scholarly journals How Does Nonverbal Reasoning Affect Sentence Recognition in Adults with Cochlear Implants and Normal-Hearing Peers?

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-138
Author(s):  
Aaron C. Moberly ◽  
Jameson K. Mattingly ◽  
Irina Castellanos

Background: Previous research has demonstrated an association of scores on a visual test of nonverbal reasoning, Raven’s Progressive Matrices (RPM), with scores on open-set sentence recognition in quiet for adult cochlear implant (CI) users as well as for adults with normal hearing (NH) listening to noise-vocoded sentence materials. Moreover, in that study, CI users demonstrated poorer nonverbal reasoning when compared with NH peers. However, it remains unclear what underlying neurocognitive processes contributed to the association of nonverbal reasoning scores with sentence recognition, and to the poorer scores demonstrated by CI users. Objectives: Three hypotheses were tested: (1) nonverbal reasoning abilities of adult CI users and normal-hearing (NH) age-matched peers would be predicted by performance on more basic neurocognitive measures of working memory capacity, information-processing speed, inhibitory control, and concentration; (2) nonverbal reasoning would mediate the effects of more basic neurocognitive functions on sentence recognition in both groups; and (3) group differences in more basic neurocognitive functions would explain the group differences previously demonstrated in nonverbal reasoning. Method: Eighty-three participants (40 CI and 43 NH) underwent testing of sentence recognition using two sets of sentence materials: sentences produced by a single male talker (Harvard sentences) and high-variability sentences produced by multiple talkers (Perceptually Robust English Sentence Test Open-set, PRESTO). Participants also completed testing of nonverbal reasoning using a visual computerized RPM test, and additional neurocognitive assessments were collected using a visual Digit Span test and a Stroop Color-Word task. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to test our hypotheses while treating age as a covariate. Results: In the CI group, information processing speed on the Stroop task predicted RPM performance, and RPM scores mediated the effects of information processing speed on sentence recognition abilities for both Harvard and PRESTO sentences. In contrast, for the NH group, Stroop inhibitory control predicted RPM performance, and a trend was seen towards RPM scores mediating the effects of inhibitory control on sentence recognition, but only for PRESTO sentences. Poorer RPM performance in CI users than NH controls could be partially attributed to slower information processing speed. Conclusions: Neurocognitive functions contributed differentially to nonverbal reasoning performance in CI users as compared with NH peers, and nonverbal reasoning appeared to partially mediate the effects of these different neurocognitive functions on sentence recognition in both groups, at least for PRESTO sentences. Slower information processing speed accounted for poorer nonverbal reasoning scores in CI users. Thus, it may be that prolonged auditory deprivation contributes to cognitive decline through slower information processing.

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii438-iii438
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cox ◽  
Juanita Atton ◽  
Julie Tseng ◽  
Sonya Bells ◽  
Cynthia de Medeiros ◽  
...  

Abstract Paediatric brain tumour survivors (PBTS) experience slower information processing speed (IPS) that contributes to difficulty performing tasks of minimal (MC) and greater complexity (GC), and is related to aberrant neural communication. It is still unknown whether deficient IPS exists during increasing complexity. We aim to determine if PBTS experience deficient IPS and neural communication relative to typically developing children (TDC) during an increasingly complex visual-motor reaction time (RT) task. During magnetoencephalography recording, participants (n=58, 12.69 ±3.24 years) pressed a button with their left or right thumb after an arrow pointing in the corresponding direction appeared on a screen. During two MC conditions, the arrow pointed in a single direction. During a GC condition, the arrow alternated direction randomly. Mean RT >3SD and signal artifacts were removed prior to analyses. The phase lag index (PLI) estimated neural communication between 90 cortical sources. Linear regression and Network Based Statistics assessed group differences in mean RT and the PLI. PBTS demonstrated increased RT relative to TDC during the GC condition (p=0.04, MPBTS=354.00s, MTDC=326.00s). Group differences in mean RT during MC conditions and the PLI during all conditions were not detected (p>0.05). These results suggest PBTS experience slower IPS during GC. Reduced IPS is thought to contribute to difficulty recruiting cognitive resources needed to perform more complex tasks. Subtle deficits in neural communication may underlie slower IPS. The weighted PLI is superior to the PLI when estimating small differences in neural communication. We will now use the weighted PLI to assess task-related neural communication.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Yu Lin ◽  
Shu-Shih Hsieh ◽  
Ting-Yu Chueh ◽  
Chung-Ju Huang ◽  
Tsung-Min Hung

