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Purpose: The speed of information processing is known to play an important role in mental disorders; This study investigated the effect of the transcranial direct current stimulation on information processing speed in children with intellectual disabilities., Method: An experimental design with a pretest- posttest control group was used. The study population consisted of 8- to 14-year-old children with intellectual disabilities attending special primary schools in Urmia, Iran. 36 children were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (18 for each group). The experimental group received 10 sessions of tDCS with anode positioned over the F3 electrode (left DLPFC) and cathode over F4 (right DLPFC) The control group did not receive any intervention. Trail Making Test (TMT) was used to assess information processing speed. Data were analyzed using MANCOVA., Results: The results revealed that tDCS led to a significant increase in information processing speed in the experimental group compared to the control group., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that tDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is effective in enhancing information processing speed in children with intellectual disabilities. These finding have important implications for the development of interventions aimed at improving cognitive functioning in children with intellectual disabilities., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Spousal bereavement is associated with health declines and increased mortality risk, but its specific impact on physical and cognitive capabilities is less studied. A historical cohort study design was applied including married Tromsø study participants (N=5739) aged 50-70 years with baseline self-reported overall health and health-related factors and measured capability (grip strength, finger tapping, digit symbol coding, and short-term recall) at follow-up. Participants had data from Tromsø4 (1994-1995) and Tromsø5 (2001), or Tromsø6 (2007-2008) and Tromsø7 (2015-2016). Propensity score matching, adjusted for baseline confounders (and baseline capability in a subset), was used to investigate whether spousal bereavement was associated with poorer subsequent capability. Spousal bereavement occurred for 6.2% on average 3.7 years (SD 2.0) before the capability assessment. There were no significant bereavement effects on subsequent grip strength, immediate recall, or finger-tapping speed. Without adjustment for baseline digit symbol coding test performance, there was a negative significant effect on the digit symbol coding test (ATT -1.33; 95% confidence interval -2.57, -0.10), but when baseline digit symbol coding test performance was taken into account in a smaller subsample, using the same set of matching confounders, there was no longer any association (in the subsample ATT changed from -1.29 (95% CI -3.38, 0.80) to -0.04 (95% CI -1.83, 1.75). The results in our study suggest that spousal bereavement does not have long-term effects on the intrinsic capacity components physical or cognition capability to a notable degree., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: How cognition is influenced by electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is still debated. The development and etiology of neurocognitive impairment in MDD were examined by investigating the cognitive profile following ECT related to the state, scar, and trait perspectives, with the former predicting improvements parallel with depressive symptoms, while the two latter expected persisting impairments. Executive functions (EF) and attention are central to cognition and alterations in these functions could influence other domains like memory. The main aims of the present study were to examine the short and long-term effects of ECT on EF and attention in patients with major depressive disorder by exploiting the rapid antidepressant effect of this treatment., Methods: A case-control longitudinal follow-up design was used to investigate the effects of unilateral brief-pulse ECT on EF and attention in patients with depression (n = 36) compared to untreated healthy controls (n = 16). EF and attention were measured pre-treatment, approximately two weeks, and six months post-treatment., Results: The patient group showed significantly worse performance on most tests compared to healthy controls pre-treatment, and no short- or long-term worsening of EF and attention following ECT was found. Significant improvement was identified in patients' attention, processing speed and inhibition after ECT., Conclusions: The present study showed that there was no cognitive worsening after ECT treatment. An improvement in several of the tests measuring inhibition, attention, and processing speed was parallel to symptom reduction, with the former showing associations to symptom change, suggesting state-related effects from improved mood. Still, the patient group performed significantly worse on most measures both pre-treatment and at the short and long-term follow-ups, indicating prevailing trait or scar effects on cognitive functions and potential lack of practice effects., Clinical Trial Number: NCT04348825 (14.04.20)., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Written and informed consent from participants was collected in advance of participation. All participants consented to participation in the study. The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, South East, ID: 2013/1032 ECT and neurology. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: This study examined the validity of a visual inspection time (IT) task as a measure of processing speed (PS) in a sample of children with and without cerebral palsy (CP). IT tasks measure visualization speed without focusing on the motor response time to indicate decision making about the properties of those stimuli., Methods: Participants were 113 children ages 8-16, including 45 with congenital CP, and 68 typically developing peers. Measures were a standard visual IT task that required dual key responding and a modified version using an assistive technology button with response option scanning. Performance on these measures was examined against traditional Wechsler PS measures (Coding, Symbol Search)., Results: IT performance shared considerable variance with traditional paper-pencil PS measures for the group with CP, but not necessarily in the typically developing group. Concurrent validity was found for both IT task versions with traditional PS measures in the group with CP. IT classification accuracy for lowered PS showed modest sensitivity and good specificity particularly for the modified IT task., Conclusions: As measures of PS in children with CP who are unable to validly participate in traditional PS tasks, IT tasks demonstrate adequate concurrent validity and may serve as a beneficial alternative measure of PS in this population.

Background: This study investigated the risk of diabetes by examining changes in memory, working memory, and processing speed among older adults to provide evidence on how each cognitive domain is associated with the risk of diabetes in older adults., Methods: This study used Health and Retirement Study data and tracked the respondents from 2012 to 2020 ( n  = 5,748). The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-27 includes three cognitive tests (recall, seven subtraction, and counting backward tests) to assess each cognitive domain. A Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate the changes in the odds ratio (OR) of diabetes by increasing each cognitive function and the parameter in covariates., Results: We found that the OR of diabetes decreased with increasing universal cognitive function, increasing memory, working memory, and processing speed, and that age increased the OR in all analysis models., Conclusion: The findings of this study contribute to filling gaps in the literature by exploring: (a) the association between each cognitive function and the decline in diabetes risk and (b) the varying patterns of change in diabetes risk with increasing cognitive function., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Lee, Kim and An.)

Regular physical activity is deemed beneficial to physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Walking may be an accessible means of meeting physical activity recommendations and improving cognition. However, exercise effects on cognition are often explored at shorter durations (30 min or less), with fewer studies exploring how cognition is impacted during longer bouts of exercise. 36 (7 women) civilians and active-duty soldiers completed a VO 2 max test and two one-hour walks, one at and one below the ventilatory threshold (VT), on separate days. They completed the Go/No-Go and Task-Switching Tasks before, every 15 min during, and immediately after exercise, while wearing a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system to monitor prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity. Response speed during the Go/No-Go task was improved at VT compared to sub-VT at the expense of task accuracy. FP cortex was deactivated during exercise in the Task-Switching Task, potentially due to the increased competition for resources between the frontal cortex and movement related areas. As a result, exercise at or below VT may improve or impair cognitive performance and activation in executive function-related areas depending on the task type and exercise intensity level., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

