cognitive functions - the mini-mental state examination and the frontal assessment battery - were administered to each participant, together with self rating schedules of health (Nottingham Health Profile), subjective state of mental health and quality of life (the brief World Health Organisation Quality of Life Questionnaire). RESULTS There were very significant differences between the two groups in terms of cognitive performance, perceived health and quality of life. There was, however, no significant association between cognitive impairment and perceived health or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS We found evidence that about a fifth of male prisoners in France had executive function test scores suggestive of at least moderately severe dementia and many others some evidence of cognitive impairments. Prisoners suffering from cognitive impairment do not necessarily seek help, perhaps not even considering that their health or quality of life to be affected. Communication deficits may also prevent their participation in prison activities which could prevent, slow or halt cognitive decline. Consequently, it is important that systematic screening for cognitive disorders is offered to men over 50 in prison. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Claude Ferrand
- Université de Tours, Département de psychologie, Tours, France
| | - Marine Armand
- Université de Tours, Département de psychologie, Tours, France
| | - Morgane Anselme
- Université de Tours, Département de psychologie, Tours, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wessel JR. An adaptive orienting theory of error processing. Psychophysiology 2017; 55. [PMID: 29226960 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The ability to detect and correct action errors is paramount to safe and efficient goal-directed behaviors. Existing work on the neural underpinnings of error processing and post-error behavioral adaptations has led to the development of several mechanistic theories of error processing. These theories can be roughly grouped into adaptive and maladaptive theories. While adaptive theories propose that errors trigger a cascade of processes that will result in improved behavior after error commission, maladaptive theories hold that error commission momentarily impairs behavior. Neither group of theories can account for all available data, as different empirical studies find both impaired and improved post-error behavior. This article attempts a synthesis between the predictions made by prominent adaptive and maladaptive theories. Specifically, it is proposed that errors invoke a nonspecific cascade of processing that will rapidly interrupt and inhibit ongoing behavior and cognition, as well as orient attention toward the source of the error. It is proposed that this cascade follows all unexpected action outcomes, not just errors. In the case of errors, this cascade is followed by error-specific, controlled processing, which is specifically aimed at (re)tuning the existing task set. This theory combines existing predictions from maladaptive orienting and bottleneck theories with specific neural mechanisms from the wider field of cognitive control, including from error-specific theories of adaptive post-error processing. The article aims to describe the proposed framework and its implications for post-error slowing and post-error accuracy, propose mechanistic neural circuitry for post-error processing, and derive specific hypotheses for future empirical investigations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan R Wessel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lange F, Seer C, Kopp B. Cognitive flexibility in neurological disorders: Cognitive components and event-related potentials. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2017; 83:496-507. [PMID: 28903059 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Performance deficits on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in patients with prefrontal cortex (PFC) lesions are traditionally interpreted as evidence for a role of the PFC in cognitive flexibility. However, WCST deficits do not occur exclusively after PFC lesions, but also in various neurological and psychiatric disorders. We propose a multi-component approach that can accommodate this pattern of omnipresent WCST deficits: the WCST is not a pure test of cognitive flexibility, but relies on the effective functioning of multiple dissociable cognitive components. Our review of recent efforts to decompose WCST performance deficits supports this view by revealing that WCST deficits in different neurological disorders can be attributed to alterations in different components. Frontoparietal changes underlying impaired set shifting seem to give rise to WCST deficits in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, whereas the WCST deficits associated with primary dystonia and Parkinson's disease are rather related to frontostriatal changes underlying deficient rule inference. Clinical implications of these findings and of a multi-component view of WCST performance are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Behavioral Engineering Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Caroline Seer
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany; Movement Control & Neuroplasticity Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
On the Globality of Motor Suppression: Unexpected Events and Their Influence on Behavior and Cognition. Neuron 2017; 93:259-280. [PMID: 28103476 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 11/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Unexpected events are part of everyday experience. They come in several varieties-action errors, unexpected action outcomes, and unexpected perceptual events-and they lead to motor slowing and cognitive distraction. While different varieties of unexpected events have been studied largely independently, and many different mechanisms are thought to explain their effects on action and cognition, we suggest a unifying theory. We propose that unexpected events recruit a fronto-basal-ganglia network for stopping. This network includes specific prefrontal cortical nodes and is posited to project to the subthalamic nucleus, with a putative global suppressive effect on basal-ganglia output. We argue that unexpected events interrupt action and impact cognition, partly at least, by recruiting this global suppressive network. This provides a common mechanistic basis for different types of unexpected events; links the literatures on motor inhibition, performance monitoring, attention, and working memory; and is relevant for understanding clinical symptoms of distractibility and mental inflexibility.
