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Kato SK, Machado FA, Paganella MP, Gurgel LG, Kaiser V, Diaz GB, Serafini AJ, Filho NH, Reppold CT. A psychometric study of an executive function assessment instrument (TDI-FE). BMC Psychol 2023; 11:336. [PMID: 37838747 PMCID: PMC10576888 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01373-2] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to present and discuss the psychometric properties of executive functions, which were measured using the TDI-FE instrument. The analysis encompasses its internal structure, potential sensitivity to fatigue factors, relationships with external criteria, and diagnostic accuracy. METHODS The study sample comprised 382 students from Brazil, aged 6-8 years. Child development variables were screened using the TDI-FE and gold standard tests (Cancellation Attention and Trail Making Tests). The proposed scale comprised four activities: a test with fruit images with three tasks, and one memory game. RESULTS The one-factor model of EF of the TDI-FE failed to fit to the data. However, fit substantially improved once a latent fatigue factor was controlled in the model. The latent factor of EF assessed by the TDI-FE tasks was coherently associated with a series of external variables, including two popular collateral measures of EF. The diagnostic accuracy was reasonable, and a cut-off of 37 points produced 70% of sensitivity and 60% of specificity. CONCLUSION Results indicated that the TDI-FE demonstrated sound psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy, then consisting of an efficient alternative for the assessment of EFs in early childhood education. The study also proved the need to control for response biases such as fatigue in the latent variable models of EF. The TDI-FE is notable because of its low cost and easy application, and it might fulfill a need for instruments for individuals from different contexts at this stage of development in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Kakuta Kato
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Community Health Department, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences), Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- PUCRS. School of Technology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
- Life Sciences Knowledge Area, Institute for Health Researches, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
| | - Flávia Amaral Machado
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Machline Paim Paganella
- Life Sciences Knowledge Area, Institute for Health Researches, University of Caxias do Sul (UCS), Caxias do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leia Gonçalves Gurgel
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Kaiser
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Bertoletti Diaz
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Adriana Jung Serafini
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nelson Hauck Filho
- Graduate School of Psychology, Universidade São Francisco, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Caroline Tozzi Reppold
- Psychological Assessment Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Kristiansen VR, Handeland TB, Lau B, Søderstrøm K, Håkansson U, Øie MG. Trauma in childhood and adolescence and impaired executive functions are associated with uncertain reflective functioning in mothers with substance use disorder. Addict Behav Rep 2020; 11:100245. [PMID: 32467834 PMCID: PMC7244921 DOI: 10.1016/j.abrep.2019.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Uncertain reflective function in mothers with SUD are associated with trauma during childhood and adolescence. Impaired executive functions are significantly associated with uncertain reflective function. Certain reflective function is not associated with executive functions or trauma.
Aims Impairments in reflective functioning are known to have adverse effects on the ability to display sensitive parenting as a caregiver. Several factors are associated with impairments in reflective functioning, such as impaired executive functioning and experienced trauma. We investigated how these factors contribute to an impaired reflective functioning style, such as pathological certain or uncertain reflective functioning. Extreme scores on these two subscales reflect two kinds of impairments in reflective functioning. We assessed executive functions, reflective functioning, and trauma in 43 mothers diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUD). Methods Certain or uncertain reflective functioning were assessed using the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire 8 (RFQ-8). Executive functions and trauma were assessed by administering various questionnaires, interviews and neuropsychological tests. Results High uncertain reflective functioning was more than six times as common (odds ratio) in mothers reporting high amounts of trauma in childhood and adolescence compared with mothers reporting low amounts of trauma. Impaired executive functions were also significantly associated with high uncertain reflective functioning. Certain reflective functioning did, however, not show any significant associations. Conclusion When the SUD mothers give information about relational trauma in childhood and adolescence, it might therefore be worth investigating and addressing the potential tendency to have an uncertain reflective functioning style.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bjørn Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Research, Lovisenberg Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ulrika Håkansson
- Innland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Merete Glenne Øie
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Research, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Lillehammer, Norway
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Manuel AL, Murray NWG, Piguet O. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over vmPFC modulates interactions between reward and emotion in delay discounting. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18735. [PMID: 31822732 PMCID: PMC6904687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55157-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Delay discounting requires computing trade-offs between immediate-small rewards and later-larger rewards. Negative and positive emotions shift decisions towards more or less impulsive responses, respectively. Models have conceptualized this trade-off by describing an interplay between “emotional” and “rational” processes, with the former involved during immediate choices and relying on the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and the latter involved in long-term choices and relying on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Whether stimulation of the vmPFC modulates emotion-induced delay discounting remains unclear. We applied tDCS over the vmPFC in 20 healthy individuals during a delay discounting task following an emotional (positive, negative) or neutral induction. Our results showed that cathodal tDCS increased impulsivity after positive emotions in high impulsivity trials. For low impulsivity trials, anodal tDCS decreased impulsivity following neutral induction compared with emotional induction. Our findings demonstrate that the vmPFC integrates reward and emotion most prominently in situations of increased impulsivity, whereas when higher cognitive control is required the vmPFC appears to be less engaged, possibly due to recruitment of the dlPFC. Understanding how stimulation and emotion influence decision-making at the behavioural and neural levels holds promise to develop interventions to reduce impulsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie L Manuel
