Neuropsychology最新文献

Objective: Motor rehabilitation is a central contributor to motor recovery after stroke. Rehabilitation could be hampered by stroke-associated cognitive impairments such as the decreased ability to follow instructions. Rapid instructed task learning (RITL) was never directly studied in older adults and subjects with stroke. The aim of this study was to assess RITL following stroke and its underlying cognitive determinants.

Method: Thirty-one subjects with chronic stroke and 36 age-matched controls completed a computerized cognitive examination that included an antisaccade task for measuring prepotent inhibition and processing speed and stimulus-response association task (NEXT) for measuring RITL and proactive inhibition.

Results: RITL abilities were impaired after stroke (d = 0.72), together with prepotent inhibition (d = 0.71) and processing speed (d = 1.12). A correlation analysis revealed that RITL is associated with prepotent inhibition abilities and with processing speed.

Conclusions: Subjects with stroke show impairments in the ability to follow instructions, that may be related to their impaired prepotent inhibition and processing speed. The causal effect of RITL impairments on the responsivity to rehabilitation and on motor recovery should be examined. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: To investigate associations of executive function (EF) performance in adolescence with dimensional symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity assessed by multiple informants as well as ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) symptoms based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria, and whether familial factors and co-occurring symptoms of depressive disorder and conduct disorder explain these associations in a population-based sample.

Method: In 14-year-old twins from the population-based FinnTwin12 study (N = 638-1,227), we assessed EF with commonly used neuropsychological tests. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders symptoms of ADHD and psychiatric disorders were assessed with a semistructured interview, and dimensional symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity with behavioral ratings made by the twins, their co-twins, and teachers at age 14, and by parents and teachers at age 12, the latter being different from those at age 14.

Results: Teacher-rated inattention had the strongest association with poorer EF performance across two measurement points with different teachers; these associations were not affected by adding symptoms of depressive disorder and conduct disorder as covariates. Within-pair analyses suggested that the associations of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity with EF were partly explained by familial factors.

Conclusion: Even at a subclinical level in a sample of adolescents representing general population, ADHD symptoms are associated with EF performance. Teachers' evaluations appear especially valuable when assessing adolescents' ADHD symptoms. Our findings support the notion of dimensional ADHD symptoms in the population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: The present study endeavored to investigate the potential neural underpinnings of disparities in audiovisual integration (AVI) between valid and invalid targets, modulated by nonspatial inhibition of return (IOR). Concurrently, we sought to delineate the distinct roles subserved by Chinese character primes and color block primes throughout this process.

Method: We employed a prime-neutral cue-target paradigm, wherein 25 college students participated in the experiment. Behavioral measures encompassed the reaction time, IOR effect, multisensory response enhancement, and race model analysis. Besides, we examined the N200, N400, and P300 components elicited by the target stimulus presentation in a time-locked fashion to investigate the neural underpinnings of AVI disparities in the context of valid and invalid targets.

Results: Behavioral analyses unveiled a significant attenuation of AVI for valid targets, with this effect being particularly pronounced in trials involving Chinese character primes. Intriguingly, event-related potential (ERP) data evinced AVI within the N400 and P300 components. Moreover, the novelty of this study resides in identifying the P300 component as the principal neural correlate underpinning the attenuation of AVI arising from nonspatial IOR-a finding that was not replicated when employing color block primes.

Conclusions: This research furnishes novel ERP evidence that elucidates the mechanisms through which nonspatial IOR modulates AVI. This contributes significantly to a broader understanding of the cognitive processes underpinning multisensory perception and attentional dynamics. These insights not only corroborate the late attention theory and the coactivation model but also lend credence to the context-updating hypothesis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Biomarker-specific interventions (e.g., for dementia) will necessitate an individualized approach to treatment. We have constructed a psychometric classifier to identify persons adversely impacted by plasma adipokines.

Method: The subjects (N = 1,737) of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were assigned to groups "afflicted" by versus "resilient" against the unique effect of plasma adipokines using a classifier derived by confirmatory factor analysis in a structural equation model framework. The impact of affliction class above and beyond observed biomarker levels and covariates was tested by multivariate regression using CDR "Sum of Boxes" as the dependent variable. The affliction class' moderation of adipokines' effect was tested by chi-square difference. The effect of affliction class on prospective conversion risk was tested by Cox's proportional hazards models.

