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Prior research has revealed distinctive patterns of impaired language abilities across the three variants of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA): nonfluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA), logopenic (lvPPA) and semantic (svPPA). However, little is known about whether, and to what extent, non-verbal cognitive abilities, such as processing speed, are impacted in PPA patients. This is because neuropsychological tests typically contain linguistic stimuli and require spoken output, being therefore sensitive to verbal deficits in aphasic patients. The aim of this study is to investigate potential differences in processing speed between PPA patients and healthy controls, and among the three PPA variants, using a brief non-verbal tablet-based task (Match) modeled after the WAIS-III digit symbol coding test, and to determine its neural correlates. Here, we compared performance on the Match task between PPA patients (n = 61) and healthy controls (n = 59) and across the three PPA variants. We correlated performance on Match with voxelwise gray and white matter volumes. We found that lvPPA and nfvPPA patients performed significantly worse on Match than healthy controls and svPPA patients. Worse performance on Match across PPA patients was associated with reduced gray matter volume in specific parts of the left middle frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, and precuneus, and reduced white matter volume in the left parietal lobe. To conclude, our behavioral findings reveal that processing speed is differentially impacted across the three PPA variants and provide support for the potential clinical utility of a tabled-based task (Match) to assess non-verbal cognition. In addition, our neuroimaging findings confirm the importance of a set of fronto-parietal regions that previous research has associated with processing speed and executive control. Finally, our behavioral and neuroimaging findings combined indicate that differences in processing speed are largely explained by the unequal distribution of atrophy in these fronto-parietal regions across the three PPA variants.

BackgroundPlasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration with potential clinical utility in monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the cross-sectional associations of plasma NfL with measures of cognition and brain have been inconsistent in community-dwelling populations.MethodsWe examined these associations in a large community-dwelling sample of early old age men (N = 969, mean age = 67.57 years, range = 61-73 years), who are either cognitively unimpaired (CU) or with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specifically, we investigated five cognitive domains (executive function, episodic memory, verbal fluency, processing speed, visual-spatial ability), as well as neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, health status, and young adult general cognitive ability, plasma NfL level was only significantly associated with processing speed and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, but not with other cognitive or neuroimaging measures. The association with processing speed was driven by individuals with MCI, as it was not detected in CU individuals.ConclusionsThese results suggest that in early old age men without dementia, plasma NfL does not appear to be sensitive to cross-sectional individual differences in most domains of cognition or neuroimaging measures of gray and white matter. The revealed plasma NfL associations were limited to WMH for all participants and processing speed only within the MCI cohort. Importantly, considering cognitive status in community-based samples will better inform the interpretation of the relationships of plasma NfL with cognition and brain and may help resolve mixed findings in the literature.

BACKGROUND: Between 29% and 67% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients have cognitive alterations. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Mexico using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis. METHODS: We evaluated 40 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients and 40 healthy controls from Mexico. RESULTS: 28 (70.0%) patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder had cognitive impairment in two or more cognitive domains. Student´s T test showed statistically poor performance by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients compared to healthy controls on all three neuropsychological test scores. This significant difference was observed on the Symbols Digit Modalities Test (t = 8.875; p ≤ 0.001); California Verbal Learning Test-II memory (t = 10.418; p ≤ 0.001); and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Revised (t = 6.123; p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that 70% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients exhibited cognitive impairment in two or more cognitive domains. Determining the frequency of cognitive impairment will guide the decision of Neuropsychologists in planning cognitive rehabilitation across various domains.

