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Objective: Migraine refers to recurrent, unilateral headache attacks, lasting 4-72 hours, that have a pulsating quality. A meta-analysis was conducted comparing cognition on clinical measures between individuals with migraine and healthy controls. Data Selection: We searched the University of South Alabama Libraries’ OneSearch and PubMed using a uniform search-strategy to locate original research comparing cognition between migraine and control samples. Analyses were modeled under random effects. Hedge’s g was used as a bias-corrected estimate of effect size. We assessed between-study heterogeneity using Cochran’s Q and I2. Data Synthesis: The initial search interval spanned inception–May 2021 and yielded 6692 results. Fifty-two studies were analyzed (migraine n=5324, control n=16540). Meta-analysis showed a significant combined effect size of migraine across all studies (g=-0.37, p Conclusions: Individuals with migraine consistently demonstrated lower performances on neuropsychological tests compared to controls. Effect sizes were generally small in strength, with largest effects in Executive Functioning, Processing Speed, and Screeners. This quantitative summary indicates that, through use of neuropsychological tests, individuals with migraine experience difficulties in multiple aspects of cognition.

Objective: The BDEFS was compared to objective executive functioning (EF) measures as well as five-factor model (FFM) personality traits. Methods: One hundred sixty-five participants (M=19 years old, SD=1.3; 72.7% female, 55.2% White, 35.2% African American, 4.8% Asian) completed IPIP-NEO Personality Inventory, BDEFS-Long Form, Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (NAB) EF module, and Trail-Making Test (TMT) Parts A and B. Results: EF measures were reduced to a single-factor score using EFA (TMT A and B; NAB Mazes, Categories, and Word Generation subtests) accounting for 34% of the variance. Regression predicting BDEFS total score from the EF factor score was not significant [F(1,163)=.182; p =.67, r2=.001]. Stepwise multiple regression predicting BDEFS total score from FFM traits identified three significant predictors (neuroticism: β=.390, extraversion: β=.239, and conscientiousness: β=-.572) that accounted for 54% of the variance [F(5,159)=36.78; p Conclusions: Performance-based EF measures were not related to BDEFS total score supporting that different constructs are being measured. Personality traits accounted for a majority of variance in BDEFS performance but minimal variance for performance-based EF performance. These results suggest that personality traits are strongly related to an individual’s appraisal of executive dysfunction.

Objective This study aimed to examine the effect of personality traits on a simple problem-solving test of intelligence. Method The sample consisted of 82 undergraduates. Participants completed an online battery that included an open source Five Factor Model measure (IPIP FFM), Grit scale, Need for Cognition (NFC) scale, and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT). CRT is a simple 3 question test of intelligence. An interaction variable for positive effort was created by multiplying the total raw scores for the Grit and NFC scales (Grit x NFC). Correlations were conducted between the Grit x NFC, IPIP FFM, and the CRT total score. Scales that significantly correlated with CRT total score were entered into a regression model. Results Pearson correlations revealed a significant positive association between Grit x NFC and CRT performance, (r = 0.240, p Conclusion These findings suggest that personality traits that reflect positive effort such as Grit and NFC as well as other personality features influence performance on problem-solving bases measures of intelligence. Future research should examine these findings in a larger sample with a broader array of cognitive measures to quantify the role of positive effort in cognitive performance.

Objective This study examined item performance on Trial 1 of the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM). We also identified items that were most often missed in individuals with genuine effort. Method Participants were 106 adults seen for disability claims (87.7% male; 70.5% Caucasian, 26.7% Black; age range 22–84 years, Mage = 44.42 years, SD = 13.07; Meducation = 13.58, SD = 2.05) who completed and passed the TOMM as part of a larger battery. Mean score Trial 1 was 43.08, SD = 5.49. Mean score on Trial 2 was 48.98, SD = 1.54. Results Frequency analysis indicated that >95% of the sample correctly identified six items on Trial 1: item 1-spinning wheel (97.2%), item 8-musical notes (99.1%), item 38-ice cream (98.1%), item 41-life preserver (95.3%), item 45-iron (95.3%), and item 47-dart (98.1%). Nine items were correctly identified on Trial 1 by Conclusions These findings suggest that items on Trial 1 of the TOMM differ in difficulty in a disability claims sample who performed genuinely on the TOMM. Items 1, 8, 38, 41, 45, and 47 are good candidates for a rarely missed index where failure of these items would be probabilistically unlikely. Future research should evaluate whether these items are failed at higher rates in cases of borderline TOMM performance to improve sensitivity to feigning.