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia. .,The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia. .,ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition & its Disorders, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nicholas W G Murray
- The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia.,Macquarie University, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia.,The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition & its Disorders, Sydney, Australia
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Viola TW, Niederauer JPO, Kluwe-Schiavon B, Sanvicente-Vieira B, Grassi-Oliveira R. Cocaine use disorder in females is associated with altered social decision-making: a study with the prisoner's dilemma and the ultimatum game. BMC Psychiatry 2019; 19:211. [PMID: 31277620 PMCID: PMC6612218 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-019-2198-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic cocaine use is associated with cognitive deficits, including poor performance on neuropsychological tasks of memory, executive functions, theory of mind and decision-making. However, the relationship between cocaine use disorder and social decision-making remains unclear. This is particularly relevant given the fact that many cocaine abusers present impairments in social functioning. In this sense, game theory paradigms have been helping to comprehend the behavior of psychiatric patients when they directly engage in social situations, which may better approximate many of their real-life choices. METHODS The present study investigated social decision-making in individuals with or without cocaine use disorder, examining their behavior in the Prisoner's Dilemma and in the Ultimatum Game. Thus, 129 females diagnosed with cocaine use disorder and 55 females with no history of substance abuse were recruited and performed both social decision-making tasks. Additional assessments included information about demographics, patterns of substance consumption and executive function performance. RESULTS Females with cocaine use disorder opted more often to not defect in the Prisoner's Dilemma, while in the Ultimatum Game they frequently chose to accept the first and unfair offer as responders. These effects were more pronounced within females with long-term history of cocaine use. Associations between cocaine use disorder and altered social decision-making were independent from demographic and executive function variables. CONCLUSIONS The influence of cocaine use disorder on social decision-making was detected in both game paradigms, resulting in more cooperative behavior in the Prisoner's Dilemma and higher acceptance rate of unfair offers in the Ultimatum Game. Further studies should focus on investigating these associations to shed light on the putative biopsychosocial factors underlying the observed effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Wendt Viola
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Avenida Ipiranga 6690 – Prédio 63, Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, RS Brazil
| | - João Paulo Otolia Niederauer
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Avenida Ipiranga 6690 – Prédio 63, Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, RS Brazil
| | - Bruno Kluwe-Schiavon
- 0000 0004 1937 0650grid.7400.3Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology Laboratory Department of Psychiatry Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Breno Sanvicente-Vieira
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Avenida Ipiranga 6690 – Prédio 63, Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, RS Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Grassi-Oliveira
- Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Avenida Ipiranga 6690 - Prédio 63, Jardim Botânico, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Ferreira BP, Malloy-Diniz LF, Parma JO, Nogueira NGHM, Apolinário-Souza T, Ugrinowitsch H, Lage GM. Self-Controlled Feedback and Learner Impulsivity in Sequential Motor Learning. Percept Mot Skills 2018; 126:157-179. [DOI: 10.1177/0031512518807341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many studies have attributed self-controlled feedback benefits associated with motor learning to learners' greater information processing during practice. However, individual learner characteristics like their impulsivity can also influence how people engage cognitively during learning. We investigated possible dissociations between the types of interaction in self-controlled knowledge of results (KR) and learner impulsivity levels in learning a sequential motor task. Ninety volunteers responded to the self-restraint section of the Barkley deficits in executive functioning scale, and those 60 participants with the highest ( n = 30) and lowest ( n = 30) impulsivity scores practiced a motor task involving sequential pressing of four keys in predetermined absolute and relative times. We further divided participants into four experimental groups by assigning the high- and low-impulsivity groups to two forms of KR—self-controlled absolute and yoked. Study results showed no interaction effect between impulsivity and self-controlled KR, and, contrary to expectation, self-controlled KR did not benefit learning, independently of impulsivity. However, low-impulsivity participants performed better than high-impulsivity participants on the absolute dimension of the transfer task, while high-impulsivity learners were better at the relative dimension. Cognitive characteristics of automatic and reflexive processing were expressed by the strategies used to direct attention to relative and absolute task dimensions, respectively. Low-impulsivity learners switched their attention to both dimensions at the end of practice, while high-impulsivity learners did not switch their attention or directed it only to the relative dimension at the end of the practice. These results suggest that the cognitive styles of high- and low-impulsive learners differentially favor learning distinct dimensions of a motor task, regardless of self-controlled KR.
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