The slope of the function relating response times to the number of stimuli in a visual-search display is commonly considered a measure of search speed and is extensively used to test theories of visual cognition. Unfortunately, this important measure is confounded in multiple ways so that many classical findings in the literature must be called into question. As a way out of this predicament, we here develop a new technique to measure search speed (data collected in 2022 and 2023): Instead of manipulating the number of stimuli that need to be searched via a set-size manipulation, we achieve the intended purpose by placing the search target at different spatial positions with respect to an a-priori-known search order. Reliably inducing such a search order is the main achievement of the present study, but we also report several additional data patterns that might turn out instrumental for future research on visual attention. Public Significance Statement: We have developed and validated a new approach to measure the speed at which people can search through a set of visual stimuli. This method will be of use to study visual search and to estimate the difficulty of visually processing certain types of objects, and hopefully, it will replace the traditional, but invalid, approach of measuring search speed by manipulating the number of stimuli in the search array. Our method might eventually also become useful for diagnostical purposes in clinical, educational, or occupational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid automatised naming (RAN) has been found to predict children's reading and arithmetic abilities. However, the underlying mechanisms for its involvement in the two abilities are not clear. This study examines how RAN shared variances with domain‐general and domain‐specific abilities in predicting reading and arithmetic in Chinese children. Methods: One hundred and sixty‐four children (mean age = 8 years 0 months, SD = 4 months) were administered with RAN tasks, word reading and arithmetic tasks and measures of working memory, processing speed, morphological awareness, phonological awareness and number line estimation. Results: RAN mainly shared variance with morphological awareness in predicting word reading, while it shared variance with processing speed and number line estimation in predicting arithmetic calculation. Conclusions: The findings indicated that RAN was related to reading and arithmetic for different reasons. The RAN–reading relationship partly reflected the semantic facilitation of the orthography–phonology links for both RAN stimuli and Chinese characters, while the RAN–arithmetic relationship partly reflected the shared process of retrieving semantic information from long‐term memory embedded in the two tasks. Highlights: What is already known about this topicRapid automatised naming (RAN) is a strong predictor of both reading and arithmetic abilities in children.Some of the abilities were found to overlap with the prediction of RAN on reading and arithmetic.The RAN–reading relationship and the RAN–arithmetic relationship are different. What this paper addsMorphological awareness was found to share significant variance with RAN in predicting word reading.Processing speed and number line estimation were found to share significant variance with RAN in predicting arithmetic calculation.The results indicated different underlying mechanisms for the RAN–reading and RAN–arithmetic relations. Implications for theory, policy or practiceDifferent mechanisms underlie the RAN–reading and RAN–arithmetic relationships in Chinese children.The RAN–reading relationship in Chinese children was partly due to the facilitative effect of semantic information on the orthography–phonology mapping.The RAN–arithmetic relationship in Chinese children may be due to the retrieval efficiency of the semantic‐laden information from long‐term memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the association between physical activity level, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal strength, and driving outcomes in a driving simulator, while accounting for cognitive processing speed. Sixty-nine young drivers completed simulated driving scenarios of varying complexity. They also completed selfreport measures of physical activity, and their processing speed, musculoskeletal strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed using standardized measures. Participants who were more physically active reacted significantly faster to a braking task while driving on a straight road. The group of participants that was deemed more physically fit based on an indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness were found to crash less often. Low fit participants also presented significantly higher odds of having a crash. Participants with lower grip strength also showed a lower odd of crashing This study supports the notion that physical fitness, particularly cardiorespiratory fitness and strength, is crucial for swift behavioral responses under pressure while driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Methods Results Conclusion 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.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.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.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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determines the effectiveness of a non-digital picture concept programme to treat cognitive deficits in pupils with dyslexia. Using a sample of 38 primary two pupils (aged 7-9 years) in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, a Picture Concept Activity and the traditional method of repetitive passage drill were administered for eight weeks and results were compared. Standard cognitive and reading measures were used and data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results show that the experimental participants performed higher than the control group on the overall reading and cognitive proficiency performances. Improved cognitive proficiency was associated with improved reading tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveMethodResultsConclusionsThis study investigated the relationship between processing speed impairment severity and performance on the Rey 15-Item Test (RFIT) and RFIT + Recognition.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.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).