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Schmerwitz C, Kopp B. The future of neuropsychology is digital, theory-driven, and Bayesian: a paradigmatic study of cognitive flexibility. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1437192. [PMID: 39070581 PMCID: PMC11276732 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1437192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study explores the transformative potential of digital, theory-driven, and Bayesian paradigms in neuropsychology by combining digital technologies, a commitment to evaluating theoretical frameworks, and Bayesian statistics. The study also examines theories of executive function and cognitive flexibility in a large sample of neurotypical individuals (N = 489). Methods We developed an internet-based Wisconsin Card-Sorting Task (iWCST) optimized for online assessment of perseveration errors (PE). Predictions of the percentage of PE, PE (%), in non-repetitive versus repetitive situations were derived from the established supervisory attention system (SAS) theory, non-repetitive PE (%) < repetitive PE (%), and the novel goal-directed instrumental control (GIC) theory, non-repetitive PE (%) > repetitive PE (%). Results Bayesian t-tests revealed the presence of a robust error suppression effect (ESE) indicating that PE are less likely in repetitive situations than in non-repetitive situations, contradicting SAS theory with posterior model probability p < 0.001 and confirming GIC theory with posterior model probability p > 0.999. We conclude that repetitive situations support cognitive set switching in the iWCST by facilitating the retrieval of goal-directed, instrumental memory that associates stimulus features, actions, and outcomes, thereby generating the ESE in neurotypical individuals. We also report exploratory data analyses, including a Bayesian network analysis of relationships between iWCST measures. Discussion Overall, this study serves as a paradigmatic model for combining digital technologies, theory-driven research, and Bayesian statistics in neuropsychology. It also provides insight into how this integrative, innovative approach can advance the understanding of executive function and cognitive flexibility and inform future research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruno Kopp
- Cognitive Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Hu Y, Wei L, Li A, Liu T, Jiang Y, Xie C, Wang K. Cognitive impairment in Chinese adult patients with type III spinal muscular atrophy without disease-modifying treatment. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1226043. [PMID: 38020636 PMCID: PMC10655145 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1226043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. It remains uncertain whether the cognitive performance of adult patients with SMA is impaired. The objective of this study was to assess the cognitive profile of adult Chinese patients with SMA and the association between clinical features and cognitive ability, particularly executive function. Methods This cross-sectional study included 22 untreated adult patients with type III SMA and 20 healthy subjects. The following variables were assessed: general intelligence, memory, attention, language, executive function, depression, anxiety, and other demographic and clinical parameters. In addition, physical function was evaluated using the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE), the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM), and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results SMA patients had lower scores than healthy subjects in the Verbal Fluency Test, Stroop effect, Total Errors, Perseverative Responses, Perseverative Errors, and Non-perseverative Errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, showing impaired abilities of SMA patients in executive function. In the Attention Network Test (ANT), the results indicated that the SMA patients also had selective deficits in their executive control networks. Ambulant patients had better executive function test performance than non-ambulant ones. Compromised executive abilities in patients with SMA were correlated with a younger age at onset, poorer motor function, and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Conclusion Our study presented the distribution of cognitive impairment in a Chinese cohort with SMA. Patients with type III SMA showed selective deficits in executive function, which may be associated with disease severity, physical impairment, depression and anxiety. Future cognitive studies, accounting for motor and emotional impairment, are needed to evaluate if executive impairment is driven by specific brain changes or by those confounding factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Ling Wei
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Aonan Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Yubao Jiang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Chengjuan Xie
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China
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Kopp B, Al-Hafez B, Steinke A. Habits, Goals, and Behavioral Signs of Cognitive Perseveration on Wisconsin Card-Sorting Tasks. Brain Sci 2023; 13:919. [PMID: 37371397 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13060919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wisconsin card-sorting tasks provide unique opportunities to study cognitive flexibility and its limitations, which express themselves behaviorally as perseverative errors (PE). PE refer to those behavioral errors on Wisconsin card-sorting tasks that are committed when cognitive rules are maintained even though recently received outcomes demand to switch to other rules (i.e., cognitive perseveration). We explored error-suppression effects (ESE) across three Wisconsin card-sorting studies. ESE refer to the phenomenon that PE are reduced on repetitive trials compared to non-repetitive trials. We replicated ESE in all three Wisconsin card-sorting studies. Study 1 revealed that non-associative accounts of ESE, in particular the idea that cognitive inhibition may account for them, are not tenable. Study 2 suggested that models of instrumental learning are among the most promising associative accounts of ESE. Instrumental learning comprises goal-directed control and the formation of corresponding associative memories over and above the formation of habitual memories according to dual-process models of instrumental learning. Study 3 showed that cognitive, rather than motor, representations of responses should be conceptualized as elements entering goal-directed instrumental memories. Collectively, the results imply that ESE on Wisconsin card-sorting tasks are not only a highly replicable phenomenon, but they also indicate that ESE provide an opportunity to study cognitive mechanisms of goal-directed instrumental control. Based on the reported data, we present a novel theory of cognitive perseveration (i.e., the 'goal-directed instrumental control' GIC model), which is outlined in the Concluding Discussion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Kopp