This review article summarizes the literature on the cognitive impairment seen amongst people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and how that impairment can impact not only their lives but also how their care needs to be managed. Recommendations regarding screening and monitoring of cognitive issues are reviewed, as well as how common comorbidities can further impact cognition. The current literature with respect to treatment options is also summarized. Finally, the article reviews the literature on some special populations living with MS., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr S.M. Rao has coauthored intellectual property around the PST software, for which he has received royalties from the Cleveland Clinic. Dr S.M. Rao is also a stockholder of and consultant for Qr8 Health, which has licensed PST software for commercialization purposes. Drs L.M. Hancock and R. Galioto have no relevant disclosures to report. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A redundancy gain occurs when perceptually identical stimuli are presented together, resulting in quicker categorization of these paired stimuli than lone stimuli. Similar effects have been reported for paired stimuli within the same conceptual category, particularly if the category is self-related. We recruited 528 individuals across three related studies to investigate whether, during perceptual and conceptual redundancy, such self-bias effects on foreground stimuli are modulated by natural versus urban backgrounds. Here, we highlight our observations pertaining to perceptual and conceptual redundancy effects of the foreground stimuli. In our first experiment, response options were randomised per trial. Results showed reaction time gains for perceptually identical stimuli, but this advantage was not modulated by self/other categorization. However, slower reaction times were observed for conceptually-related stimulus pairs and were influenced by self/other categorization. The second experiment replicated the methods of earlier studies of redundancy and observed comparable results to Experiment 1: a perceptual redundancy gain unmodulated by self/other categorization, yet for conceptual redundancy, no gain/cost but effects of self/other categorization. In the third experiment, self/other categories were substituted with arbitrary A/B categories: Once more, there was a perceptual redundancy gain and no conceptual redundancy gain. Notably, A/B categorisation produced effects equivalent to self/other categorisation. Overall, these findings challenge previous research on the facilitated early processing of conceptually-related stimuli and suggest that self-relatedness may not exert a unique effect on stimulus processing beyond attentional and response preferences during categorization. Our study motivates further research to understand conceptual categorization and redundancy gain effects., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Children born very low gestational age (VLGA, 29-32 weeks gestational age [GA]) display slower processing speed and altered hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function, with greater effects in those born extremely low gestational age (ELGA; 24-28 weeks GA). We investigated trajectories of HPA axis activity as indexed by cortisol output and patterns across cognitive assessment at ages 1.5, 3 and 4.5 years, comparing children born ELGA and VLGA and associations with 4.5-year processing speed. In a prospective longitudinal cohort study, infants born very preterm (<33 weeks gestation) returned for developmental assessment at ages 1.5, 3, and 4.5 years. At each age, children completed standardized cognitive testing and saliva samples collected before (Pretest), during (During) and after (End) challenging cognitive tasks were assayed for cortisol. For the total group ( n  = 188), cortisol area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) decreased, while cortisol reactivity to challenge (Pre-test to During) increased from 1.5 to 3 years, remaining stable to 4.5 years. This longitudinal pattern was related to higher Processing Speed (WPPSI-IV) scores at 4.5 years. Children born ELGA displayed higher AUCg than VLGA, particularly at age 3, driven by higher Pre-test cortisol levels. Overall, relative to those born VLGA, children born ELGA displayed greater cortisol responsivity to cognitive challenge. A higher setpoint of cortisol levels at age 3-years in children born ELGA may reflect altered HPA axis regulation more broadly and may contribute to difficulties with information processing in this population, critical for academic and social success.

Background and Purpose: Executive dysfunction and slowed processing speed are central cognitive impairments in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). It is unclear whether the subcomponents of executive functions become equally affected and whether computerized tests are more sensitive in detecting early cognitive changes over traditional tests. The associations of specific executive abilities (cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory) and processing speed with white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) were examined., Methods: In the Helsinki Small Vessel Disease Study, 152 older individuals without stroke or dementia were assessed with brain magnetic resonance imaging and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. WMH volumes were obtained with automated segmentation. Executive functions and processing speed measures included established paper-and-pencil tests and the computer-based Flexible Attention Test (FAT), Simon task and Sustained Attention to Response Task., Results: White matter hyperintensity volume and IADL were associated with multiple cognitive measures across subdomains independently of demographic factors. The highest effect sizes were observed for FAT numbers and number-letter tasks (tablet modifications from the Trail Making Test), FAT visuospatial span, Simon task and semantic verbal fluency. Some of the widely used tests such as Stroop inhibition, phonemic fluency and digit span were not significantly associated with either WMHs or IADL., Conclusion: Processing speed and executive function subcomponents are broadly related to functional abilities and WMH severity in covert cSVD, but the strength of associations within subdomains is heavily dependent on the assessment method. Digital tests providing precise measures of reaction times and response accuracy seem to outperform many of the conventional paper-and-pencil tests., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Academy of Neurology.)

In this narrative review, we explore the differences in processing speed (PS) impairments among three epilepsy conditions; Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE), Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE) and Genetic Generalized Epilepsy (GGE) with a focus on Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME). Despite the large body of research focusing on cognition in epilepsy, the intricacies of PS impairments in the epilepsy syndromes have not been fully explored. We investigate the cognitive profiles with focus on PS associated with each of the three conditions, and the neuropsychological methods employed. Furthermore, we evaluate PS in epilepsy within the theoretical frameworks of PS, such as the Relative Consequence Model, the Limited Time Mechanism Model, and the Neural Noise Hypothesis. We find the main challenge of PS research in epilepsy is the inconsistency of assessment methods utilized in different studies. Furthermore, PS impairments are not isolated but rather interconnected to other cognitive domains. Thus, future studies need to standardize PS assessment tools, and incorporate innovative solutions such as technology and neuroimaging techniques to further enhance our understanding of PS impairments in epilepsy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Objective: Loneliness, when prolonged, is associated with many deleterious effects and has been shown to be highly prevalent in those with a history of stroke, yet the cognitive mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon remain unclear. Therefore, the current study aims to investigate the extent to which cognitive factors, with specific focus on processing speed, are associated with loneliness in those with a history of stroke., Method: Utilizing data from the British Cohort Study, a nationally representative dataset, we conducted secondary data analysis. A total of 7,752 participants completed relevant questions related to health, social interactions, demographics, loneliness, and cognitive assessments. Among them, 47 had experienced a stroke ("stroke," n = 47), 5,545 reported other health conditions ("ill," n = 5,545), and 2,857 were deemed healthy ("healthy," n = 2,857)., Results: Consistent with previous research, our findings confirmed a positive correlation between stroke history and heightened loneliness. However, inferential analysis revealed that processing speed, alongside other cognitive factors, had a minimal impact on loneliness, with correlations too small to draw definitive conclusions., Conclusion: This study suggests that cognitive processing speed alone is not a robust predictor of loneliness in stroke survivors. Consequently, when developing interventions to combat loneliness in this population, it is crucial to consider a broader spectrum of factors, such as social engagement, emotional wellbeing, and interpersonal relationships. This underscores the imperative need for comprehensive assessments to better comprehend the multifaceted nature of loneliness and inform more effective intervention strategies., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Postural control is dependent on the central nervous system's accurate interpretation of sensory information to formulate and execute adequate motor actions. Research has shown that cognitive functions are associated with both postural control and fall risk, but specific associations are not established. The aim of this study was to explore how specific components of everyday postural control tasks are associated with both general and specific cognitive functions., Methods: Forty-six community-dwelling older adults reported their age, sex, physical activity level, falls and fall-related concerns. The following cognitive aspects were assessed: global cognition, executive functions, processing speed and intraindividual variability. Postural control was quantified by measuring postural sway in quiet stance, walking at a self-selected pace, and walking while performing a concurrent arithmetical task. Separate orthogonal projections of latent structures models were generated for each postural control outcome using descriptive and cognitive variables as explanatory variables., Results: Longer step length and faster gait speed were related to faster processing speed and less intraindividual variability in the choice reaction test. Moreover, longer step length was also related to less fall-related concerns and less severe fall-related injuries, while faster gait speed was also related to female sex and poorer global cognition. Lower dual-task cost for gait speed was explained by the executive function inhibition and faster processing speed. Postural sway in quiet stance was not explained by cognitive functions., Conclusions: Cognitive functions explained gait speed and step length during normal walking, as well as the decrease of gait speed while performing a concurrent cognitive task. The results suggest that different cognitive processes are important for different postural control aspects. Postural sway in quiet stance, step time and gait variability seem to depend more on physical and automatic processes rather than higher cognitive functions among physically active older people. The relationships between cognitive functions and postural control likely vary depending on the specific tasks and the characteristics of different populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Past research suggests that Working Memory plays a role in determining relative clause attachment bias. Disambiguation preferences may further depend on Processing Speed and explicit memory demands in linguistic tasks. Given that Working Memory and Processing Speed decline with age, older adults offer a way of investigating the factors underlying disambiguation preferences. Additionally, older adults might be subject to more severe similarity-based memory interference given their larger vocabularies and slower lexical access. Nevertheless, memory interference and sentence disambiguation have not been combined in studies on older adults before. We used a self-paced reading paradigm under memory load interference conditions. Older (n = 30) and Younger (n = 35) readers took part in the study online; reading times were recorded and measures of comprehension accuracy and load recall were collected. This setup allowed for the implicit measurement of attachment biases and memory interference effects interactively. Results show that similarity-based interference affected both age groups equally, but was more pronounced in NP2-biased structures, which took participants generally longer to read. Attachment preferences did not differ by group and were unaffected by Working Memory span. However, accuracy on recall prompts was predicted by Working Memory span in both groups. Findings of greater interference in syntactically dispreferred structures support unified processing models where parsing constraints naturally interact. The lack of age differences on our measures further aligns with research finding age-invariant implicit language processing., (© 2024 The Author(s). Topics in Cognitive Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Cognitive Science Society.)