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pedophilia (P) is a psychiatric disease associated with sexual attraction toward children and often accompanied by child sexual offending (CSO). Consequently, it is important to address the understanding of executive dysfunctions that may increase the probability of CSO. Moreover, this research field has been lacking to disentangle executive deficits associated with pedophilia (as a deviant sexual preference) from those associated with CSO (as a deviant sexual behavior). METHODS The German multi-sided research network NeMUP offers the opportunity to overcome these limitations. By applying the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Battery in four carefully matched groups of men: (1) pedophiles with (N=45) and (2) without (N=45) a history of sexual offending against children; (3) child molesters without pedophilia (N=19), and (4) non-offending controls (N=49), we were able to analyze executive functioning in pedophilia and CSO independently. RESULTS Both CSO groups as compared to both non-CSO groups exhibited worsened response inhibition ability. However, only non-pedophilic offenders showed additionally disabled strategy use ability. Regarding set-shifting abilities, the P+CSO group showed the best performance. We also found that performances were affected by age: only in pedophiles, response inhibition worsened with age, while age-related deficits in set-shifting abilities were restricted to non-pedophilic participants. The latter also differentiated between both sexual preference groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results are the first to demonstrate that executive dysfunctions are related to offense status rather than pedophilic preference. Furthermore, there was evidence for differentiating age and performance correlations between pedophiles and non-pedophiles, which warrants further investigation. (JINS, 2017, 23, 460-470).
Collapse
|
38
|
Houston JR, Bennett IJ, Allen PA, Madden DJ. Visual Acuity does not Moderate Effect Sizes of Higher-Level Cognitive Tasks. Exp Aging Res 2017; 42:221-63. [PMID: 27070044 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2016.1156964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT Declining visual capacities in older adults have been posited as a driving force behind adult age differences in higher-order cognitive functions (e.g., the "common cause" hypothesis of Lindenberger & Baltes, 1994, Psychology and Aging, 9, 339-355). McGowan, Patterson, and Jordan (2013, Experimental Aging Research, 39, 70-79) also found that a surprisingly large number of published cognitive aging studies failed to include adequate measures of visual acuity. However, a recent meta-analysis of three studies (La Fleur and Salthouse, 2014, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 1202-1208) failed to find evidence that visual acuity moderated or mediated age differences in higher-level cognitive processes. In order to provide a more extensive test of whether visual acuity moderates age differences in higher-level cognitive processes, we conducted a more extensive meta-analysis of topic. METHODS Using results from 456 studies, we calculated effect sizes for the main effect of age across four cognitive domains (attention, executive function, memory, and perception/language) separately for five levels of visual acuity criteria (no criteria, undisclosed criteria, self-reported acuity, 20/80-20/31, and 20/30 or better). RESULTS As expected, age had a significant effect on each cognitive domain. However, these age effects did not further differ as a function of visual acuity criteria. CONCLUSION The current meta-analytic, cross-sectional results suggest that visual acuity is not significantly related to age group differences in higher-level cognitive performance-thereby replicating La Fleur and Salthouse (2014). Further efforts are needed to determine whether other measures of visual functioning (e.g., contrast sensitivity, luminance) affect age differences in cognitive functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James R Houston
- a Department of Psychology , The University of Akron , Akron , Ohio , USA
| | - Ilana J Bennett
- b Department of Neurobiology and Behavior , University of California , Irvine , Irvine California , USA
| | - Philip A Allen
- a Department of Psychology , The University of Akron , Akron , Ohio , USA
| | - David J Madden
- c Brain Imaging and Analysis Center , Duke University Medical Center , Durham , North Carolina , USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
The relationship between executive function and fine motor control in young and older adults. Hum Mov Sci 2017; 51:41-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2016.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
40
|
Neural correlates of cognitive set shifting in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2016; 127:3537-3545. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
|
41
|
Kuchinsky SE, Vaden KI, Ahlstrom JB, Cute SL, Humes LE, Dubno JR, Eckert MA. Task-Related Vigilance During Word Recognition in Noise for Older Adults with Hearing Loss. Exp Aging Res 2016; 42:50-66. [PMID: 26683041 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2016.1108712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/STUDY CONTEXT Vigilance refers to the ability to sustain and adapt attentional focus in response to changing task demands. For older adults with hearing loss, vigilant listening may be particularly effortful and variable across individuals. This study examined the extent to which neural responses to sudden, unexpected changes in task structure (e.g., from rest to word recognition epochs) were related to pupillometry measures of listening effort. METHODS Individual differences in the task-evoked pupil response during word recognition were used to predict functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) estimates of neural responses to salient transitions between quiet rest, noisy rest, and word recognition in unintelligible, fluctuating background noise. Participants included 29 older adults (M = 70.2 years old) with hearing loss (pure tone average across all frequencies = 36.1 dB HL [hearing level], SD = 6.7). RESULTS Individuals with a greater average pupil response exhibited a more vigilant pattern of responding on a standardized continuous performance test (response time variability across varying interstimulus intervals r(27) = .38, p = .04). Across participants there was widespread engagement of attention- and sensory-related cortices in response to transitions between blocks of rest and word recognition conditions. Individuals who exhibited larger task-evoked pupil dilation also showed even greater activity in the right primary auditory cortex in response to changes in task structure. CONCLUSION Pupillometric estimates of word recognition effort predicted variation in activity within cortical regions that were responsive to salient changes in the environment for older adults with hearing loss. The results of the current study suggest that vigilant attention is increased amongst older adults who exert greater listening effort.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie E Kuchinsky