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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 followup 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 (CVLTII), 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 posttreatment 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Military service members (SMs) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI or concussion) frequently report cognitive and behavioral difficulties. Currently, military clinical guidelines recommend clinician-run, manualized cognitive rehabilitation (CR) to treat these symptoms; however, it is unclear whether this approach adequately addresses the unique needs of warfighters. Computerized cognitive training (CCT) programs represent an innovative, promising approach to treating cognitive difficulties; however, whether these programs can effectively remediate cognitive impairment in individuals with mTBI remains unclear. Materials and Methods A total of 65 SMs with a history of at least 1 diagnosed mTBI were recruited from a military hospital. Participants received 1 of 2 interventions: Clinician-run, manualized CR (Study of Cognitive Rehabilitation Effectiveness [SCORE]; n  = 37), consisting of 60 total intervention hours over 6 weeks, or CCT (n  = 28), in which participants trained with either a commercial CCT (n  = 14) or noncommercial CCT (n  = 14), for a total of 12 hours over 4 weeks. Participants were assessed pre- and postintervention, using a combination of self-report and objective outcome measures: Key Behaviors Change Inventory (KBCI), a self-report measure of functional difficulties; Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), an objective cognitive assessment that measures both information processing speed and sustained and divided attention; and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), an objective cognitive assessment that measures information processing speed. Results Mixed ANOVA revealed no interaction effect between intervention type and time (pre- and postassessment) on the PASAT (P  = .643, ηp2 = 0.003), SDMT (P  = .423, ηp2 = 0.010), or KBCI (P  = .434, ηp2 = 0.010); however, there was a significant within-group main effect (time) on all 3 outcome measures (PASAT P  < .001, ηp2 = 0.54; SDMT P  < .001, ηp2 = 0.25; and KBCI P  = .001, ηp2 = 0.15). On average, participants showed improvement over baseline on the PASAT (SCORE delta = 6.98, SD = 7.25, P  < .001; CCT delta = 7.79, SD = 6.45, P  < .001), SDMT (SCORE delta = 4.62, SD = 8.82, P  = .003; CCT delta = 6.58, SD = 10.81, P  = .003), and KBCI (SCORE delta = −3.22, SD = 7.09, P  = .009; CCT delta = −2.00, SD = 4.72, P  = .033). Additional analysis comparing the relative effectiveness of the 2 different CCTs revealed that while training with either program resulted in improved performance on the PASAT (P  < .001, ηp2 = 0.627), SDMT (P  = .003, ηp2 = 0.286), and KBCI (P  = .036, ηp2 = 0.158), there was no interaction effect of CCT program type and change over time for any measure (PASAT P  = .102, ηp2 = 1.00; SDMT P  = .317, ηp2 = 0.038; and KBCI P  = .719, ηp2 = 0.005). Conclusions We showed that CCT programs do not differ in efficacy compared to clinician-run, manualized CR for treating symptoms associated with mTBI; however, exploratory analyses suggest that each approach may have distinct advantages for treating specific symptoms. Additionally, we showed that the improvement in the CCT intervention did not differ between those who trained using the commercial program vs. those who trained with the noncommercial program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hispanics/Latinos are the largest racial/ethnic group among underrepresented populations in the U.S. and multiple sociodemographic, cultural, and linguistic factors have been found to impact their performances on cognitive testing. Despite this, few normative data are available for the heterogeneous Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. OBJECTIVE: To generate normative data on the Trail-Making Test (TMT), Bells Test, Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and the Brief Test of Attention (BTA) for Spanish speakers residing in the U.S. METHODS: The sample included 245 Spanish-speaking individuals aged 18– 80 from eight states across the U.S. (California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, and Wisconsin). Participants were administered attention and processing speed measures as part of a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. We used a Bayesian regression approach to estimate normative data, including covariates found to be important for predicting performances on measures of attention and processing speed. RESULTS: Sociodemographic factors including education, time in the U.S., acculturation, age, and/or sex had differential effects on the TMT-A, TMT-B, SDMT, and the BTA whereas the Bells Test was not influenced by any of these sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that while sex, age, and educational attainment are important factors to consider, language and acculturation can also influence attention and processing speed performances among Spanish speakers in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current research is to explore the impact of cognitive reserve (CR) and disease duration on the cognitive performance in multiple sclerosis patients. The research sample included (40) MS outpatients were recruited, their average age was (32.13), with a standard deviation of 8.41 years, same as females (62.5%). CR was assessed by the vocabulary test and level of education. Cognitive assessment was performed using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - fourth edition (WAIS-IV) as a neuropsychological instrument tool to evaluate Verbal Comprehension Index, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed. The results showed low performance in intelligence among (87.50%) of the sample, and the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction associated with multiple sclerosis was characterized by poor performance on the indicators of working memory and processing speed, as they occupied the highest level of prevalence rates (81.25%), followed by the Perceptual Reasoning Index (75%), then the Verbal Comprehension Index (68.75%). Cognitive impairment (CI) was found in all performance indicators in approximately (43.75%) of patients, and in three indicators in more than a third of patients (37.50%). Furthermore, 12.5% of patients had low performance on at least one or two indicators. Both the total disease duration and the CR factor - specifically measured by level of education - contributed to explaining the score on the Neuropsychological Performance Indicators in MS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We evaluated whether plasma Alzheimer disease (AD)–related biomarkers were associated with cancer-related cognitive decline among older breast cancer survivors. Methods We included survivors aged 60-90 years with primary stage 0-III breast cancers (n = 236) and frequency-matched noncancer control paricipant (n = 154) who passed a cognitive screen and had banked plasma specimens. Participants were assessed at baseline (presystemic therapy) and annually for up to 60 months. Cognition was measured using tests of attention, processing speed, and executive function and learning and memory; perceived cognition was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function v3 Perceived Cognitive Impairments. Baseline plasma neurofilament light, glial fibrillary acidic protein, β-amyloid 42 and 40 and phosphorylated tau 181 were assayed using single molecule arrays. Mixed models tested associations between cognition and baseline AD biomarkers, time, group (survivor vs control participant), and their 2- and 3-way interactions, controlling for age, race, Wide Range 4 Achievement Test Word Reading score, comorbidity, and body mass index; 2-sided P values of.05 were considered statistically significant. Results There were no group differences in baseline AD-related biomarkers except survivors had higher baseline neurofilament light levels than control participants (P  = .013). Survivors had lower adjusted longitudinal attention, processing speed, and executive function than control participants starting from baseline and continuing over time (P  ≤ .002). However, baseline AD-related biomarker levels were not independently associated with adjusted cognition over time, except control participants had lower attention, processing speed, and executive function scores with higher glial fibrillary acidic protein levels (P  = .008). Conclusion The results do not support a relationship between baseline AD-related biomarkers and cancer-related cognitive decline. Further investigation is warranted to confirm the findings, test effects of longitudinal changes in AD-related biomarkers, and examine other mechanisms and factors affecting cognition presystemic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. 