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Flores-Lázaro JC, Salgado Soruco MA, Stepanov II. Children and adolescents' performance on a medium-length/nonsemantic word-list test. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. CHILD 2017; 6:95-105. [PMID: 28375761 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2015.1033099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Word-list learning tasks are among the most important and frequently used tests for declarative memory evaluation. For example, the California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version (CVLT-C) and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test provide important information about different cognitive-neuropsychological processes. However, the impact of test length (i.e., number of words) and semantic organization (i.e., type of words) on children's and adolescents' memory performance remains to be clarified, especially during this developmental stage. To explore whether a medium-length non-semantically organized test can produce the typical curvilinear performance that semantically organized tests produce, reflecting executive control, we studied and compared the cognitive performance of normal children and adolescents by utilizing mathematical modeling. The model is based on the first-order system transfer function and has been successfully applied to learning curves for the CVLT-C (15 words, semantically organized paradigm). Results indicate that learning nine semantically unrelated words produces typical curvilinear (executive function) performance in children and younger adolescents and that performance could be effectively analyzed with the mathematical model. This indicates that the exponential increase (curvilinear performance) of correctly learned words does not solely depend on semantic and/or length features. This type of test controls semantic and length effects and may represent complementary tools for executive function evaluation in clinical populations in which semantic and/or length processing are affected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio César Flores-Lázaro
- a Child Psychiatry Hospital, DJNN-National Institutes of Health-México, and Psychology Faculty , National Autonomous University of México , Mexico City , Mexico
| | | | - Igor I Stepanov
- c Department of Neuropharmacology , Institute for Experimental Medicine , St. Petersburg , Russia
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James GA, Kearney-Ramos TE, Young JA, Kilts CD, Gess JL, Fausett JS. Functional independence in resting-state connectivity facilitates higher-order cognition. Brain Cogn 2016; 105:78-87. [PMID: 27105037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that intrinsic functional connectivity (i.e. highly structured patterns of communication between brain regions during wakeful rest) may encode cognitive ability. However, the generalizability of these findings is limited by between-study differences in statistical methodology and cognitive domains evaluated. To address this barrier, we evaluated resting-state neural representations of multiple cognitive domains within a relatively large normative adult sample. Forty-four participants (mean(sd) age=31(10) years; 18 male and 26 female) completed a resting-state functional MRI scan and neuropsychological assessments spanning motor, visuospatial, language, learning, memory, attention, working memory, and executive function performance. Robust linear regression related cognitive performance to resting-state connectivity among 200 a priori determined functional regions of interest (ROIs). Only higher-order cognitions (such as learning and executive function) demonstrated significant relationships between brain function and behavior. Additionally, all significant relationships were negative - characterized by moderately positive correlations among low performers and weak to moderately negative correlations among high performers. These findings suggest that functional independence among brain regions at rest facilitates cognitive performance. Our interpretation is consistent with graph theoretic analyses which represent the brain as independent functional nodes that undergo dynamic reorganization with task demand. Future work will build upon these findings by evaluating domain-specific variance in resting-state neural representations of cognitive impairment among patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Andrew James
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States.
| | | | - Jonathan A Young
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States
| | - Clinton D Kilts
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States
| | - Jennifer L Gess
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States
| | - Jennifer S Fausett
- Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States
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3
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Bruno D, Grothe MJ, Nierenberg J, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Teipel SJ, Pomara N. A study on the specificity of the association between hippocampal volume and delayed primacy performance in cognitively intact elderly individuals. Neuropsychologia 2015; 69:1-8. [PMID: 25613646 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Delayed recall at the primacy position (first few items on a list) has been shown to predict cognitive decline in cognitively intact elderly participants, with poorer delayed primacy performance associated with more pronounced generalized cognitive decline during follow-up. We have previously suggested that this association is due to delayed primacy performance indexing memory consolidation, which in turn is thought to depend upon hippocampal function. Here, we test the hypothesis that hippocampal size is associated with delayed primacy performance in cognitively intact elderly individuals. Data were analyzed from a group (N=81) of cognitively intact participants, aged 60 or above. Serial position performance was measured with the Buschke selective reminding test (BSRT). Hippocampal size was automatically measured via MRI, and unbiased voxel-based analyses were also conducted to explore further regional specificity of memory performance. We conducted regression analyses of hippocampus volumes on serial position performance; other predictors included age, family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD), APOE ε4 status, education, and total intracranial volume. Our results collectively suggest that there is a preferential association between hippocampal volume and delayed primacy performance. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that delayed primacy consolidation is associated with hippocampal size, and shed light on the relationship between delayed primacy performance and generalized cognitive decline in cognitively intact individuals, suggesting that delayed primacy consolidation may serve as a sensitive marker of hippocampal health in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Bruno
- Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK.