Students with reading disabilities form a heterogeneous group: some struggle with accurate and fast reading (dysfluent readers), others with comprehension (poor comprehenders), and some face challenges in both areas (poor readers). Research has indicated a link between executive functioning skills and reading performance; yet, further studies are necessary to fully understand the executive profiles in various types of reading disabilities. The goal of this study was to examine differences in executive functioning among three types of reading disabilities, comparing their performance with that of children without difficulties in either skill (typical readers). Ninety-one students from schools in Portugal participated in the study. The results reveal specific deficits in naming speed and cognitive flexibility in poor readers and dysfluent readers compared to the other groups. Additionally, poor readers exhibited significantly slower processing speed and lower working memory. However, no significant differences were observed in planning. Discriminant function analysis results indicated that the examined executive functions are better at discriminating groups with fluency deficits than those with comprehension difficulties. In conclusion, these results suggest distinct deficit patterns in executive functioning skills across different types of reading disabilities. Taking into account these findings is crucial for effective assessment and intervention with these children.

Background and Hypothesis: Psychotic disorders (PDs) have huge personal and societal impact, and efforts to improve outcomes in patients are continuously needed. Environmental risk factors (ERFs), especially modifiable risk factors, are important to study because they pose a target for intervention and prevention. No studies have investigated ERFs, cognition, and psychotic symptoms together in a network approach., Study Design: We explored interactions between 3 important ERFs (tobacco smoking, cannabis use, and childhood trauma), 6 cognitive domains, and 3 dimensions of symptoms in psychosis. From the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) cohort, we used data from patients, siblings, and healthy controls to construct networks using Bayesian analyses of all 12 variables. We constructed networks of the combined sample and of patients and siblings separately., Study Results: We found that tobacco smoking was directly associated with cognition and psychotic symptoms. The cognitive variable processing speed was the most central node, connecting clusters of psychotic symptoms and substance use through the variables of positive symptoms and tobacco smoking. Comparing the networks of patients and siblings, we found that networks were relatively similar between patients and siblings., Conclusions: Our results support a potential central role of processing speed deficits in PDs. Findings highlight the importance of integrating tobacco smoking as potential ERFs in the context of PDs and to broaden the perspective from cannabis discontinuation to smoking cessation programs in patients or people at risk of PDs., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center.)

Context: Limited data provides evidence-based insights on the association between comprehensive metrics of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and cognitive performance, especially in midlife women for whom benefit might be the greatest., Objective: To assess the associations of serum HDL metrics including HDL lipid content [HDL cholesterol, phospholipid (HDL-PL), triglyceride], proteins/subclasses [apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1); small, medium, large, total HDL particle (HDL-P); and HDL size], and cholesterol efflux capacity with cognitive performance in midlife women., Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted among 503 midlife women (1234 observations) from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation HDL ancillary study. Joint models were applied to examine associations of HDL metrics assessed at midlife (50.2 ± 2.9 years, baseline of the current study) and their changes over midlife (6.1 ± 3.9 years of duration) with subsequent cognitive performance [working memory (Digit Span Backward Test), processing speed (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), and episodic memory immediate and delayed recall (East Boston memory test)] assessed repeatedly (maximum 5 times) 1.5 ± 1 years later over 7.72 ± 4.10 years of follow up., Results: Higher total HDL-P and smaller HDL size at midlife were associated with a better subsequent immediate recall, delayed recall and/or processing speed. Greater increase in HDL-PL, apoA-1, medium HDL-P, and total HDL-P and less increase in HDL size over midlife were associated with a better subsequent immediate and/or delayed recall., Conclusions: Enhancing specific serum HDL metrics during midlife could be promising in cognitive restoration, particularly memory, the initial and predominant symptom of Alzheimer's disease., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com. See the journal About page for additional terms.)

Background Understanding the specific cognitive domains associated with activities of daily living (ADLs) impairment in Lewy body dementia (LBD) may help identify which targeted therapeutic interventions to pursue in future research. This study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological determinants of impairment in ADLs in LBD patients. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of LBD patients referred for a clinical neuropsychological evaluation within the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Virginia Commonwealth University. The presence or absence of impairment in eight ADLs and neuropsychological test performances were collected and analyzed. Cluster analysis and hierarchical analysis were used to define ADL impairment into mild, moderate, and severe ADL impairment groups. We then compared cognitive performance between the ADL groups. Results This study included 193 LBD patients. Compared to LBD patients with mild and moderate ADL impairment, those with severe ADL impairment had worse scores in global cognition as measured by the Dementia Rating Scale-2 (DRS-2) (p=0.002), speeded visuospatial processing as measured by the Trail Making Test A (p=0.001), speeded executive functioning as measured by the Trail Making Test B (p=0.006), and psychomotor processing speed (p<0.001). Impairments in driving and self-care were associated with worse performances on Trail Making Test A, Trail Making Test B, and psychomotor processing speed (all p<0.05). Conclusions In patients with LBD, impaired speeded tasks of visual processing and executive functioning are associated with impaired ADLs, particularly driving and self-care. In order to improve ADLs in LBD, future studies should focus on identifying therapies that improve processing speed performance., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Virginia Commonwealth University Institutional Review Board issued approval HM20021563. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Desai et al.)

The planned missions to the Moon and Mars will present more significant health challenges to astronauts compared to low earth orbit missions. During deep space missions, astronauts will be constantly exposed to Space radiation (SR). Multiple rodent studies suggest that < 25 cGy of SR impairs performance in executive functions, which play a key role in advanced cognitive processes, but also regulate response inhibition and impulse control. There is the possibility that SR exposure may exacerbate aberrant behaviors evoked by psychological stress related to exposure to isolated and confined (ICE) hostile environment or independently induce additional aberrant behaviors. This study has determined that female Wistar rats exposed to 10 cGy of 250 MeV/n He had an increased risk taking propensity (RTP)\compared to shams. The increased RTP of the He-exposed rats was associated with significantly increased reaction times during the trials, suggesting a SR-induced loss of processing speed. The response times of the He-exposed rats were even further reduced in trials that immediately followed a loss, raising the possibility that conflict and interference avoidance may be impaired after SR exposure. Whether these findings occur following other types of SR exposure, and/or in male rats remains to be determined., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare in relation to the studies reported in this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between processing speed impairment severity and performance on the Rey 15-Item Test (RFIT) and RFIT + Recognition., Method: Cross-sectional data from 285 examinees (228 valid/57 invalid) referred for neuropsychological assessment who were administered the RFIT, Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Processing Speed Index (PSI), Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and three independent criterion PVTs were included. PSI bands were operationalized as Intact (≥85SS; n  = 163), Reduced/Possibly Impaired (77-84SS; n  = 36), or Impaired (≤76 SS; n  = 29). Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses tested the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition's classification accuracy for detecting invalid performance for the overall sample and by PSI impairment status., Results: Those with intact processing speed performed significantly better on the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition than those with reduced/possibly impaired and impaired processing speed. Though verbal/visual memory predicted RFIT scores independently, PSI contributed additional variance. ROC curves for RFIT and RFIT + Recognition were significant (AUC=.64-.84). Optimal cut-scores yielded modest sensitivity (30%-63%) and high specificity (89%-93%) among those with intact and reduced processing speed but yielded unacceptable accuracy in those with impaired speed (AUC=.59-.62)., Conclusions: Although the RFIT and RFIT + Recognition demonstrated acceptable classification accuracy in those with intact processing speed, accuracy diminished with increasing speed impairment. This finding was more pronounced for RFIT + Recognition compared to the traditional RFIT. As such, the RFIT may have limited clinical utility in examinees with more significant processing speed deficits.