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. 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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. 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. 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. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Cognitive development after schizophrenia onset can be shaped by interventions such as cognitive remediation, yet no study to date has investigated whether patterns of early behavioral development may predict later cognitive changes following intervention. We therefore investigated the extent to which premorbid adjustment trajectories predict cognitive remediation gains in schizophrenia. METHODS: In a total sample of 215 participants (170 first-episode schizophrenia participants and 45 controls), we classified premorbid functioning trajectories from childhood through late adolescence using the Cannon-Spoor Premorbid Adjustment Scale. For the 62 schizophrenia participants who underwent 6 months of computer-assisted, bottom-up cognitive remediation interventions, we identified MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery scores for which participants demonstrated mean changes after intervention, then evaluated whether developmental trajectories predicted these changes. RESULTS: Growth mixture models supported three premorbid functioning trajectories: stable-good, deteriorating, and stable-poor adjustment. Schizophrenia participants demonstrated significant cognitive remediation gains in processing speed, verbal learning, and overall cognition. Notably, participants with stable-poor trajectories demonstrated significantly greater improvements in processing speed compared to participants with deteriorating trajectories. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to our knowledge to characterize the associations between premorbid functioning trajectories and cognitive remediation gains after schizophrenia onset, indicating that 6 months of bottom-up cognitive remediation appears to be sufficient to yield a full standard deviation gain in processing speed for individuals with early, enduring functioning difficulties. Our findings highlight the connection between trajectories of premorbid and postmorbid functioning in schizophrenia and emphasize the utility of considering the lifespan developmental course in personalizing therapeutic interventions.

IntroductionCardiovascular fat is a novel risk factor that may link to dementia. Fat volume and radiodensity are measurements of fat quantity and quality, respectively. Importantly, high fat radiodensity could indicate healthy or adverse metabolic processes.MethodsThe associations of cardiovascular fat (including epicardial, paracardial, and thoracic perivascular adipose tissue [PVAT]) quantity and quality assessed at mean age of 51 with subsequent cognitive performance measured repeatedly over 16 years of follow-up were examined using mixed models among 531 women.ResultsHigher thoracic PVAT volume was associated with a higher future episodic memory (β[standard error (SE)] = 0.08 [0.04], P = 0.033), while higher thoracic PVAT radiodensity with lower future episodic (β[SE] = -0.06 [0.03], P = 0.045) and working (β[SE] = -0.24 [0.08], P = 0.003) memories. The latter association is prominent at higher volume of thoracic PVAT.DiscussionMid-life thoracic PVAT may have a distinct contribution to future cognition possibly due to its distinct adipose tissue type (brown fat) and anatomical proximity to the brain circulation.HighlightsHigher mid-life thoracic perivascular adipose tissue (thoracic PVAT) volume is related to a better future episodic memory in women. Higher mid-life thoracic PVAT radiodensity is related to worse future working and episodic memories. Negative association of high thoracic PVAT radiodensity with working memory is prominent at higher thoracic PVAT volume. Mid-life thoracic PVAT is linked to future memory loss, an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Mid-life women's epicardial and paracardial fat are not related to future cognition.

Context: Age-related decline in memory function is a universal phenomenon. However, several factors are known to affect memory decline associated with aging. Aim: The present research aimed to study the differences between young adults and older adults in neurocognitive functions. It also aimed to examine the relative contribution of aging and executive functions to memory performance. Subjects and Methods: The sample consisted of two groups: 43 young adults and 40 older adults. Participants were selected from the community using purposive sampling. Each participant underwent screening using the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Modified Mini Screen, and Global Cognitive Screen. A detailed neuropsychological assessment was individually conducted using standardized measures of executive functions, processing speed, episodic memory, and semantic memory. We examined group differences between younger and older participants using the Mann Whitney U test. Additionally, we investigated the contributions of age, processing speed, and executive function to memory through stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Analysis of the results suggests significantly worse performance by older participants compared to younger participants on learning and memory (p

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill to be developed from the early stages of reading acquisition and it is essential for both formative and personal learning. This study examines eye-tracking as a useful and complementary tool in the assessment and improvement of implicit reading comprehension. The aim is to understand the role of eye-tracking in implicit reading comprehension and, complementarily, in intervening skills such as vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, and processing speed. In a final sample of 7–8 year-old 67 students, tests for implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total), eye-tracking measures, vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed, as well as tests to control for intellectual and attentional levels were administered. The results of the correlational and regression analyses indicate the existence of predictive relationships between (i) implicit reading comprehension and eye-tracking measures, and additionally, (ii) between intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed) and eye-tracking measures, and (iii) between implicit reading comprehension and intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed). In summary, better performance in implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total) is related to and explained by shorter eye movement times in recognition and access to meaning, larger vocabulary, and faster rapid automatized naming and processing speed. Furthermore, eye-tracking measures are better predictors of implicit reading comprehension. These findings provide promising evidence for the contribution of eye-tracking to optimising the level of implicit reading comprehension, which is applied daily in classrooms.