| | - Michel J Grothe
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jay Nierenberg
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, New York University, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Stefan J Teipel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Nunzio Pomara
- Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, New York University, New York City, NY, USA
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Christensen BK, Patrick RE, Stuss DT, Gillingham S, Zipursky RB. CE verbal episodic memory impairment in schizophrenia: a comparison with frontal lobe lesion patients. Clin Neuropsychol 2013; 27:647-66. [PMID: 23634645 DOI: 10.1080/13854046.2013.780640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ)-related verbal memory impairment is hypothesized to be mediated, in part, by frontal lobe (FTL) dysfunction. However, little research has contrasted the performance of SCZ patients with that of patients exhibiting circumscribed frontal lesions. The current study compared verbal episodic memory in patients with SCZ and focal FTL lesions (left frontal, LF; right frontal, RF; and bi-frontal, BF) on a four-trial list learning task consisting of three lists of varying semantic organizational structure. Each dependent variable was examined at two levels: scores collapsed across all four trials and learning scores (i.e., trial 4-trial 1). Performance deficits were observed in each patient group across most dependent measures at both levels. Regarding patient group differences, SCZ patients outperformed LF/BF patients (i.e., either learning scores or scores collapsed across trial) on free recall, primacy, primary memory, secondary memory, and subjective organization, whereas they only outperformed RF patients on the semantically blocked list on recency and primary memory. Collectively, these results indicate that the pattern of memory performance is largely similar between patients with SCZ and those with RF lesions. These data support tentative arguments that verbal episodic memory deficits in SCZ may be mediated by frontal dysfunction in the right hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce K Christensen
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neuroscience, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Boada R, Hutaff-Lee C, Schrader A, Weitzenkamp D, Benke TA, Goldson EJ, Costa ACS. Antagonism of NMDA receptors as a potential treatment for Down syndrome: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Transl Psychiatry 2012; 2:e141. [PMID: 22806212 PMCID: PMC3410988 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2012.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor uncompetitive antagonist, memantine hydrochloride (memantine), has been shown to improve learning/memory and rescue one form of hippocampus synaptic plasticity dysfunction in the best-studied mouse model of DS available, the Ts65Dn mouse. Given the status of memantine as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the preclinical evidence of potential efficacy in Ts65Dn mice, and the favorable safety profile of memantine, we designed a study to investigate whether the findings in the mouse model could be translated to individuals with DS. In this pilot, proof-of-principle study we hypothesized that memantine therapy would improve test scores of young adults with DS on measures of episodic and spatial memory, which are generally considered to be hippocampus dependent. Accordingly, in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we compared the effect of 16-week treatment with either memantine or placebo on cognitive and adaptive functions of 40 young adults with DS using a carefully selected set of neuropsychological outcome measures. Safety and tolerability were also monitored. Although no significant differences were observed between the memantine and placebo groups on the two primary outcome measures, we found a significant improvement in the memantine group in one of the secondary measures associated with the primary hypothesis. Only infrequent and mild adverse events were noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Boada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - C Hutaff-Lee
- The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - A Schrader
- The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - D Weitzenkamp
- Department of Biostatistics and Informatics, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - T A Benke
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA,Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,Neuroscience Training Program, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA,Colorado Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - E J Goldson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,The Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - A C S Costa
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA,Colorado Intellectual and Developmental Disability Research Center, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA,Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA,Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 12700 East 19th Avenue, MS C-237, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. E-mail:
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Chepenik LG, Wang F, Spencer L, Spann M, Kalmar JH, Womer F, Kale Edmiston E, Pittman B, Blumberg HP. Structure-function associations in hippocampus in bipolar disorder. Biol Psychol 2012; 90:18-22. [PMID: 22342942 PMCID: PMC3319637 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Revised: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Hippocampus volume decreases and verbal memory deficits have been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) as independent observations. We investigated potential associations between these deficits in subjects with BD. Hippocampus volumes were measured on magnetic resonance images of 31 subjects with BD and 32 healthy comparison (HC) subjects. The California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT) assessed verbal memory function in these subjects. Compared to the HC group, the BD group showed both significantly smaller hippocampus volumes and impaired performance on CVLT tests of immediate, short delay and long delay cued and free recall. Further, smaller hippocampus volume correlated with impaired performance in BD. Post hoc analyses revealed a trend towards improved memory in BD subjects taking antidepressant medications. These results support associations between morphological changes in hippocampus structure in BD and verbal memory impairment. They provide preliminary evidence pharmacotherapy may reverse hippocampus-related memory deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara G Chepenik
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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