Introduction: The role of information processing speed (IPS) on relationships between episodic memory (EM) and central remodeling features in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) was investigated., Methods: Neuropsychological evaluations and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging were performed on 48 patients diagnosed with aMCI and 50 healthy controls (HC). Moderation models explored the moderating effect of IPS on associations between EM and imaging features at single-region, connectivity, and network levels., Results: IPS significantly enhanced the positive correlations between recall and cortical thickness of left inferior temporal gyrus. IPS also notably amplified negative correlations between recognition and functional connectivity (FC) of left inferior parietal lobe and right occipital, as well as between recall/recognition and nodal clustering coefficient of left anterior cingulate cortex., Discussion: IPS functioned as a moderator of associations between recall and neuroimaging metrics at the "single region-connectivity-network" level, providing new insights for cognitive rehabilitation in aMCI patients., Highlights: aMCI patients exhibited brain functional and structural remodeling alterations. IPS moderated relations between episodic memory and brain remodeling metrics. Therapy targeted at IPS can be considered for improving episodic memory in aMCI., (© 2024 The Author(s). Alzheimer's & Dementia published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Alzheimer's Association.)

Early intervention is imperative for young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who manifest heterogeneous neurocognitive deficits. The study investigated the functional connectivity and complexity of brain activity among young children with ADHD exhibiting a fast cognitive processing speed (ADHD-F, n = 26), with ADHD exhibiting a slow cognitive processing speed (ADHD-S, n = 17), and typically developing children (n = 35) using wireless electroencephalography (EEG) during rest and task conditions. During rest, compared with the typically developing group, the ADHD-F group displayed lower long-range intra-hemispheric connectivity, while the ADHD-S group had lower frontal beta inter-hemispheric connectivity. During task performance, the ADHD-S group displayed lower frontal beta inter-hemispheric connectivity than the typically developing group. The ADHD-S group had lower frontal inter-hemispheric connectivity in broader frequency bands than the ADHD-F group, indicating ADHD heterogeneity in mental processing speed. Regarding complexity, the ADHD-S group tended to show lower frontal entropy estimators than the typically developing group during the task condition. These findings suggest that the EEG profile of brain connectivity and complexity can aid the early clinical diagnosis of ADHD, support subgrouping young children with ADHD based on cognitive processing speed heterogeneity, and may contain specific novel neural biomarkers for early intervention planning., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Despite extensive efforts to study individual differences in loneliness and neurocognitive health, little is known about how within-person changes in state loneliness relate to cognitive performance. This study addressed this gap by examining the association between within-person variation in state loneliness and cognitive performance assessed objectively in daily life., Methods: Participants were 313 community-dwelling older adults (70-90 years) who reported momentary feelings of loneliness and completed smartphone-based cognitive tests 5 times daily for 14 consecutive days. Mobile cognitive tests assess visual associative memory, processing speed, and spatial memory., Results: At the day level, average state loneliness levels were negatively related to cognitive performance on the same day and subsequent day. Consistent with the day-level analysis, momentary assessments of increased loneliness were consistently linked to worse cognitive performance on concurrent assessments. However, moments characterized by lower cognitive performance predicted higher levels of loneliness 3-4 hr later (next occasion), but not vice versa., Discussion: The findings suggest a prospective association between loneliness and cognitive performance, with higher daily loneliness negatively associated with cognitive performance on the same day and predicting worse performance the following day. Notably, within a single day, lower cognitive performance at a given moment predicted elevated loneliness later in the day. This highlights a complex, reciprocal relationship-loneliness predicting and being predicted by cognitive performance depending on timescale., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective:  Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have increased risk for cognitive dysfunction and high rates of sleep disturbance. Despite associations between glycemia and cognitive performance using cross-sectional and experimental methods few studies have evaluated this relationship in a naturalistic setting, or the impact of nocturnal versus daytime hypoglycemia. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) may provide insight into the dynamic associations between cognition, affective, and physiological states. The current study couples EMA data with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to examine the within-person impact of nocturnal glycemia on next day cognitive performance in adults with T1D. Due to high rates of sleep disturbance and emotional distress in people with T1D, the potential impacts of sleep characteristics and negative affect were also evaluated., Methods:  This pilot study utilized EMA in 18 adults with T1D to examine the impact of glycemic excursions, measured using CGM, on cognitive performance, measured via mobile cognitive assessment using the TestMyBrain platform. Multilevel modeling was used to test the within-person effects of nocturnal hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on next day cognition., Results:  Results indicated that increases in nocturnal hypoglycemia were associated with slower next day processing speed. This association was not significantly attenuated by negative affect, sleepiness, or sleep quality., Conclusions:  These results, while preliminary due to small sample size, showcase the power of intensive longitudinal designs using ambulatory cognitive assessment to uncover novel determinants of cognitive fluctuation in real world settings, an approach that may be utilized in other populations. Findings suggest reducing nocturnal hypoglycemia may improve cognition in adults with T1D.

Objective: Published evidence suggests that cognitive impairment during a TGA (transient global amnesia) spell may not be confined to episodic memory. We undertook a systematic review to determine the pattern of cognitive deficits during a TGA episode. As a secondary objective, we aimed to delineate the course of cognitive recovery., Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Google scholar were systematically searched up to October 2023. Observational controlled studies including 10 or more TGA patients (Hodges and Warlow criteria) were retrieved. Data from case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were reviewed and qualitatively synthesized., Results: Literature search yielded 1302 articles. After the screening of titles and abstracts, 115 full texts were retrieved and 17 of them were included in the present systematic review. During the acute phase, spatiotemporal disorientation, dense anterograde and variable retrograde amnesia, semantic memory retrieval difficulties, and working memory deficits comprised the neuropsychological profile of patients with TGA. Visuospatial abilities, attention and psychomotor speed, semantic memory, confrontation naming, and other measures of executive function (apart from semantic fluency and working memory) were consistently found normal. In the course of recovery, after the resolution of repetitive questioning, the restoration of spatiotemporal orientation follows, working memory and semantic memory retrieval ensue, while episodic memory impairment persists for longer. Meticulous evaluations may reveal subtle residual memory (especially recognition) deficits even after 24 h., Conclusions: Μemory impairment, spatiotemporal disorientation, and working memory deficits constitute the pattern of cognitive impairment during a TGA spell. Residual memory deficits may persist even after 24 h., (© 2024. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Reduced processing speed is a core deficit in major depressive disorder (MDD) and has been linked to altered structural brain network connectivity. Ample evidence highlights the involvement of genetic-immunological processes in MDD and specific depressive symptoms. Here, we extended these findings by examining associations between polygenic scores for tumor necrosis factor-α blood levels (TNF-α PGS), structural brain connectivity, and processing speed in a large sample of MDD patients. Processing speed performance of n = 284 acutely depressed, n = 177 partially and n = 198 fully remitted patients, and n = 743 healthy controls (HC) was estimated based on five neuropsychological tests. Network-based statistic was used to identify a brain network associated with processing speed. We employed general linear models to examine the association between TNF-α PGS and processing speed. We investigated whether network connectivity mediates the association between TNF-α PGS and processing speed. We identified a structural network positively associated with processing speed in the whole sample. We observed a significant negative association between TNF-α PGS and processing speed in acutely depressed patients, whereas no association was found in remitted patients and HC. The mediation analysis revealed that brain connectivity partially mediated the association between TNF-α PGS and processing speed in acute MDD. The present study provides evidence that TNF-α PGS is associated with decreased processing speed exclusively in patients with acute depression. This association was partially mediated by structural brain connectivity. Using multimodal data, the current findings advance our understanding of cognitive dysfunction in MDD and highlight the involvement of genetic-immunological processes in its pathomechanisms., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Processing speed is a foundational skill supporting intelligence and executive function, areas often delayed in preterm-born children. The impact of early-life nutrition on gray matter facilitating processing speed for this vulnerable population is unknown., Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV Processing Speed Index were acquired in forty 5-year-old children born preterm with very low birth weight. Macronutrient (grams per kilogram per day) and mother's milk (percentage of feeds) intakes were prospectively collected in the first postnatal month and associations between early-life nutrition and the primary outcome of brain regions supporting processing speed were investigated., Results: Children had a mean (SD) gestational age of 27.8 (1.8) weeks and 45% were male. Macronutrient intakes were unrelated, but mother's milk was positively related, to greater volumes in brain regions, including total cortical gray matter, cingulate gyri, and occipital gyri., Conclusion: First postnatal month macronutrient intakes showed no association, but mother's milk was positively associated, with volumetric measures of total and regional cortical gray matter related to processing speed in preterm-born children. This exploratory analysis suggests early-life mother's milk supports processing speed by impacting structural underpinnings. Further research is needed on this potential strategy to improve preterm outcomes., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