Results: Seven hundred four out of the 1,737 subjects (40.53%) were assigned to the afflicted class. The afflicted subjects had greater dementia severity, lower (adverse) Adipokines factor composite scores (by analysis of variance, F(1, 1,735) 2619.68, p < .001) and higher observed levels of plasma adipokines (by Tukey's honestly significant difference test, all p < .001). Adipokines' association with dementia severity was moderated by affliction class. The effect persisted at 48 months. Afflicted cases were more likely to convert to Alzheimer's disease in that timeframe, by Cox's F: F(234, 286) = 3.89, p < .001.

Conclusions: Our approach could guide precision interventions against specific biomarkers. This classifier could be administered by telephone, making class assignment feasible without direct patient contact or biomarker assessment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Older adults are more susceptible than the general population to developing metabolic syndrome (i.e., three or more cardiovascular risk factors [MetS]), physical limitations, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recent research has demonstrated that cognition may moderate the negative association between MetS and mobility dysfunction in older adults. This study sought to determine if cognition mediates the relationship between MetS and mobility dysfunction and if this relationship differs in older adults with a history of TBI.

Method: Participants (N = 20,156) were from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's Uniform Data Set. Mediation models were tested to assess if processing speed, executive functioning, immediate memory, and delayed memory would independently mediate the association between MetS and mobility dysfunction.

Results: Investigation of mediation models revealed that MetS had a significant indirect effect on mobility dysfunction through processing speed (b = .0674, 95% CI [.0412, .0953]) and executive functioning (b = .0354, 95% CI [.0228, .0493]). When TBI was included in the model as a moderator, MetS was not found to moderate the mediating effects of any of the cognitive variables. There were no significant indirect effects for immediate or delayed memory in either model.

Conclusions: Findings elucidate potential pathways by which MetS contributes to mobility dysfunction in older adults through specific reductions in processing speed and executive functioning capabilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Cognitive testing using mobile technologies can assist with early detection of cognitive decline. We use ecological momentary assessment to investigate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a smartwatch n-back task (1-back) delivered to adults across the cognitive continuum.

Method: One hundred seventy-four community-dwelling individuals (M_age = 70.51) representing healthy older adults, individuals with subjective cognitive decline, and mild cognitive impairment completed a neurocognitive assessment battery and wore a smartwatch for 7+ days. Participants were prompted 4 times per day to complete an n-back task on the smartwatch.

Results: Across all groups, findings indicated an acceptable task adherence rate (> 78%; n = 174) and response rate (> 89%; n = 158 n-back analysis sample). Supporting external validity, participants with mild cognitive impairment were less accurate, had fewer total correct responses, and performed at lower initial levels than both healthy older adults and subjective cognitive decline, ω²s > .09. Intraindividual variability was greater for the mild cognitive impairment group compared to healthy older adults, but subjective cognitive decline did not differ significantly from either group, ω² = .12. For discriminant and convergent validity, n-back total correct correlated with performance on standardized assessments of executive attention, whereas intraindividual variability correlated with real-world factors (i.e., context, everyday function). Reliability assessment revealed stability for n-back measures after four to six posttraining trials and excellent test-retest reliability for total correct after 5 months. Finally, combining n-back and clinical measures improved classification accuracy.

Conclusions: Findings suggest the smartwatch n-back task is feasible for collecting cognitive data across the cognitive continuum with demonstrated reliability and validity in the everyday environment using ecological momentary assessment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: To validate a residual-based cognitive reserve (CR) index optimized for a pediatric sample with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Method: Participants were N = 115 children aged 9.5-13 years at baseline (M_age = 10.48 years, SD_age = 0.61), and n = 43 (37.4%) met criteria for ADHD. Elastic-net regularized linear regression was used to generate baseline and longitudinal CR indices by maximally residualizing variance in fluid intelligence for demographics and brain structure. Academic and diagnostic outcomes were regressed onto CR indices, and interactions with brain integrity were assessed.

Results: Baseline CR predicted baseline math computation (estimate = 0.10, SE = 0.02, p < .001), while change in CR predicted change in word reading ability (estimate = 0.08, SE = 0.02, p < .001). Further, when grey matter volume tended to be lower, higher CR was associated with higher word reading score (estimate = -0.05, SE = 0.02, p = .019) and lower ADHD symptom severity (estimate = 0.04, SE = 0.02, p = .047) compared to lower CR, at baseline. Similarly, when longitudinal change in white matter hypointensity volume tended to be greater, higher change in CR resulted in more favorable word reading trajectory (estimate = 0.03, SE = 0.02, p = .048).