Abstract 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.

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading comprehension is a fundamental skill to be developed from the early stages of reading acquisition and it is essential for both formative and personal learning. This study examines eye-tracking as a useful and complementary tool in the assessment and improvement of implicit reading comprehension. The aim is to understand the role of eye-tracking in implicit reading comprehension and, complementarily, in intervening skills such as vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, and processing speed. In a final sample of 7–8 year-old 67 students, tests for implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total), eye-tracking measures, vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed, as well as tests to control for intellectual and attentional levels were administered. The results of the correlational and regression analyses indicate the existence of predictive relationships between (i) implicit reading comprehension and eye-tracking measures, and additionally, (ii) between intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed) and eye-tracking measures, and (iii) between implicit reading comprehension and intervening skills (vocabulary, rapid automatized naming, processing speed). In summary, better performance in implicit reading comprehension (literal, inferential, and total) is related to and explained by shorter eye movement times in recognition and access to meaning, larger vocabulary, and faster rapid automatized naming and processing speed. Furthermore, eye-tracking measures are better predictors of implicit reading comprehension. These findings provide promising evidence for the contribution of eye-tracking to optimising the level of implicit reading comprehension, which is applied daily in classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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_R), 37 children with dyslexia who had deficits in both RAN and phonological awareness (PA) (D_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_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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In emergency situations, ensuring standardized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) actions is crucial. However, current automated external defibrillators (AEDs) lack methods to determine whether CPR actions are performed correctly, leading to inconsistent CPR quality. To address this issue, we introduce a novel method called deep-learning-based CPR action standardization (DLCAS). This method involves three parts. First, it detects correct posture using OpenPose to recognize skeletal points. Second, it identifies a marker wristband with our CPR-Detection algorithm and measures compression depth, count, and frequency using a depth algorithm. Finally, we optimize the algorithm for edge devices to enhance real-time processing speed. Extensive experiments on our custom dataset have shown that the CPR-Detection algorithm achieves a mAP0.5 of 97.04%, while reducing parameters to 0.20 M and FLOPs to 132.15 K. In a complete CPR operation procedure, the depth measurement solution achieves an accuracy of 90% with a margin of error less than 1 cm, while the count and frequency measurements achieve 98% accuracy with a margin of error less than two counts. Our method meets the real-time requirements in medical scenarios, and the processing speed on edge devices has increased from 8 fps to 25 fps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to improve the performance of image recognition methods based on a description in the form of a set of keypoint descriptors. The main focus is on increasing the speed of establishing the relevance of object and etalon descriptions while maintaining the required level of classification efficiency. The class to be recognized is represented by an infinite set of images obtained from the etalon by applying arbitrary geometric transformations. It is proposed to reduce the descriptions for the etalon database by selecting the most significant descriptor components according to the information content criterion. The informativeness of an etalon descriptor is estimated by the difference of the closest distances to its own and other descriptions. The developed method determines the relevance of the full description of the recognized object with the reduced description of the etalons. Several practical models of the classifier with different options for establishing the correspondence between object descriptors and etalons are considered. The results of the experimental modeling of the proposed methods for a database including images of museum jewelry are presented. The test sample is formed as a set of images from the etalon database and out of the database with the application of geometric transformations of scale and rotation in the field of view. The practical problems of determining the threshold for the number of votes, based on which a classification decision is made, have been researched. Modeling has revealed the practical possibility of tenfold reducing descriptions with full preservation of classification accuracy. Reducing the descriptions by twenty times in the experiment leads to slightly decreased accuracy. The speed of the analysis increases in proportion to the degree of reduction. The use of reduction by the informativeness criterion confirmed the possibility of obtaining the most significant subset of features for classification, which guarantees a decent level of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Emergency medical services (EMS) providers transiently ascend to high altitude for primary missions and secondary transports in mountainous areas in helicopters that are unpressurised and do not have facilities for oxygen supplementation. The decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation can lead to impairment in attention and reaction time as well as in quality of care during acute exposure to altitude. Objective: The primary aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of oxygen supplementation on cognitive performance in Helicopter EMS (HEMS) providers during acute exposure to altitude. Design, setting, and participants: This interventional, randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial was conducted in October 2021. Each trial used a simulated altitude scenario equivalent to 4000 m, in which volunteers