Objective: Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), children show reduced processing speed (PS). Evidence suggests that slowed PS after TBI is associated with working memory deficits. Our aim was to investigate several forms of PS and to examine its impact on working and episodic memory performance in children after mTBI., Method: We included data of 64 children after mTBI and 57 healthy control children aged 8-16 years. PS (Color Naming, Coding, Symbol Search, Alertness) was compared between groups 1 week (T1) and 3-6 months (T2) after the injury; working and episodic memory outcome was compared between groups at T2., Results: Alertness at T1 and Color Naming at T1 and T2 were significantly reduced following mTBI compared to controls, although most group differences in PS disappeared when patients with previous impairments and mTBI were excluded. PS was predictive for episodic and working memory performance 3-6 months after injury, whereas group was a significant predictor of working memory., Conclusions: Compared to healthy controls, children after mTBI showed reduced performance in verbal PS, which was associated with working memory. In children who are symptomatic after mTBI, diagnostic screening of PS could be helpful in identifying patients that could profit from speed-improving strategies.

Pediatric cancer treatments may contribute to slower processing, while cultural considerations (e.g., SES) can influence outcomes and tend to be disproportionately lower in racial/ethnic minorities. Given increased risk for certain cancers in Hispanic/Latine children and rising Spanish exposure in the United States, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in processing speed between cancer survivors based on household language exposure: English vs. mixed language (ML; i.e. monolingual Spanish-speaking or bilingual Spanish/English-speaking). 128 patients ages 8-21 with leukemia/lymphoma completed screening. As expected, SES was lower in patients from ML households based on parental education ( U  = 355.00, p <.001) and estimated household income ( U  = 1031.500, p <.001). Despite this, processing speed (assessed using the written and oral trials of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test; SDMT) was average (SDMT-W x̅=-.13, SDMT-O x̅=.32), with no significant differences between language groups ( F (2,120)=0.966 , p =.384). Post-hoc analyses revealed time since diagnosis did not predict performance on oral trial for either group or the whole sample, while poorer performance on written trial was noted among the English-only group when further from diagnosis (SDMT-W F(1,57)=7.829, p =.007). Stable ML group trajectory regardless of time since diagnosis may reflect resiliency among children with Spanish exposure.

Background: Air pollution, a reversible environmental factor, was significantly associated with the cognitive domains that are impaired in major depressive disorder (MDD), notably processing speed. Limited evidence explores the interactive effect of air pollution and the genetic risk of depression on cognition. This cross-sectional study aims to extend the research by specifically examining how this interaction influences depression-related cognitive impairment and resting-state brain function., Methods: Eligible participants were 497 healthy adult volunteers (48.7% males, mean age 24.5) living in Beijing for at least 1 year and exposed to relatively high air pollution from the local community controlling for socioeconomic and genomic. Six months' ambient air pollution exposures were assessed based on residential addresses using monthly averages of fine particulate matter with a diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ). A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and cognitive performance assessments. The polygenic risk score (PRS) of MDD was used to estimate genetic susceptibility., Results: Using a general linear model and partial least square regression, we observed a negative association between resting-state local connectivity in precuneus and PRS-by-PM 2.5 interactive effect (P FWE  = 0.028), indicating that PM 2.5 exposure reduced the spontaneous activity in precuneus in individuals at high genetic risk for MDD. DNA methylation and gene expression of the SLC30A3 gene, responsible for maintaining zinc-glutamate homeostasis, was suggestively associated with this local connectivity. For the global functional connectivity, the polygenic risk for MDD augmented the neural impact of PM 2.5 exposure, especially in the frontal-parietal and frontal-limbic regions of the default mode network (P FDR  < 0.05). In those genetically predisposed to MDD, increased PM 2.5 exposure positively correlated with resting-state functional connectivity between the left angular gyrus and left cuneus gyrus. This connectivity was negatively associated with processing speed., Conclusions: Our cross-sectional study suggests that air pollution may be associated with an increased likelihood of cognitive impairment in individuals genetically predisposed to depression, potentially through alterations in the resting-state function of the occipitoparietal and default mode network., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Study Objectives: Shift work interferes with circadian rhythms, affecting sleep quality and cognitive function. Poor sleep quality in shift worker (SW)s can impair psychomotor performance due to fatigue and sleepiness, increasing the risk of errors, accidents, and reduced productivity. Given the potential for atrophic changes in the hippocampus due to sleep disturbances, our study investigates how poor sleep quality correlates with hippocampal structural alterations and impacts psychomotor performance among SWs., Methods: We recruited 100 SWs, classifying them based on sleep quality into two groups: good sleep-SW group (n = 59) and poor sleep-SW group (n = 41). Sleep quality was assessed using both 7-day actigraphy for sleep efficiency and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A control group of 106 non-SWs without sleep problems (non-SW group) was also included for comparison. The outcome measures were psychomotor speed and hippocampal volumes, both total and by subfield., Results: The poor sleep-SW group showed significantly smaller hippocampal volumes than both the good sleep-SW group (p < .001) and the non-SW group (p = .003). Longer shift work years correlated with greater reductions in hippocampal volume in this group (r = -0.42, p = .009), unlike in the good sleep-SW group (r = 0.08, p = .541). Furthermore, they demonstrated declines in psychomotor speed relative to the non-SW group (p = .006), which correlated with smaller hippocampal volumes (r = 0.37, p = .020)., Conclusions: SWs with poor sleep quality exhibit significant hippocampal volume reductions and psychomotor speed decline, underscoring the importance of early intervention and support for sleep issues in this population., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Since the birth of cognitive science, researchers have used reaction time and accuracy to measure cognitive ability. Although recognition of these two measures is often based on empirical observations, the underlying consensus is that most cognitive behaviors may be along two fundamental dimensions: cognitive processing speed (CPS) and cognitive processing accuracy (CPA). In this study, we used genomic-wide association studies (GWAS) data from 14 cognitive traits to show the presence of those two factors and revealed the specific neurobiological basis underlying them. We identified that CPS and CPA had distinct brain phenotypes (e.g. white matter microstructure), neurobiological bases (e.g. postsynaptic membrane), and developmental periods (i.e. late infancy). Moreover, those two factors showed differential associations with other health-related traits such as screen exposure and sleep status, and a significant causal relationship with psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Utilizing an independent cohort from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, we also uncovered the distinct contributions of those two factors on the cognitive development of young adolescents. These findings reveal two fundamental factors underlying various cognitive abilities, elucidate the distinct brain structural fingerprint and genetic architecture of CPS and CPA, and hint at the complex interrelationship between cognitive ability, lifestyle, and mental health., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Over fifty years have passed since the last large scale longitudinal study of individuals with PAH deficiency in the U.S. Since then, there have been significant changes in terms of treatment recommendations as well as treatment options. The Phenylalanine Families and Researchers Exploring Evidence (PHEFREE) Consortium was recently established to collect a more up-to-date and extensive longitudinal natural history in individuals with phenylketonuria across the lifespan. In the present paper, we describe the structure and methods of the PHEFREE longitudinal study protocol and report cross-sectional data from an initial sample of 73 individuals (5 months to 54 years of age) with PAH deficiency who have enrolled. Looking forward, the study holds the promise for advancing the field on several fronts including the validation of novel neurocognitive tools for assessment in individuals with PKU as well as evaluation of the long-term effects of changes in metabolic control (e.g., effects of Phe-lowering therapies) on outcome., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest SEC has received consulting fees from BioMarin, Jnana, and PTC; and BioMarin has funded past and current research. GA has served as a consultant for PTC Therapeutics. DKG has conducted clinical research trials for BioMarin and Synlogic related to the treatment of PAH deficiency. COH has received consulting fees from BioMarin, Jnana Therapeutics, PTC Therapeutics, Sanofi, Pfizer, Synlogic, Tessera Therapeutics, and Tome Biosciences and conducted clinical research trials for BioMarin, Jnana Therapeutics, Sanofi, and Synlogic related to treatment of PAH deficiency. EJ has served as a consultant for Jnana Therapeutics, Arcturus Therapeutics, Travere Therapeutics, and participated in advisory boards for Jnana Therapeutics and Sanofi. HL has received consulting fees from BioMarin, Sanofi, Jnana, PTC, and Tome Biosciences. NL has served on advisory boards for Amgen/Horizon, Amicus Therapeutics, Audentes/Astrellas, BioMarin, Chiesi/Protalix, Sanofi, Ipsen, Jaguar Gene Therapy, Jnana, Leadiant Biosciences, Moderna, Nestlé Pharma, PTC Therapeutics, Reneo, and Ultragenyx and has received clinical trial support from Amgen/Horizon, Amicus Therapeutics, Audentes/Astrellas, BioMarin, Chiesi/Protalix, Sanofi, Jnana, Moderna, PTC Therapeutics, Takeda, and Ultragenyx. SS has served on advisory boards and received clinical trial support from BioMarin, Synlogic, PTC Therapeutics, and Jnana Therapeutics. JT has served as a consultant for BioMarin and has received clinical trials support from PTC Therapeutics, BioMarin, and Sanofi. DAW has received clinical trial support from BioMarin., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress are prevalent in military service members and share objective and subjective cognitive symptoms, complicating recovery. We investigated the effects of remote mTBI characteristics and current posttraumatic stress symptoms on neuropsychological performance in 152 veterans with a history of remote mTBI and current cognitive concerns. Participants completed clinical neuropsychological evaluations within a Veterans Affairs Level-II TBI/Polytrauma outpatient clinic (i.e. tertiary trauma care center for US military veterans outside of a research or teaching hospital setting). Archival data analysis of mTBI injury characteristics, clinical diagnoses, scores on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) and performance on tests of processing speed, attention and executive function was conducted. Hierarchical linear regression demonstrated that elevated PCL-M scores were associated with slower performance on trail making test (TMT) Parts A and B (p < .016). PCL-M symptoms moderated the effect of alteration of consciousness (AOC) on TMT performance, with endorsement of AOC associated with better performance, but only when PCL-M scores were high (p < .005). Follow-up mediation analyses demonstrated that PCL-M score fully mediated the relationship between AOC and TMT-A performance and partially mediated the relationship between AOC and TMT-B performance. Post-hoc analyses meant to separate the impact of processing speed on TMT-B were all non-significant. Remote mTBI characteristics, specifically AOC, were not associated with decrements in cognitive performance. Posttraumatic symptoms were associated with worse processing speed, suggesting that psychological distress and psychopathology are contributing factors in understanding and treating persistent cognitive distress following remote mTBI., (© 2024 The British Psychological Society.)