- a Center for Advanced Study of Language , University of Maryland , College Park , Maryland , USA
| | - Kenneth I Vaden
- b Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA
| | - Jayne B Ahlstrom
- b Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA
| | - Stephanie L Cute
- b Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA
| | - Larry E Humes
- c Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences , Indiana University , Bloomington , Indiana , USA
| | - Judy R Dubno
- b Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA
| | - Mark A Eckert
- b Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Cassidy BS, Lee EJ, Krendl AC. Age and executive ability impact the neural correlates of race perception. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2016; 11:1752-1761. [PMID: 27330185 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsw081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Decreased executive ability elicits racial bias. We clarified the neural correlates of how executive ability contributes to race perception by comparing young adults (YA) to a population with highly variable executive ability: older adults (OA). After replicating work showing higher race bias in OA vs YA and a negative association between bias and executive ability, a subsample of White YA and OA perceived Black and White faces and cars during functional magnetic resonance imaging. YA had higher executive ability than OA, and OA had higher variability in executive ability. When perceiving Black vs White faces, YA exhibited more dorsolateral prefrontal cortex recruitment-a region previously implicated in regulating prejudiced responses-than OA. Moreover, OA with relatively impaired executive ability had more amygdala activity toward Black faces vs OA with relatively intact executive ability, whereas responses to White faces did not differ. Both YA and OA with relatively intact executive ability had stronger amygdala-ventrolateral prefrontal cortex connectivity when perceiving Black vs White faces. These findings are the first to disentangle age from executive ability differences in neural recruitment when perceiving race, potentially informing past behavioral work on aging and race perception.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brittany S Cassidy
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Eunice J Lee
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Anne C Krendl
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Lange F, Seer C, Salchow C, Dengler R, Dressler D, Kopp B. Meta-analytical and electrophysiological evidence for executive dysfunction in primary dystonia. Cortex 2016; 82:133-146. [PMID: 27376933 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2016.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Impaired motor control in primary dystonia has been linked to cortico-basal ganglia alterations that may also give rise to changes in executive functioning. However, no conclusive evidence for executive dysfunction in patients with primary dystonia has been reported yet. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relationship between primary dystonia and performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), an established test of executive functioning. Its results revealed a significant effect of medium size, indicating that primary dystonia is associated with moderate performance deficits on the WCST. Building on this finding, we conducted an event-related potential (ERP) study to elucidate the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying executive dysfunction in primary dystonia. Eighteen patients with blepharospasm, a common form of primary focal dystonia, and 34 healthy matched controls completed a computerized version of the WCST. We specifically compared indicators of two distinct components of executive functioning: set shifting and rule inference. On a behavioral level, blepharospasm patients seemed to have particular difficulty integrating information to infer the correct task rule. In addition, P3a amplitude (as an electrophysiological marker of rule-inference processes) was selectively attenuated in blepharospasm patients. Executive dysfunction in blepharospasm can thus rather be attributed to a rule-inference deficit, whereas set-shifting abilities appear to be relatively unaffected by the disease. Moreover, P3a amplitude attenuation was related to disease duration, indicating that this ERP might serve as a neural indicator of disease progression and executive dysfunction in primary dystonia. These results demonstrate for the first time that pathophysiological alterations in primary dystonia might affect cortical activation for executive functioning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lange
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Caroline Seer
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Carolin Salchow
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reinhard Dengler
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Dirk Dressler
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Leshem R. Using Dual Process Models to Examine Impulsivity Throughout Neural Maturation. Dev Neuropsychol 2016; 41:125-43. [DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2016.1178266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Leshem
- Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Selectively retrieving a subset of previously studied material can cause forgetting of the unpracticed material. Such retrieval-induced forgetting is attributed to an inhibitory mechanism recruited to resolve interference among competing items. According to the inhibition-deficit hypothesis, older people experience a specific decline in inhibitory function and thus should show reduced retrieval-induced forgetting. However, the results of the two experiments reported here show the same amount of retrieval-induced forgetting in younger and older adults. These results indicate that retrieval inhibition is intact in older adults' episodic recall. The findings suggest that the common view of a general inhibitory deficit in older adults needs to be updated and that older adults show intact inhibition in some cognitive tasks and deficient inhibition in others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alp Aslan
