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Villalobos D, Torres-Simón L, Pacios J, Paúl N, Del Río D. A Systematic Review of Normative Data for Verbal Fluency Test in Different Languages. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:733-764. [PMID: 36098929 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09549-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Verbal fluency tests are easy and quick to use in neuropsychological assessments, so they have been counted among the most classical tools in this context. To date, several normative data for verbal fluency tests have been provided in different languages and countries. A systematic review was carried out with studies that provide normative data for verbal fluency tests. Studies were collected from Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science. 183 studies were retrieved from the database search, of which 73 finally met the inclusion criteria. An analysis of the risk of bias regarding samples selection/characterization and procedure/results reports is conducted for each article. Finally, a full description of the normative data characteristics, considering country and language, verbal fluency task characteristics (type of task) and sample characteristics (number of subjects, gender, age, education) is included. The current systematic review provides an overview and analysis of internationally published normative data that might help clinicians in their search for valid and useful norms on verbal fluency tasks, as well as updated information about qualitative aspects of the different options currently available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Villalobos
- Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychology, Cardenal Cisneros University Center, Alcalá de Henares University. Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- European Neuroscience Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Torres-Simón
- Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Pacios
- Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Paúl
- Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Del Río
- Department of Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Center for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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Ma J, Zhang G, Sun X, Chan P, Ye Z. Smaller and Denser Speech Graphs in Nondemented Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Behav Neurol 2023; 2023:3771601. [PMID: 37790602 PMCID: PMC10545463 DOI: 10.1155/2023/3771601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The well-established semantic fluency test measures the ability to produce a sequence of spoken words from a particular category within a limited period of time. Like patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) tend to produce fewer correct words than age-matched healthy adults. This study further examined the difference between patients with PSP and PD in their semantic fluency performance using a graph theory-based approach. Twenty-nine patients with PSP Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS), thirty-eight patients with PD, and fifty-one healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All participants completed a standard semantic fluency test (animals). Their verbal responses were recorded, transcripted, and transformed into directed speech graphs. The speech graphs of the PSP-RS group showed higher density, shorter diameter, and shorter average shortest path than those of the PD and HC groups. It indicates that the PSP-RS group produced smaller and denser speech graphs than the PD and HC groups. In the PSP-RS group, moreover, the average shortest paths of the speech graphs correlated with the severity of motor symptoms. This study shows the potential of the graph theory-based approach in distinguishing the semantic fluency performance of nondemented patients with PSP-RS and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Ma
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanyu Zhang
- China Institute of Sport Science, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomin Sun
- Department of Neurology, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Piu Chan
- Department of Neurobiology, Neurology and Geriatrics, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Ye
- Institute of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Graph Theoretical Analysis of Semantic Fluency in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Behav Neurol 2022; 2022:6935263. [PMID: 35502419 PMCID: PMC9056264 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6935263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Semantic fluency is the ability to name items from a given category within a limited time, which relies on semantic memory, working memory, and executive function. Semantic disfluency is a common problem in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We demonstrated a graph theoretical analysis of semantic fluency in patients with PD (N = 86), patients with AD (N = 40), and healthy controls (HC, N = 88). All participants completed a standard animal fluency test. Their verbal responses were recorded, transcripted, and transformed into directed speech graphs. Patients with PD generated fewer correct words than HC and more correct words than patients with AD. Patients with PD showed higher density, shorter diameter, and shorter average shortest path length than HC, but lower density, longer diameter, and longer average shortest path length than patients with AD. It suggests that patients with PD produced relatively smaller and denser speech graphs. Moreover, in PD, the densities of speech graphs correlated with the severity of non-motor symptoms, but not the severity of motor symptoms. The graph theoretical analysis revealed new features of semantic disfluency in patients with PD.
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Tiedt HO, Ehlen F, Klostermann F. Dopamine-Related Reduction of Semantic Spreading Activation in Patients With Parkinson's Disease. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:837122. [PMID: 35431839 PMCID: PMC9008217 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.837122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired performance in verbal fluency (VF) tasks is a frequent observation in Parkinson's disease (PD). As to the nature of the underlying cognitive deficit, it is commonly attributed to a frontal-type dysexecutive syndrome due to nigrostriatal dopamine depletion. Whereas dopaminergic medication typically improves VF performance in PD, e.g., by ameliorating impaired lexical switching, its effect on semantic network activation is unclear. Data from priming studies suggest that dopamine causes a faster decay of semantic activation spread. The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of dopaminergic medication on the dynamic change of word frequency during VF performance as a measure of semantic spreading activation. To this end, we performed a median split analysis of word frequency during phonemic and semantic VF task performance in a PD group tested while receiving dopaminergic medication (ON) as well as after drug withdrawal (i.e., OFF), and in a sample of age-matched healthy volunteers (both groups n = 26). Dopaminergic medication in the PD group significantly affected phonemic VF with improved word production as well as increased error-rates. The expected decrease of word frequency during VF task performance was significantly smaller in the PD group ON medication than in healthy volunteers across semantic and phonemic VF. No significant group-difference emerged between controls and the PD group in the OFF condition. The comparison between both treatment conditions within the PD group did not reach statistical significance. The observed pattern of results indicates a faster decay of semantic network activation during lexical access in PD patients on dopaminergic medication. In view of improved word generation, this finding is consistent with a concept of more focused neural activity by an increased signal-to-noise ratio due to dopaminergic neuromodulation. However, the effect of dopaminergic stimulation on VF output suggests a trade-off between these beneficial effects and increased error-rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannes Ole Tiedt
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universitätzu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Felicitas Ehlen
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universitätzu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Jüdisches Krankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fabian Klostermann
- Department of Neurology, Motor and Cognition Group, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universitätzu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Diaz-Orueta U, Blanco-Campal A, Lamar M, Libon DJ, Burke T. Marrying Past and Present Neuropsychology: Is the Future of the Process-Based Approach Technology-Based? Front Psychol 2020; 11:361. [PMID: 32210882 PMCID: PMC7069278 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A cognitive assessment strategy that is not limited to examining a set of summary test scores may be more helpful for early detection of emergent illness such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may permit a better understanding of cognitive functions and dysfunctions in those with AD and other dementia disorders. A revisit of the work already undertaken by Kaplan and colleagues using the Boston Process-Approach provides a solid basis for identifying new opportunities to capture data on neurocognitive processes, test-taking strategies and response styles. Thus, this critical review will combine traditional process-based assessment strategies with support provided or offered by newer technologies that have the potential to add value to data collection and interpretation. There is now considerable interest in neuropsychological test administration using computer/digital technology, both in research and in clinical settings. To add value, any computerized version of an existing cognitive test should respect the administration procedure for which normative data were obtained, should be time-saving in terms of scoring and interpretation, and should, we argue, facilitate gathering information about the processes and strategies followed in test completion. This article will offer an overview of the steps needed when implementing computerization of neuropsychological tests using a Process-Based Approach (PBA) to these technology-based adaptations and will discuss further developments in this area by linking it to future technological developments that may be possible in the area of neuropsychological assessment. Additionally, an overview of neuropsychological tests that may benefit from computerization will be presented, together with suggestions on the specific processes, strategies and features that may be captured with the aid of such computerization. Finally, hypotheses on how virtual reality could be an asset for the future of the PBA to neuropsychological assessment will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Unai Diaz-Orueta
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Alberto Blanco-Campal
- Department of Psychiatry for the Older Person, Memory Clinic Services, Health Service Executive, Navan and Ardee, Ireland
| | - Melissa Lamar
- Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - David J. Libon
- New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, United States
| | - Teresa Burke
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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