Journal Alert - JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY

> Title:
> Validity of the Virtual Reality Stroop Task (VRST) in active duty military
>
> Authors:
> Armstrong, CM; Reger, GM; Edwards, J; Rizzo, AA; Courtney, CG; Parsons,
> TD
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):113-123; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> Virtual environments provide the ability to systematically deliver test
> stimuli in simulated contexts relevant to real world behavior. The
> current study evaluated the validity of the Virtual Reality Stroop Task
> (VRST), which presents test stimuli during a virtual reality military
> convoy with simulated combat threats. Active duty Army personnel (N=49)
> took the VRST, a customized version of the Automated Neuropsychological
> Assessment Metrics (ANAM)Fourth Edition TBI Battery (2007) that included
> the addition of the ANAM Stroop and Tower tests, and traditional
> neuropsychological measures, including the Delis-Kaplan Executive
> Function System version of the ColorWord Interference Test. Preliminary
> convergent and discriminant validity was established, and performance on
> the VRST was significantly associated with computerized and traditional
> tests of attention and executive functioning. Valid virtual reality
> cognitive assessments open new lines of inquiry into the impact of
> environmental stimuli on performance and offer promise for the future of
> neuropsychological assessments used with military personnel.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 124-131 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000002
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>
> Title:
> The relationship between motor symptom lateralization and cognitive performance in newly diagnosed drug-naive patients with Parkinson's disease
>
> Authors:
> Poletti, M; Frosini, D; Pagni, C; Baldacci, F; Giuntini, M; Mazzucchi,
> S; Tognoni, G; Lucetti, C; Del Dotto, P; Ceravolo, R; Bonuccelli, U
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):124-131; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> The side of motor symptom predominance may influence cognitive
> performance in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD): PD patients with
> right-side motor symptom predominance typically present difficulties in
> tasks of language and verbal memory, whereas PD patients with left-side
> motor symptom predominance typically present difficulties in
> visuospatial tasks. The current study aimed at investigating the
> relationship between motor symptom lateralization and cognitive
> performance in PD patients without the possible confounding effect of
> dopaminergic drugs, which may enhance or impair cognition on the basis
> of assessed function and disease stage. From the initial sample of 137
> consecutive newly diagnosed drug-naive (de novo) PD patients, clinical
> follow-ups and neurological examinations identified 108 right-handed
> patients with a unilateral motor presentation or a clear motor asymmetry
> (59 right-PD: 54.6%; 49 left-PD: 45.4%). Any cognitive difference
> emerged between right-PD patients and left-PD patients at this disease
> stage. Scores of lateralized motor impairment severity correlated with
> some cognitive performances: Right motor impairment correlated with a
> measure of set shifting (Trail Making Test BA), and left motor
> impairment correlated with phonemic fluency and tasks with visuospatial
> material (Colored Progressive Matrices of Raven, ReyOsterrieth Complex
> Figure Copy and Immediate Recall). Findings of the current study
> supported the conclusion that the side of clinical motor predominance
> scarcely influences cognition in the early untreated stages of PD,
> suggesting that cognitive differences between subgroups of lateralized
> PD patients probably may appear in more advanced disease stages.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 132-146 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000003
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>
> Title:
> Factor structure, construct validity, and age- and education-based normative data for the Parametric Go/No-Go Test
>
> Authors:
> Votruba, KL; Langenecker, SA
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):132-146; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> The Parametric Go/No-Go (PGNG) test assesses cognitive domains including
> attention and executive functioning with three levels of increasing
> difficulty. Level 1 measures accuracy and response time to three
> targets. Level 2 adds a nonrepeating rule, measuring response time to
> two targets, accuracy for targets, and accuracy for appropriate
> inhibition. Level 3 has three targets with the same nonrepeating rule.