were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia with a constant rate of ascent of 4 m/s in an environmental chamber under controlled, replicable, and safe conditions. Trials could be voluntarily terminated at any time. Inclusion criteria were being members of emergency medical services and search and rescue services with an age between 18 and 60 years and an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I. Exposures: Each participant conducted 2 trials, one in which they were exposed to altitude with oxygen supplementation (intervention trial) and the other in which they were exposed to altitude with ambient air supplementation (control trial). Main outcomes and measures: Measurements included peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), cerebral oxygenation (ScO2), breathing and heart rates, Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), Digit-Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), n-Back test (2-BACK), the Grooved Pegboard test, and questionnaires on subjective performance, stress, workload, and positive and negative affect. Paired t-tests were used to compare conditions (intervention vs. control). Data were further analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results: A total of 36 volunteers (30 men; mean [SD] age, 36 [9] years; mean [SD] education, 17 [4] years) were exposed to the intervention and control trials. The intervention trials, compared with the control trials, had higher values of SpO2 (mean [SD], 97.9 [1.6] % vs. 86 [2.3] %, t-test, p = 0.004) and ScO2 (mean [SD], 69.9 [5.8] % vs. 62.1 [5.2] %, paired t-test, p = 0.004). The intervention trials compared with the control trials had a shorter reaction time (RT) on the PVT after 5 min (mean [SD], 277.8 [16.7] ms vs. 282.5 [15.3] ms, paired t-test, p = 0.006) and after 30 min (mean [SD], 276.9 [17.7] ms vs. 280.7 [15.0] ms, paired t-test, p = 0.054) at altitude. While controlling for other variables, there was a RT increase of 0.37 ms for each % of SpO2 decrease. The intervention trials showed significantly higher values for DSST number of correct responses (with a difference of mean [SD], 1.2 [3.2], paired t-test, p = 0.035). Variables in the intervention trials were otherwise similar to those in the control trials for DSST number of incorrect responses, 2-BACK, and the Grooved Pegboard test. Conclusions and relevance: This randomized clinical trial found that oxygen supplementation improves cognitive performance among HEMS providers during acute exposure to 4000 m altitude. The use of oxygen supplementation may allow to maintain attention and timely reaction in HEMS providers. The impact of repeated altitude ascents on the same day, sleep-deprivation, and additional stressors should be investigated. Trial registration NCT05073406, ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a progressive condition. Investigating the neuroimaging mechanisms in depressed adolescents with subthreshold mania (Sub MD) facilitates the early identification of BD. However, the global brain connectivity (GBC) patterns in Sub MD patients, as well as the relationship with processing speed before the onset of full-blown BD, remain unclear. The study involved 72 Sub MD , 77 depressed adolescents without subthreshold mania (nSub MD), and 69 gender- and age-matched healthy adolescents (HCs). All patients underwent a clinical follow-up ranging from six to twelve months. We calculated the voxel-based graph theory analysis of the GBC map and conducted the TMT-A test to measure the processing speed. Compared to HCs and nSub MD , Sub MD patients displayed distinctive GBC index patterns: GBC index decreased in the right Medial Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFGmed.R)/Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) while increased in the right Precuneus and left Postcentral Gyrus. Both patient groups showed increased GBC index in the right Inferior Temporal Gyrus. An increased GBC value in the right Supplementary Motor Area was exclusively observed in the nSub MD -group. There were opposite changes in the GBC index in SFGmed.R/SFG between two patient groups, with an AUC of 0.727. Additionally, GBC values in SFGmed.R/SFG exhibited a positive correlation with TMT-A scores in Sub MD -group. Relatively shorter follow-up duration, medications confounding, and modest sample size. These findings suggest that adolescents with subthreshold BD have specific impairments patterns at the whole brain connectivity level associated with processing speed impairments, providing insights into early identification and intervention strategies for BD. • We found distinctive alterations in global brain connectivity among depressed adolescents with subthreshold mania. The alterations include a decrease in the right Medial Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFGmed.R)/Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG) and an increase in the right Precuneus and left Postcentral Gyrus. • Significantly, the GBC index in the SFGmed.R/SFG displayed an opposite pattern between the two patient groups compared to HCs, decreasing in Sub MD patients while increasing in nSub MD patients, demonstrating good discriminative efficacy and suggesting specific early alterations in bipolar disorder (BD). • Additionally, an increased GBC index in the right Inferior Temporal Gyrus (ITG.R) emerged as a common alteration across both patient groups, presenting a gradient in the extent of alterations with Sub MD ＞nSub MD ＞HCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Conclusions Recent preventative approaches with young people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR‐P) have focused on the remediation of the cognitive deficits that are readily apparent and predictive of future illness. However, the small number of trials using cognitive remediation with CHR‐P individuals have reported mixed results. The proposed 2‐phased study will test an innovative internet‐based and remotely‐delivered Specific COgnitive REmediation plus Surround (or SCORES) intervention that targets early processing speed deficits in CHR‐P adolescents aged 14–20 years old.In the first R61 phase, a single‐arm 2‐year proof of concept study, 30 CHR‐P individuals will receive SCORES for 10 weeks (4 h per week/40 h total) with a midpoint assessment at 20 h (5 weeks) to demonstrate target engagement and identify the optimal dose needed to engage the target. The Go/No‐Go criteria to move to the R33 phase will be processing speed scores improving by