Objective Primary dystonia is conventionally seen as a motor disorder, though growing literature indicates cognitive dysfunction among persons with primary dystonia (PWD). Here, we completed a meta-analysis comparing cognition on clinical measures between PWD and normal controls. Method We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and PsycINFO using a uniform search-strategy to locate original research comparing cognition between PWD and control samples. All analyses were modeled under random-effects. We used Hedge’s g as a bias-corrected estimate of effect size. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I2. Results The initial search strategy yielded 866 results. Twenty studies were analyzed (PWD n = 739, control n = 865; 254 effect sizes extracted). Meta-analysis showed a significant combined effect size of primary dystonia across all studies (g = −0.55, p Conclusions PWD consistently demonstrated lower performances on neuropsychological tests compared to controls. Effect sizes were generally moderate in strength, with smallest effects in Simple/Complex Attention, and largest in Motor/Non-Motor Speed. Within the Speed domain, results suggested cognitive slowing beyond effects from motor symptoms. This quantitative summary indicates that PWD experience difficulties in multiple aspects of cognition, as detected by neuropsychological tests.

Objective This study evaluated the effect of individual differences in diurnal preferences on a problem-solving test of intelligence and a measure of a personality trait of how much someone enjoys thinking. Method Archival data from 85 participants who had completed measures online were utilized in this study. The sample was 51.8% female, 71.8% Caucasian, and mean age was 19.5. Participants completed the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Composite Morningness Questionnaire (CMQ), Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), and Need for Cognition Scale-Short Form (NFC). Raw score totals were utilized. Diurnal preferences were later grouped for morning, evening, or in between based on published MEQ and CMQ cutoffs. Lower scores indicate evening types, and higher scores indicate morning types. Results Scores on measures of diurnal preference were significantly positively related to NFC (MEQ r = 0.28, p = 0.011; CMQ r = 0.36, p = 0.001) meaning that morning types tend to enjoy effortful mentation more. Diurnal preferences were not significantly related to CRT performance. One-way ANOVA was performed with diurnal preferences as the group factor and NFC and CRT as dependent variables. Significant main effects were not found for MEQ and NFC nor MEQ and CRT. Significant main effects were found for CMQ and NFC F(2,77) = 5.33, p = 0.007, but not for CMQ and CRT. Conclusion These findings indicate that diurnal preference was not associated with performance on the problem-solving intelligence test used in this study. However, morning types appear to be higher for personality traits related to motivation to engage in thinking and would be expected to do better on some cognitive tests that demand more test engagement.

Objective/Background The present study investigated the feasibility of developing a PTSD-specific malingering scale embedded within the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Methods Participants consisted of 489 individuals [mean age = 20.0 (SD = 3.29); 71% female; 73.0% Caucasian, 17.6% African American, 3.5%, 9.4% Other] who completed PAI. 274 individuals were in the control group and instructed to answer normally while 215 were instructed to simulate PTSD with intent to successfully feign PTSD in the context of a legal case. The following were identified as candidate PAI subscales for logistic regression to identify feigned PTSD: ARD-T, BOR-A, SCZ-T, ANX-P, and DEP-P. Results Logistic regression analysis was performed with known group as the dependent variable and PAI subtest normed T-scores as predictor variables. The final full model of five predictor variables significantly predicted group status (χ2 = 384.9, df = 5, N = 489, p Conclusions Preliminary evidence for use of an embedded PAI malingering scale within the PAI was found. Further replication is needed in clinical populations prior to use in practice.