Background: People with bipolar disorder (BD) tend to show widespread cognitive impairment compared to healthy controls. Impairments in processing speed (PS), attention and executive function (EF) may represent 'core' impairments that have a role in wider cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive impairments appear to relate to structural brain abnormalities in BD, but whether core deficits are related to particular brain regions is unclear and much of the research on brain-cognition associations is limited by univariate analysis and small samples., Methods: Euthymic BD patients (n = 56) and matched healthy controls (n = 26) underwent T1-weighted MRI scans and completed neuropsychological tests of PS, attention and EF. We utilised public datasets to develop normative models of cortical thickness (n = 5977) to generate robust estimations of cortical abnormalities in patients. Canonical correlation analysis was used to assess multivariate brain-cognition associations in BD, controlling for age, sex and premorbid IQ., Results: BD showed impairments on tests of PS, attention and EF, and abnormal cortical thickness in several brain regions compared to healthy controls. Impairments in tests of PS and EF were most strongly associated with cortical thickness in the left inferior temporal, right entorhinal and right temporal pole areas., Conclusion: Impairments in PS, attention and EF can be observed in euthymic BD and may be related to abnormal cortical thickness in temporal regions. Future research should continue to leverage normative modelling and multivariate methods to examine complex brain-cognition associations in BD. Future research may benefit from exploring covariance between traditional brain structural morphological metrics such as cortical thickness, cortical volume and surface area., (© 2024 The Author(s). Bipolar Disorders published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Previous literature showed how left spatial neglect arises from an asymmetrical distribution of spatial attention. However, it was also suggested that left spatial neglect might be partially caused or at least worsened by non-spatial attention disorders of the right-lateralized stimulus-driven attentional fronto-parietal network. Here, we psychophysically tested the efficiency of temporal attentional engagement of foveal perception through meta-contrast (Experiment 1) and "attentional" masking (Experiment 2) tasks in patients with right-hemisphere stroke with left neglect (N+), without left neglect (N-) and matched healthy controls (C). In both experiments, N+ patients showed higher thresholds, not only than Cs, but also than N- patients. Temporal engagement was clinically impaired in all N+ patients and highly correlated with their typical inability to direct spatial attention towards stimuli on the left side. Our findings suggest that a temporal impairment of attentional engagement is a relevant deficit of left spatial neglect., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Spoken language development after pediatric cochlear implantation requires rapid and efficient processing of novel, degraded auditory signals and linguistic information. These demands for rapid adaptation tax the information processing speed ability of children who receive cochlear implants. This study investigated the association of speed of information processing ability with spoken language outcomes after cochlear implantation in prelingually deaf children aged 4-6 years. Two domain-general (visual, non-linguistic) speed of information processing measures were administered to 21 preschool-aged children with cochlear implants and 23 normal-hearing peers. Measures of speech recognition, language (vocabulary and comprehension), nonverbal intelligence, and executive functioning skills were also obtained from each participant. Speed of information processing was positively associated with speech recognition and language skills in preschool-aged children with cochlear implants but not in normal-hearing peers. This association remained significant after controlling for hearing group, age, nonverbal intelligence, and executive functioning skills. These findings are consistent with models suggesting that domain-general, fast-efficient information processing speed underlies adaptation to speech perception and language learning following implantation. Assessment and intervention strategies targeting speed of information processing may provide better understanding and development of speech-language skills after cochlear implantation., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Psychomotor disturbances are observed across psychiatric disorders and often manifest as psychomotor slowing, agitation, disorganized behavior, or catatonia. Psychomotor function includes both cognitive and motor components, but the neural circuits driving these subprocesses and how they relate to symptoms have remained elusive for centuries., Methods: We analyzed data from the HCP-EP (Human Connectome Project for Early Psychosis), a multisite study of 125 participants with early psychosis and 58 healthy participants with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and clinical characterization. Psychomotor function was assessed using the 9-hole pegboard task, a timed motor task that engages mechanical and psychomotor components of action, and tasks assessing processing speed and task switching. We used multivariate pattern analysis of whole-connectome data to identify brain correlates of psychomotor function., Results: We identified discrete brain circuits driving the cognitive and motor components of psychomotor function. In our combined sample of participants with psychosis (n = 89) and healthy control participants (n = 52), the strongest correlates of psychomotor function (pegboard performance) (p < .005) were between a midline cerebellar region and left frontal region and presupplementary motor area. Psychomotor function was correlated with both cerebellar-frontal connectivity (r = 0.33) and cerebellar-presupplementary motor area connectivity (r = 0.27). However, the cognitive component of psychomotor performance (task switching) was correlated only with cerebellar-frontal connectivity (r = 0.19), whereas the motor component (processing speed) was correlated only with cerebellar-presupplementary motor area connectivity (r = 0.15), suggesting distinct circuits driving unique subprocesses of psychomotor function., Conclusions: We identified cerebellar-cortical circuits that drive distinct subprocesses of psychomotor function. Future studies should probe relationships between cerebellar connectivity and psychomotor performance using neuromodulation., (Copyright © 2024 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Patients with glioblastomas (GBMs) have poor prognosis despite various treatments; therefore, attention should be paid to maintaining the quality of survival. Neurocognitive deficits can affect the quality of life (QOL) in patients with GBM. Most studies concerning QOL and neurocognitive functions have demonstrated a relationship between QOL and self-reported neurocognitive decline, although this method does not accurately reflect damaged functional domains. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the neurocognitive functions that influence the QOL in patients with GBMs using an objective assessment of neurocognitive functions., Methods: Data from 40 patients newly diagnosed with GBMs were analyzed. All patients completed the assessment of QOL and various neurological and neurocognitive functions including general cognitive function, processing speed, attention, memory, emotion recognition, social cognition, visuospatial cognition, verbal fluency, language, motor function, sensation, and visual field at 6 months postoperatively. QOL was assessed using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). In the SF-36, the physical, mental, and role and social component summary (PCS, MCS, and RCS, respectively) scores were calculated. Multiple logistic regression analyses and chi-square tests were used to evaluate the association between SF-36 scores and neurocognitive functions., Results: The MCS was maintained, while the PCS and RCS scores were significantly lower in patients with GBMs than in healthy controls (p = 0.0040 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Among several neurocognitive functions, motor function and processing speed were significantly correlated with PCS and RCS scores, respectively (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.030, respectively). Patients who maintained their RCS or PCS scores had a higher probability of preserving motor function or processing speed than those with low RCS or PCS scores (p = 0.0026)., Conclusions: Motor function and processing speed may be predictors of QOL in patients with GBMs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often results in cognitive deficits. Processing speed (PS) deficits are common, exerting a significant impact on daily life. Few studies have examined the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation specifically for PS deficits in moderate to severe TBI., Objective: Examine the efficacy of Speed of Processing Training (SOPT) in moderate to severe TBI. This protocol is a 10-session behavioral intervention for PS deficits that has been successfully used with other cognitively impaired populations., Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial included 46 participants with moderate to severe TBI, 22 randomly assigned to the treatment group and 24 to the placebo-control group. Baseline and follow-up measures included a task similar to the training task (UFOV), measures of near transfer (neuropsychological measures of processing speed: Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (WAIS-IV) Symbol Search, WAIS-IV Coding) and measures of far transfer [neuropsychological measures of learning and memory: the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), Memory Assessment Scales - Prose Memory (MAS-PM)]., Results: Significant improvement from pre-to post-SOPT was observed on all subtests of the UFOV, which is similar to the training task. There was no significant difference on neuropsychological measures of PS or new learning and memory post-treatment. Neuropsychological assessment 6-months post-treatment showed no significant change in PS ability over time. Monthly booster sessions did not impact performance at the 6-month follow-up., Conclusion: Consistent with the SOPT literature, SOPT improves PS ability as measured by the UFOV, a task similar to the training task, in moderate to severe TBI. However, neither near nor far transfer was noted. That is, no improvement was noted on neuropsychological measures of PS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Chiaravalloti, Costa, Armknecht, Costanza, Wallace, Moore and DeLuca.)