a medium effect size (Cohen's d ≥ .6). The proposed package includes a set of complimentary support surround procedures to increase enjoyment and ensure that participants will complete the home‐based training. In the second R33 phase, a 3‐year pilot study, we will replicate target engagement in a new and larger sample of 54 CHR‐P individuals randomized to SCORES (optimized dose) or to a video game playing control condition. In addition, the R33 phase will determine if changes in processing speed are associated with improved social functioning and decreasing attenuated positive symptoms. The support surround components of the intervention will remain constant across phases and conditions in the R33 phase to firmly establish the centrality of processing speed training for successful remediation.The SCORES study is a completely virtual intervention that targets a core cognitive mechanism, processing speed, which is a rate‐limiting factor to higher order behaviours and clinical outcomes in CHR‐P adolescents. The virtual nature of this study should increase feasibility as well improve the future scalability of the intervention with considerable potential for future dissemination as a complete treatment package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To determine associations among DNA methylation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and RAS p21 protein activator 2 (RASA2) genes with processing speed and perceived cognitive function. SAMPLE & SETTING: This was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial, the Exercise Program in Cancer and Cognition Study. METHODS & VARIABLES: Data included M values for DNA methylation of the BDNF and RASA2 genes; processing speed, objectively measured using the Grooved Pegboard and Digit Vigilance Test scores; and perceived cognitive function, self-reported using the Patient Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory. Regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Greater methylation of cg21291635 of the BDNF gene (p = 0.01) and cg20247102 of the RASA2 gene (p = 0.013) were associated with poorer processing speed, whereas greater methylation of cg20108357 of the BDNF gene (p < 0.001) and cg00567892 of the RASA2 gene (p = 0.019) were associated with better perceived cognitive function. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Gene methylation variations were demonstrated, suggesting the genes' potential roles and two possible distinct mechanisms of cognitive function in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) has been linked with overall health, and this study will evaluate whether NSES is cross-sectionally associated with cognition in non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) and Mexican Americans (MAs) from the Health and Aging Brain: Health Disparities Study (HABS-HD). Methods: The HABS-HD is a longitudinal study conducted at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The final sample analyzed (n = 1,312) were 50 years or older, with unimpaired cognition, and underwent an interview, neuropsychological examination, imaging, and blood draw. NSES was measured using the national area deprivation index (ADI) percentile ranking, which considered socioeconomic variables. Executive function and processing speed were assessed by the trail making tests (A and B) and the digit-symbol substitution test, respectively. Linear regression was used to assess the association of ADI and cognitive measures. Results: MAs were younger, more likely to be female, less educated, had higher ADI scores, performed worse on trails B (all p < 0.05), and had lower prevalence of APOE4 + when compared to NHWs (p < 0.0001). A higher percentage of MAs lived in the most deprived neighborhoods than NHWs. For NHWs, ADI did not predict trails B or DSS scores, after adjusting for demographic variables and APOE4. For MAs, ADI predicted trails A, trails B, and DSS after adjusting for demographic covariates and APOE4 status. Conclusion: Our study revealed that living in an area of higher deprivation was associated with lower cognitive function in MAs but not in NHWs, which is important to consider in future interventions to slow cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals' reaction time (RT) slopes in tasks of mental rotation have been found to be related to other measures of visual-spatial abilities, and thus are often viewed as a psychometric measure of visual-spatial abilities. The common interpretation of individual RT slopes is as a measure of the speed at which the rotation is carried out. However, electroencephalography studies have found that the process of mental rotation continues after response selection has been carried out, casting doubt on the interpretation of RT slopes as measures of the speed of mental rotation. This study made use of electroencephalography techniques to directly capture individual differences in the speed of mental rotation and assess their association with visual-spatial abilities. We found that individual differences in mental rotation speed are not related to individual differences in RT slopes. Moreover, a computation model supports an alternative explanation by which RT slopes reflect individual differences in differential tolerances for stimulus identification within mental rotation tasks. Public Significance Statement: This research challenges the long-held assumption that reaction time slopes in mental rotation tasks directly reflect individual differences in visual-spatial processing speed. Instead, by employing electroencephalography and behavioral computation models, our findings suggest that these reaction time slopes reflect individual differences in decision thresholds. These findings have significant implications for understanding individual variations in mental rotation performance and spatial reasoning skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently experience visual and oculomotor symptoms that may impact and confound neuropsychological assessments of information processing speed (IPS). In this study, we examined the effect of the psychostimulant methylphenidate on oculomotor function and the association between change in oculomotor speed and change in information processing speed. Methods: We used a repeated measures crossover design in which a sample of 11 participants with MS were randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms: one that received methylphenidate for 4 weeks and another that received a placebo for 4 weeks. After a 7-day