> The task shows good construct validity, and factor analyses show
> adequate ability to distinguish between processing speed, sustained
> attention, and inhibition. Normative data for the PGNG, stratified by
> age and education, as well as strategies for identifying atypical
> responding, are presented.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 147-159 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000004
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>
> Title:
> A holistic analysis of relationships between executive function and memory in Parkinson's disease
>
> Authors:
> Recio, LA; Martin, P; Carvajal, F; Ruiz, M; Serrano, JM
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):147-159; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> Apart from motor symptoms, Parkinson's disease is characterized by
> executive and memory problems that have been observed from early stages
> of the disease. This study explores the possible relationships between
> these cognitive impairments in a group of 23 individuals with
> Parkinson's disease (PD) in comparison to a group of 18 healthy
> individuals. Compared with young individuals, normal aging is
> characterized by an increased association between executive function and
> episodic memory, especially with verbal material. We hypothesize that
> this association between verbal episodic memory and executive function
> may be weaker in PD as a consequence of the decline in these two
> cognitive abilities. To test this hypothesis, three categories of
> standardized tests were administered to both groups: (a) tests for
> executive function, (b) tests for visuospatial episodic memory, and (c)
> tests for verbal episodic memory. Performance outputs were analyzed
> using factor analysis, canonical regression, and structural equation
> modeling to obtain a holistic perspective of the linkage of these
> processes and to compare the differences between groups. In general, PD
> patients performed worse than controls in both executive function and
> episodic memory (with verbal and visuospatial material). Moreover, we
> found that relationships between executive function and visuospatial
> memory scores were high and quite similar in both groups. However, the
> relationship between verbal episodic memory and executive function was
> weaker in PD than in healthy individuals. These results suggest that a
> different brain mechanism could explain executive and verbal memory
> impairments in PD.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 160-166 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000005
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>
> Title:
> Judgment of Line Orientation: An examination of eight short forms
>
> Authors:
> Spencer, RJ; Wendell, CR; Giggey, PP; Seliger, SL; Katzel, LI;
> Waldstein, SR
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):160-166; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> The Judgment of Line Orientation (JLO) test is a commonly used measure
> of visuospatial perception. Because of its length, several short forms
> have appeared in the literature. We examined the internal consistency of
> the JLO and eight of its published short forms among 128 undergraduates,
> 203 healthy older adults, and 55 chronic kidney disease patients. The
> full test demonstrated good reliability for traditional
> neuropsychological assessment, but the majority of short forms were
> adequate only for screening purposes, where greater measurement error is
> typically permitted in exchange for brevity. In contrast, a recently
> developed short form based upon item response theory demonstrated
> promise as a stand-alone measure.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 167-179 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000006
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>
> Title:
> Neuropsychological functioning in children and adolescents with restrictive-type anorexia nervosa: An in-depth investigation with NEPSYII
>
> Authors:
> Calderoni, S; Muratori, F; Leggero, C; Narzisi, A; Apicella, F;
> Balottin, U; Carigi, T; Maestro, S; Fabbro, F; Urgesi, C
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):167-179; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> Several studies have investigated the neuropsychological functioning of
> patients with anorexia nervosa restrictive type (AN-r), but results are
> conflicting. Here we compared the neuropsychological profile of 23
> female children and adolescents with AN-r and of 46 typical controls
> (aged 916 years) using the second edition of the NEPSY (a Developmental
> Neuropsychology Assessment) neuropsychological battery. AN-r patients
> presented subtle cognitive flexibility impairments in audiomotor
> responses (p = .033). Conversely, superior performance in verbal fluency
> (p = .024) and memory (p = .034) was observed only in AN-r patients with
> an associated unipolar mood disorder. This profile of marginally
> impaired and enhanced performance was independent from illness duration
> and starvation degree, suggesting that it may preexist and represent a
> vulnerability factor for the disease onset.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 180-191 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000007
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>
> Title:
> The role of speed versus working memory in predicting learning new information in multiple sclerosis
>
> Authors:
> Chiaravalloti, ND; Stojanovic-Radic, J; DeLuca, J
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):180-191; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> The most common cognitive impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) have
> been documented in specific domains, including new learning and memory,
> working memory, and information processing speed. However, little
> attempt has been made to increase our understanding of their
> relationship to one another. While recent studies have shown that
> processing speed impacts new learning and memory abilities in MS, the
> role of working memory in this relationship has received less attention.