The cerebellum is traditionally associated with the control of coordinated movement, but ample evidence suggests that the cerebellum also supports cognitive processing. Consistent with this, right-lateralized posterolateral cerebellar regions are engaged during a range of reading and reading-related tasks, but the specific role of the cerebellum during reading tasks is not clear. Based on the cerebellar contribution to automatizing movement, it has been hypothesized that the cerebellum is specifically involved in rapid, fluent reading. We aimed to determine whether the right posterolateral cerebellum is a specific modulator of reading fluency or whether cerebellar modulation is broader, also impacting reading accuracy, rapid automatized naming, and general processing speed. To do this, we examined the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting the right posterolateral cerebellum (lobules VI/VII) on single-word reading fluency, reading accuracy, rapid automatized naming, and processing speed. Young adults with typical reading development ( n = 25; 15 female sex assigned at birth, 10 male sex assigned at birth, aged 18-28 years [ M = 19.92 ± 2.04 years]) completed the reading and cognitive measures after 20 min of 2 mA anodal (excitatory), cathodal (inhibitory), or sham tDCS in a within-subjects design. Linear mixed effects models indicated that cathodal tDCS decreased single-word reading fluency scores ( d = -0.36, p < 0.05) but did not significantly affect single-word reading accuracy, rapid automatized naming, or general processing speed measures. Our results suggest that the right posterolateral cerebellum is involved in reading fluency, consistent with a broader role of the cerebellum in fast, fluent cognition., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: See Competing Interests. The authors declare the following, which may be considered a potential competing interest: Lauren M. McGrath receives royalties from the textbook Diagnosing Learning Disorders: From Science Into Practice (3rd edition) from Guilford Press., (© 2023 Massachusetts Institute of Technology.)

Core constructs such as working memory, task switching, and processing speed in cognitive psychology research have prominent predictive roles in K12 students' academic performance. Specifically, considerable empirical work shows that variability in such capabilities is linked to differences in numerous academic outcomes. Moreover, there is an increasing awareness and acceptance of the malleability of cognitive abilities. Thus, an emerging strand of research focuses on the use of computerized cognitive training to improve cognitive skills. This project addresses this issue with high-risk students attending community day schools. An in-school cognitive training program implemented (for 30 min per day) at each school site resulted in improvements for working memory, task switching, and processing speed after six total hours of participation. The current results provide evidence for the changeability of what were once thought to be static skills. Equally important, this study highlights the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training and critically extends intervention-based work to a student group that has received little attention. Implications of this work for cognitive research and educational support programs are discussed.

Purpose: Long COVID brain fog is often disabling. Yet, no empirically-supported treatments exist. This study's objectives were to evaluate feasibility and efficacy, provisionally, of a new rehabilitation approach, Constraint-Induced Cognitive Therapy (CICT), for post-COVID-19 cognitive sequelae., Design: Sixteen community-residents ≥ 3-months post-COVID-19 infection with mild cognitive impairment and dysfunction in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) were enrolled. Participants were randomized to Immediate-CICT or treatment-as-usual (TAU) with crossover to CICT. CICT combined behavior change techniques modified from Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy with Speed of Processing Training, a computerized cognitive-training program. CICT was deemed feasible if (a) ≥80% of participants completed treatment, (b) the same found treatment highly satisfying and at most moderately difficult, and (c) <2 study-related, serious adverse-events occurred. The primary outcome was IADL performance in daily life (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure). Employment status and brain fog (Mental Clutter Scale) were also assessed., Results: Fourteen completed Immediate-CICT ( n =7) or TAU ( n =7); two withdrew from TAU before their second testing session. Completers were [ M (S D )]: 10 (7) months post-COVID; 51 (13) years old; 10 females, 4 males; 1 African American, 13 European American. All the feasibility benchmarks were met. Immediate-CICT, relative to TAU, produced very large improvements in IADL performance ( M =3.7 points, p<.001, d =2.6) and brain fog ( M =-4 points, p<.001, d =-2.9). Four of five non-retired Immediate-CICT participants returned-to-work post-treatment; no TAU participants did, p =.048., Conclusions: CICT has promise for reducing brain fog, improving IADL, and promoting returning-to-work in adults with Long COVID. Findings warrant a large-scale RCT with an active-comparison group.