Conclusions: A data-driven residual approach to operationalizing pediatric CR shows better evidence of construct validity over previous methods, with our index showing a novel ability to moderate the deleterious effects of lower grey matter on outcomes in ADHD. This approach may benefit future research aiming to study the early development of CR. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Prior studies using global cognitive measures have shown that social connectedness is linked with cognitive performance. We investigate the role of different social network dimensions on performance across distinct cognitive domains among dementia-free middle-aged and older rural Indians.

Method: We utilized baseline assessment data of 2,525 participants (≥45 years) of an ongoing, prospective, aging cohort in rural India (Srinivaspura Aging, Neuro Senescence, and COGnition) for this study. We evaluated social networks using Cohen's Social Network Index on three dimensions: network diversity, network size, and network embeddedness. We measured cognitive performance on memory (narrative recall), visuospatial ability (geometric figure spatial recognition, visuospatial span), language (verbal fluency, semantic association, word comprehension, reading comprehension), and attention domains of a culturally adapted, computerized, neurocognitive test battery. Linear regression models, adjusted for age and sex, were used for statistical analysis.

Results: In the linear regression model adjusted for age and sex, we found that greater network diversity was significantly associated with better performance in narrative recall, geometric figure spatial recognition, reading comprehension, semantic association, and attention tests. Participants with a larger network size had significantly better performance in verbal fluency and semantic association tests. Further, participants with greater network embeddedness had better visuospatial span and verbal fluency.

Conclusions: Individuals having a greater network diversity, larger network size, and greater network embeddedness had better cognitive performance in multiple distinct cognitive domains. Following up these participants with serial cognitive monitoring can help understand if social networks play a role in delaying cognitive decline and protecting against dementia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: To describe associations between executive function (EF) domains (attentional control, information processing, cognitive flexibility, and goal setting) and concurrent math computation performance at age 7 and 13 years in children born <30 weeks' gestation or weighing <1,250 g, and second, to examine the impact of 7-year EF on math performance at 13 years.

Method: In a prospective, longitudinal cohort of children born <30 weeks' gestation or with a birthweight <1,250 g, assessment of EF and math performance was undertaken at 7 (n = 187) and 13 years (n = 174). Linear regression models were used to describe associations between EF domains with math performance at both time points, as well as to examine the impact of EF at 7 years on math performance at 13 years.

Results: At 7 and 13 years, all EF domains were positively and strongly associated with concurrent math performance (β = 11.35, 95% CI [9.28, 13.41] to β = 13.79, 95% CI [11.59, 15.98]). All EF domains at age 7 years were positively associated with math performance at 13 years, with the strongest associations observed for cognitive flexibility (β = 10.79 [8.64, 12.94]) and goal setting (β = 10.37 [8.08, 12.67]).

Conclusions: This study provides evidence that EF is strongly associated with math performance in children born <30 weeks' gestation or with a birthweight <1,250 g and highlights the importance of early cognitive flexibility and goal setting performance for future math performance. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Hyperactivity is a core and impairing deficit in the clinical model of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the extent to which hyperactivity in ADHD is evoked by cognitively challenging tasks in general or by demands on specific executive functions remains unclear.

Method: A clinically evaluated and carefully phenotyped community-referred sample of 184 children ages 8-13 (M = 10.40, SD = 1.50; 61 girls) with ADHD (n = 119) and without ADHD (neurotypical children and children with psychiatric disorders other than ADHD) were administered multiple, counterbalanced executive (working memory, inhibitory control, set shifting) and nonexecutive tests. Objective measures of gross motor movement (hyperactivity) were obtained using actigraphy.

Results: Using bifactor s-1 modeling, results indicate that children with ADHD demonstrate moderately elevated levels of motor movement relative to non-ADHD children. Additionally, findings indicated that hyperactivity in ADHD reflects the outcome of at least two similarly important factors: (a) a baseline level of elevated motor movement that is independent of environmental demands on their executive and nonexecutive cognitive abilities (d = 0.72); and (b) additional elevations attributable to demands placed on specific executive functions, with working memory and inhibition demands evoking similarly large, differential increases in movement for children with ADHD above and beyond their elevated baselines (Δd = 0.80).

Conclusions: These findings suggests that executive function demands exacerbate, but do not fully explain, hyperactivity in ADHD, and/or there are at least two pathways to hyperactivity in ADHD-hyperactivity caused by environmental demands that challenge their underdeveloped executive functions, and hyperactivity caused by one or more other factors that need future research to identify. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).