> The present study examines the relative contribution of impaired working
> memory versus processing speed in new learning and memory functions in
> MS. Participants consisted of 51 individuals with clinically definite
> MS. Participants completed two measures of processing speed, two
> measures of working memory, and two measures of episodic memory. Data
> were analyzed via correlational and multiple regression analysis.
> Results indicate that the variance in new learning abilities in this
> sample was primarily associated with processing speed, with working
> memory exerting much less of an influence. Results are discussed in
> terms of the role of cognitive rehabilitation of new learning and memory
> abilities in persons with MS.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 192-209 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000008
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>
> Title:
> Utility of the Mild Brain Injury Atypical Symptoms Scale to detect symptom exaggeration: An analogue simulation study
>
> Authors:
> Lange, RT; Edmed, SL; Sullivan, KA; French, LM; Cooper, DB
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):192-209; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> Brief self-report symptom checklists are often used to screen for
> postconcussional disorder (PCD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
> and are highly susceptible to symptom exaggeration. This study examined
> the utility of the five-item Mild Brain Injury Atypical Symptoms Scale
> (mBIAS) designed for use with the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory
> (NSI) and the PTSD ChecklistCivilian (PCLC). Participants were 85
> Australian undergraduate students who completed a battery of self-report
> measures under one of three experimental conditions: control (i.e.,
> honest responding, n=24), feign PCD (n=29), and feign PTSD (n=32).
> Measures were the mBIAS, NSI, PCLC, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
> Inventory2, Restructured Form (MMPI2RF), and the Structured Inventory of
> Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS). Participants instructed to feign PTSD
> and PCD had significantly higher scores on the mBIAS, NSI, PCLC, and
> MMPI2RF than did controls. Few differences were found between the feign
> PCD and feign PTSD groups, with the exception of scores on the NSI
> (feign PCD > feign PTSD) and PCLC (feign PTSD > feign PCD). Optimal
> cutoff scores on the mBIAS of 8 and 6 were found to reflect probable
> exaggeration (sensitivity = .34; specificity = 1.0; positive predictive
> power, PPP = 1.0; negative predictive power, NPP = .74) and possible
> exaggeration (sensitivity = .72; specificity = .88; PPP = .76; NPP =
> .85), respectively. Findings provide preliminary support for the use of
> the mBIAS as a tool to detect symptom exaggeration when administering
> the NSI and PCLC.
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
> *Pages: 210-224 (Article)
> *View Full Record: http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=CCC&DestLinkType=FullRecord;KeyUT=CCC:000315111000009
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>
> Title:
> Sustained attention following traumatic brain injury: Use of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task
>
> Authors:
> Sinclair, KL; Ponsford, JL; Rajaratnam, SMW; Anderson, C
>
> Source:
> *JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY*, 35 (2):210-224; FEB 1 2013
>
> Abstract:
> Objective: Deficits in sustained attention are common following
> traumatic brain injury (TBI), as a result of primary (i.e.,
> neuropathology) and/or secondary factors (i.e., fatigue, sleep
> disturbance, depressed mood). The extent to which secondary factors play
> a role in attention deficits is relatively unexamined. Moreover, the
> Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) is seldom used in TBI assessment
> despite its sensitivity to secondary factors observed following injury.
> The primary aim of the current study was to examine the usefulness of
> the auditory PVT in identifying attentional difficulties in patients
> with TBI compared with noninjured controls, and also to explore the
> impact of fatigue, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness on sustained
> attention performances. Method: Participants (n=20 per group) completed
> the auditory PVT and self-report measures of fatigue, sleep quality,
> daytime sleepiness, and depression. Results: Compared to controls,
> patients with TBI had widespread PVT deficits including slower response
> times, increased response variability and attention lapses, and delayed
> responding in the slowest 10% of responses. Distribution analyses
> suggested this was likely due to generalized cognitive slowing.
> Self-reported secondary factors had varying impacts on aspects of PVT
> performance, with self-reported fatigue exhibiting a more global impact
> on attention performance. Conclusions: The auditory PVT is a sensitive
> measure of sustained attention deficits in patients with TBI, with
> aspects of performance influenced by fatigue, sleep disturbance, and
> depression.
>
>