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bilal Al-Hafez
- 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
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Ossola P, Garrett N, Biso L, Bishara A, Marchesi C. Anhedonia and sensitivity to punishment in schizophrenia, depression and opiate use disorder. J Affect Disord 2023; 330:319-328. [PMID: 36889442 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND From a behavioural perspective anhedonia is defined as diminished interest in the engagement of pleasurable activities. Despite its presence across a range of psychiatric disorders, the cognitive processes that give rise to anhedonia remain unclear. METHODS Here we examine whether anhedonia is associated with learning from positive and negative outcomes in patients diagnosed with major depression, schizophrenia and opiate use disorder alongside a healthy control group. Responses in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test - a task associated with healthy prefrontal cortex function - were fitted to the Attentional Learning Model (ALM) which separates learning from positive and negative feedback. RESULTS Learning from punishment, but not from reward, was negatively associated with anhedonia beyond other socio-demographic, cognitive and clinical variables. This impairment in punishment sensitivity was also associated with faster responses following negative feedback, independently of the degree of surprise. LIMITATIONS Future studies should test the longitudinal association between punishment sensitivity and anhedonia also in other clinical populations controlling for the effect of specific medications. CONCLUSIONS Together the results reveal that anhedonic subjects, because of their negative expectations, are less sensitive to negative feedbacks; this might lead them to persist in actions leading to negative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Ossola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Department of Mental Health, AUSL of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Neil Garrett
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norfolk, UK
| | - Letizia Biso
- Department of Mental Health, AUSL of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Anthony Bishara
- Department of Psychology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Carlo Marchesi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Department of Mental Health, AUSL of Parma, Parma, Italy
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The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: Split-Half Reliability Estimates for a Self-Administered Computerized Variant. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050529. [PMID: 33919298 PMCID: PMC8143331 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-administered computerized assessment has the potential to increase the reach of neuropsychological assessment. The present study reports the first split-half reliability estimates for a self-administered computerized variant of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which is considered as a gold standard for the neuropsychological assessment of executive functions. We analyzed data from a large sample of young volunteers (N = 375). Split-half reliability estimates for perseveration errors, set-loss errors, and inference errors were all above 0.90. Split-half reliability estimates for response time measures on switch and repeat trials exceeded 0.95. Our results indicated sufficient split-half reliability for a self-administered computerized WCST, paving the way for an advanced digital assessment of executive functions. We discuss potential effects of test formats, administration variants, and sample characteristics on split-half reliability.
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Steinke A, Kopp B. Toward a Computational Neuropsychology of Cognitive Flexibility. Brain Sci 2020; 10:E1000. [PMID: 33348638 PMCID: PMC7766646 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10121000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive inflexibility is a well-documented, yet non-specific corollary of many neurological diseases. Computational modeling of covert cognitive processes supporting cognitive flexibility may provide progress toward nosologically specific aspects of cognitive inflexibility. We review computational models of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), which represents a gold standard for the clinical assessment of cognitive flexibility. A parallel reinforcement-learning (RL) model provides the best conceptualization of individual trial-by-trial WCST responses among all models considered. Clinical applications of the parallel RL model suggest that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) share a non-specific covert cognitive symptom: bradyphrenia. Impaired stimulus-response learning appears to occur specifically in patients with PD, whereas haphazard responding seems to occur specifically in patients with ALS. Computational modeling hence possesses the potential to reveal nosologically specific profiles of covert cognitive symptoms, which remain undetectable by traditionally applied behavioral methods. The present review exemplifies how computational neuropsychology may advance the assessment of cognitive flexibility. We discuss implications for neuropsychological assessment and directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Steinke
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
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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.
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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
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