washout period, the treatments were crossed over. The King Devick test, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test were administered at baseline and after each of the two study arms. Results: We found a significant improvement in oculomotor speed in the methylphenidate condition as compared to placebo. This improvement was significantly correlated with improvement on a visuomotor assessment of IPS (Symbol Digit Modalities Test), but no such association was found for an auditory-verbal assessment of IPS (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test). Discussion: These findings suggest that individuals with MS experience improved oculomotor speed while taking methylphenidate, which may, in turn, improve performance on assessments of IPS with visuomotor demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the risk of cerebral vascular injury, children and adolescents with high-risk sickle cell disease (SCD) experience neurocognitive decline over time. Haploidentical stem cell transplantation (HISCT) from human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling donors may slow or stop progression of neurocognitive changes. Objectives: The study is to determine if HISCT can ameliorate SCD-associated neurocognitive changes and prevent neurocognitive progression, determine which specific areas of neurocognitive functioning are particularly vulnerable to SCD, and determine if there are age-related differences in neurocognitive functioning over time. Methods: We performed neurocognitive and neuroimaging in SCD recipients following HISCT. Children and adolescents with high-risk SCD who received parental HISCT utilizing CD34+ enrichment and mononuclear cell (T-cell) addback following myeloimmunoablative conditioning received cognitive evaluations and neuroimaging at three time points: pre-transplant, 1 and 2 years post-transplant. Results: Nineteen participants (13.1 ± 1.2 years [3.3-20.0]) received HISCT. At 2 years post-transplant, neuroimaging and cognitive function were stable. Regarding age-related differences pre-transplantation, older children (≥13 years) had already experienced significant decreases in language functioning (p < 0.023), verbal intelligence quotient (p < 0.05), non-verbal intelligence quotient (p < 0.006), and processing speed (p < 0.05), but normalized post-HISCT in all categories. Conclusion: Thus, HISCT has the potential to ameliorate SCD-associated neurocognitive changes and prevent neurocognitive progression. Further studies are required to determine if neurocognitive performance remains stable beyond 2 years post-HISCT. Clinical trial registration: The study was conducted under an investigator IND (14359) (MSC) and registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01461837). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Processing speed is a task-independent construct underpinning more complex goal-related abilities. Processing speed is impaired in alcohol dependence (AD) and is linked to relapse, as are the functions it underpins. Reliable measurement of processing speed may allow tracking of AD recovery trajectories and identify patients requiring additional support. Aims: To assess changes in reaction time (RT) from baseline (at the start of a detoxification programme) across early abstinence. Methods: Vibrotactile RT was assessed in early recovery between days 3 and 7 of treatment in 66 individuals with AD (25 females; aged 19–74, 44.60 ± 10.60 years) and against 35 controls tested on one occasion (19 females; 41.00 ± 13.60), using two multivariate multiple regressions. A mixed multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) of available AD data (n = 45) assessed change in RT between timepoints and between treatment settings (outpatient vs inpatient). Results: The group (AD vs control) significantly predicted choice RT at baseline and follow-up but did not significantly predict simple RT or RT variability, which is inconsistent with previous findings. At follow-up, mental fatigue was also predicted by the group, and MANCOVA indicated that this had worsened in inpatients but improved in outpatients. Conclusions: Recovery of RT measures so early in the treatment journey was not in line with previous research which indicates persisting deficits. The interaction between setting and timepoint indicates that despite being typically less medically complex, outpatients require ongoing support and monitoring during their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychomotor disturbance has been identified as a key feature of psychotic disorders, with motor signs observed in upwards of 66% of unmedicated, first-episode patients. Aberrations in the cerebellum have been directly linked to sensorimotor processing deficits including processing speed, which may underly psychomotor disturbance in psychosis, though these brain-behavior-symptom relationships are unclear, in part due to within-diagnosis heterogeneity across these levels of analysis. In 339 psychosis patients (242 schizophrenia-spectrum, 97 bipolar with psychotic features) and 217 controls, we evaluated the relationship between cerebellar grey matter volume in the Yeo sensorimotor network and psychomotor disturbance (mannerisms and posturing, retardation, excitement of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS]), as mediated by processing speed (assessed via the SCIP). Models included intracranial volume, age, sex, and chlorpromazine equivalents as covariates. We observed significant mediation by processing speed, with a small positive effect of the cerebellum on processing speed (ß = 0.172, p = 0.029, d = 0.24) and a medium negative effect of processing speed on psychomotor disturbance (ß = −0.254, p < 0.001, d = 0.60), with acceptable specificity and sensitivity suggesting this model is robust against unmeasured confounding. The current findings suggest a critical role of cerebellar circuitry in a well-established sensorimotor aberration in psychosis (processing speed) and the presentation of related psychomotor phenotypes within psychosis. Establishing such relationships is critical for intervention research, such as TMS. Future work will employ more dimensional measures of psychomotor disturbance and cognitive processes to capture normative and aberrant brain-behavior-symptom relationships and may also determine the magnitude of these relationships within subtypes of psychosis (e.g., disorganized behavior, catatonia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]