Sleep loss due to short time off between shifts has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to impaired functioning in occupational settings. This laboratory crossover trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05162105, N  = 66) compared subjective sleepiness, mood, and cognitive performance on a day shift after an evening shift with only 8 h off between shifts (quick return, QR) to a day shift after another day shift with 16 h off between shifts (control). Results indicated higher subjective sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) during the QR condition compared to the control condition ( p  < 0.001). No significant differences were found on mood (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) and cognitive performance (Psychomotor Vigilance- and Digit Symbol Substitution Test) between the conditions. Findings of increased subjective sleepiness corroborate previous field studies. This trial is to our knowledge the first to compare mood and cognitive performance after a QR to a longer shift transition using an experimental design. Future research should explore the effects of accumulated sleep loss associated with QRs (e.g. having several QRs within a short time period) on behavioral outcomes.

When performing multiple successive visual searches, low-prevalence targets are at elevated risk of being missed. This has important implications for real-world visual search tasks, such as diagnostic medical imaging (e.g., searching for a cancer) and airport baggage security screening (e.g., searching for a weapon), which are characterized by low-prevalence targets and potentially dire consequences of target misses. Previous work on low-prevalence visual search indicates that individuals who spontaneously respond more slowly miss fewer targets, which has been attributed to higher quitting thresholds predicting better performance. Previous aging research indicates that older adults typically respond more slowly across multiple task contexts. This has been attributed to both intrinsic limitations in processing speed and a strategic trade-off to prioritize accuracy with increasing age. Synthesizing these two separate lines of research, here we tested whether older adults had a higher quitting threshold and/or slower processing speed in low-prevalence visual search, and the consequences of these for the magnitude of the low-prevalence visual search detriment. We recruited a large sample (N = 380) across a range of ages (20-80 years) and had them search for targets under low- and high-prevalence conditions. Older adults had both slower processing speed and higher quitting thresholds. Older adults were moderately less susceptible to the low-prevalence detriment, and this relationship was mediated by countervailing effects: slower processing speed exacerbated older adults' low-prevalence detriment, whereas elevated quitting threshold mitigated it. Theoretical implications for cognitive aging and practical implications for professional visual search tasks are discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The present study investigated how phonological awareness and rapid automatized naming (hereafter, RAN), simultaneously contributed to Chinese reading and arithmetic fluency. Specifically, we proposed a new hypothesized mechanism that processing speed would mediate the relations of RAN with Chinese reading and arithmetic fluency. One hundred and forty-five Chinese children at the fifth grade were administered with a battery of measures, including three phonological processing measures, character reading, and whole number computation, as well as nonverbal IQ, and vocabulary knowledge. Path analyses revealed that phonological awareness and RAN were uniquely related to character reading and arithmetic fluency, while phonological memory was not significantly correlated to either character reading or arithmetic fluency, after controlling for age, nonverbal IQ, and vocabulary knowledge. Further analysis indicated that processing speed demonstrated a mediating effect on the importance of RAN in character reading, rather than in arithmetic fluency. Results underscore the potential importance of phonological awareness and RAN in character reading and arithmetic fluency, and the mediating role of processing speed in RAN to promote Chinese character reading fluency., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Marta Olivetti Belardinelli.)

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the different impacts of temporal processing on reading by Chinese children with and without dyslexia. In total, 27 children with dyslexia who had a deficit in rapid automatized naming (RAN) (D&#95;R), 37 children with dyslexia who had deficits in both RAN and phonological awareness (PA) (D&#95;RP), and 40 typically developing children (TD) were recruited in Taiwan. The children were asked to complete non-verbal intelligence, PA, RAN, Chinese character reading tasks and an auditory temporal order judgement (ATOJ) task. Our results of a multiple regression model showed that the ATOJ accounted for unique variances in the reading differences between the children in the D&#95;R and TD groups; performance was controlled for non-verbal intelligence, PA and RAN tasks. Theoretically, we provide possible explanations for the controversial findings in the field of Chinese children with dyslexia and, practically, suggest different interventions should be provided for children with dyslexia with different underlying impairments., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The ability to remotely monitor cognitive skills is increasing with the ubiquity of smartphones. The Mobile Toolbox (MTB) is a new measurement system that includes measures assessing Executive Functioning (EF) and Processing Speed (PS): Arrow Matching, Shape-Color Sorting, and Number-Symbol Match. The purpose of this study was to assess their psychometric properties., Method: MTB measures were developed for smartphone administration based on constructs measured in the NIH Toolbox® (NIHTB). Psychometric properties of the resulting measures were evaluated in three studies with participants ages 18 to 90. In Study 1 ( N = 92), participants completed MTB measures in the lab and were administered both equivalent NIH TB measures and other external measures of similar cognitive constructs. In Study 2 ( N = 1,021), participants completed the equivalent NIHTB measures in the lab and then took the MTB measures on their own, remotely. In Study 3 ( N = 168), participants completed MTB measures twice remotely, two weeks apart., Results: All three measures exhibited very high internal consistency and strong test-retest reliability, as well as moderately high correlations with comparable NIHTB tests and moderate correlations with external measures of similar constructs. Phone operating system (iOS vs. Android) had a significant impact on performance for Arrow Matching and Shape-Color Sorting, but no impact on either validity or reliability., Conclusions: Results support the reliability and convergent validity of MTB EF and PS measures for use across the adult lifespan in remote, self-administered designs.

Individuals exhibit massive variability in general cognitive skills that affect language processing. This variability is partly developmental. Here, we recruited a large sample of participants (N = 487), ranging from 9 to 90 years of age, and examined the involvement of nonverbal processing speed (assessed using visual and auditory reaction time tasks) and working memory (assessed using forward and backward Digit Span tasks) in a visual world task. Participants saw two objects on the screen and heard a sentence that referred to one of them. In half of the sentences, the target object could be predicted based on verb-selectional restrictions. We observed evidence for anticipatory processing on predictable compared to non-predictable trials. Visual and auditory processing speed had main effects on sentence comprehension and facilitated predictive processing, as evidenced by an interaction. We observed only weak evidence for the involvement of working memory in predictive sentence comprehension. Age had a nonlinear main effect (younger adults responded faster than children and older adults), but it did not differentially modulate predictive and non-predictive processing, nor did it modulate the involvement of processing speed and working memory. Our results contribute to delineating the cognitive skills that are involved in language-vision interactions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The Konectom™ smartphone-based cognitive processing speed (CPS) test is designed to assess processing speed and account for impact of visuomotor function on performance., Objective: Evaluate reliability and validity of Konectom CPS Test, performed in clinic and remotely., Methods: Data were collected from people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) aged 18-64 years and healthy control participants (HC) matched for age, sex, and education. Remote test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC); correlation with established clinical measures (Spearman correlation coefficients); group analyses between cognitively impaired/unimpaired PwMS; and influence of age, sex, education, and upper limb motor function on CPS Test measures were assessed., Results: Eighty PwMS and 66 HC participated. CPS Test measures from remote tests had good test-retest reliability (ICC of 0.67-0.87) and correlated with symbol digit modalities test (highest |ρ| = 0.80, p < 0.0001). Remote measures were stable (change from baseline < 5%) and correlated with MS disability (highest |ρ| = 0.39, p = 0.0004) measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale. CPS Test measures displayed sensitivity to cognitive impairment (highest d = 1.47). Demographics and motor function had the lowest impact on CPS Test substitution time, a measure accounting for visuomotor function., Conclusion: Konectom CPS Test measures provide valid, reliable remote measurements of cognitive processing speed in PwMS., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: MS, MR, ZS: employees of and may hold stock in Biogen. LZ, MT, EB, NC, PAC, AJ: former employees of and may hold stock in Biogen. BB: honoraria for advisory boards for Biogen, Genzyme, Merck-Serono, Novartis, and Roche; his institution (Groupe Hospitalier Pellegrin) received support for clinical trials and research activities from Actelion, Bayer HealthCare, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck-Serono, MedDay, Novartis, Roche, and Teva. LC: study funding from Biogen. AR: scientific advisory boards of Biogen and Merck; travel or speaker honoraria from Alexion, Biogen, Merck, Novartis, Roche, and Sanofi-Genzyme; institution received research support from Biogen, Roche, and Sanofi-Genzyme. The remaining authors had nothing to disclose.