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Regensburg University, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Bharani KL, Paller KA, Reber PJ, Weintraub S, Yanar J, Morrison RG. Compensatory processing during rule-based category learning in older adults. AGING NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2015; 23:304-26. [PMID: 26422522 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2015.1091438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Healthy older adults typically perform worse than younger adults at rule-based category learning, but better than patients with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. To further investigate aging's effect on rule-based category learning, we monitored event-related potentials (ERPs) while younger and neuropsychologically typical older adults performed a visual category-learning task with a rule-based category structure and trial-by-trial feedback. Using these procedures, we previously identified ERPs sensitive to categorization strategy and accuracy in young participants. In addition, previous studies have demonstrated the importance of neural processing in the prefrontal cortex and the medial temporal lobe for this task. In this study, older adults showed lower accuracy and longer response times than younger adults, but there were two distinct subgroups of older adults. One subgroup showed near-chance performance throughout the procedure, never categorizing accurately. The other subgroup reached asymptotic accuracy that was equivalent to that in younger adults, although they categorized more slowly. These two subgroups were further distinguished via ERPs. Consistent with the compensation theory of cognitive aging, older adults who successfully learned showed larger frontal ERPs when compared with younger adults. Recruitment of prefrontal resources may have improved performance while slowing response times. Additionally, correlations of feedback-locked P300 amplitudes with category-learning accuracy differentiated successful younger and older adults. Overall, the results suggest that the ability to adapt one's behavior in response to feedback during learning varies across older individuals, and that the failure of some to adapt their behavior may reflect inadequate engagement of prefrontal cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krishna L Bharani
- a Department of Psychology , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Ken A Paller
- b Department of Psychology , Northwestern University , Evanston , IL , USA
| | - Paul J Reber
- b Department of Psychology , Northwestern University , Evanston , IL , USA
| | - Sandra Weintraub
- c Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine , Northwestern University , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Jorge Yanar
- d Department of Physics , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| | - Robert G Morrison
- e Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Institute , Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , IL , USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Head west or left, east or right: interactions between memory systems in neurocognitive aging. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:3067-3078. [PMID: 26281759 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive aging is accompanied by decline in multiple domains of memory. Here, we developed a T-maze task that required rats to learn competing hippocampal, and striatal navigation strategies in succession, across days. A final session increased demands on cognitive flexibility and required within-day switching between strategies, emphasizing capacities that engage the prefrontal cortex. Background characterization in young and aged rats used a water maze protocol optimized for individual differences in hippocampal integrity. Consistent with earlier work, young adults acquired place strategies in the T-maze faster than response, whereas the opposite was observed in aged rats with impaired spatial memory. The novel result was that aged animals with preserved spatial memory displayed a qualitatively distinct pattern, acquiring place and response strategies equally rapidly, without disruption when switching between them. Subsequent in situ hybridization for the plasticity-related immediate-early gene Arc revealed that while increasing demands on cognitive flexibility and within-day strategy switching potently engaged the prefrontal cortex in young adult and aged-impaired rats, Arc expression was insensitive in aged rats with normal spatial memory and superior switching abilities. Together, the results indicate that cognitive aging is an emergent property of the interactions between memory systems, and that successful cognitive outcomes reflect a distinct neuroadaptive process rather than a slower rate of aging.
Collapse
|
48
|
Cheung F, Wu AMS, Yeung DY. Factors Associated With Work Volition Among Aging Workers in Hong Kong. JOURNAL OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT 2015. [DOI: 10.1177/0894845315585576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Work volition refers to the perceived ability of an individual to choose work under constraints. As they age, older workers often face declines in cognitive functioning and adaptability, as well as age discrimination in organizations. Our goal was to examine the relation between the mentioned constraints and work volition for aging workers, and whether general self-efficacy moderated the associations between constraints and work volition. A total of 350 working Chinese (aged over 45 years) in Hong Kong were recruited. Structural equation modeling (SEM) result showed that perceived age discrimination and cognitive constraint (planning and organization) were salient correlations of work volition. Multi-sample SEM analysis verified that general self-efficacy moderated the association between the cognitive constraints as well as perceived age discrimination in the workplace and work volition. Limitations and recommendations, including assessment of work volition, strengthening of general self-efficacy, and elimination of age discrimination, were discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis Cheung
- Department of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
| | - Anise M. S. Wu
- Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao, China
| | - Dannii Y. Yeung
- Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Delpero C, Mioni G, Rubio JL, Juárez Ramos V, Gómez Milán E, Stablum F. Decision-making and feedback sensitivity: A comparison between older and younger adults. JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2015.1036759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
50
|
Heuer H, Hegele M. Explicit and implicit components of visuo-motor adaptation: An analysis of individual differences. Conscious Cogn 2015; 33:156-69. [DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2014.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
|