AbstractIt is difficult to draw conclusions about the effect of resistance exercises on information processing speed and inhibitory control from previous studies due to possible underestimations of maximal strength and the lack of information on the intervention programs. To address this issue, a familiarization of resistance exercise was introduced before the strength test, and the repetition-to-fatigue method was used to calculate the 1RM (one repetition max). A two-arm RCT was conducted to evaluate the cognitive effect of resistance exercise. Male adults aged 50–65 years old performed a single bout of multiple joint, structural barbell resistance exercises (back squat, press, and deadlift) with 75% 1RM * 5 repetitions * 3 sets with 2–3 min rest between sets and exercises or a stretching exercise session (active-control intervention). This type of resistance exercise improved the information processing speed measured by Stroop task reaction time (t(23) =  − 2.313, p = .030, M =  − 16 ms, 95% CI [− 30, − 2]) and decreased the conflict-related neural activity measured by event-related potential N2b in both congruent (t(20) = 2.674, p = .015, M = 2.290 μv, 95% CI [0.504, 4.075]) and incongruent (t(20) = 2.851, p = .018, M = 2.291 μv, 95% CI [0.439, 4.142]) conditions. Resistance exercise significantly improved information processing speed and decrease conflict-related neural activity, but did not change inhibitory control in older adults compared to active control.Trial registration: NCT04534374 (01/09/2020).


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Maria van Zutphen ◽  
Judith Johanna Maria Rijnhart ◽  
Didericke Rhebergen ◽  
Majon Muller ◽  
Martijn Huisman ◽  
...  

Background: Sex differences in cognitive functioning in old age are known to exist yet are still poorly understood. Objective: This study examines to what extent differences in cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease between men and women explain sex differences in cognitive functioning. Methods: Data from 2,724 older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used. Information processing speed and episodic memory, measured three times during six years of follow-up, served as outcomes. The mediating role of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease was examined in single and multiple mediator models. Determinant-mediator effects were estimated using linear or logistic regression, and determinant-outcome and mediator-outcome effects were estimated using linear mixed models. Indirect effects were estimated using the product-of-coefficients estimator. Results: Women scored 1.58 points higher on information processing speed and 1.53 points higher on episodic memory. Several cardiovascular risk factors had small mediating effects. The sex difference in information processing speed was mediated by smoking, depressive symptoms, obesity, and systolic blood pressure. The sex difference in episodic memory was mediated by smoking, physical activity, and depressive symptoms. Effects of smoking, LDL cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus on information processing speed differed between men and women. Conclusion: Differences in cardiovascular risk factors between women and men partially explained why women had better cognitive functioning. A healthy cardiovascular lifestyle seems beneficial for cognition and sex-specific strategies may be important to preserve cognitive functioning at older age.


1983 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Germaine Pecheux ◽  
Roger Lécuyer

If rate of habituation reflects information processing speed and is a stable individual characteristic, fast habituators should habituate relatively quickly to any stimulus, and slow habituators relatively slowly. Moreover, rate of habituation should be related to the baby's tendency to explore in any common situation. To examine these inferences, 24 four-month-old infants were habituated to four stimuli (two geometric patterns and two faces) successively, in two sessions, and observed in a free-exploration situation. The number of trials required to reach criterion in the habituation situations were not correlated, but total looking times to criterion were. Also, slow habituators stayed in the exploration situation for a relatively longer time and also explored a new toy for a longer time. Methodological aspects of habituation are discussed, and an interpretation of habituation sequences in terms of cognitive style is suggested.


Brain ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (9) ◽  
pp. 2034-2041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels D. Prins ◽  
Ewoud J. van Dijk ◽  
Tom den Heijer ◽  
Sarah E. Vermeer ◽  
Jellemer Jolles ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeroen Van Schependom ◽  
Marie B D’hooghe ◽  
Krista Cleynhens ◽  
Mieke D’hooge ◽  
Marie-Claire Haelewyck ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive impairment affects half of the multiple sclerosis (MS) patient population and is an important contributor to patients’ daily activities. Most cognitive impairment studies in MS are, however, cross-sectional or/and focused on the early disease stages. Objective: We aim to assess the time course of decline of different cognitive domains. Methods: We collected neuropsychological data on 514 MS patients to construct Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the tests included in the Neuropsychological Screening Battery for MS (NSBMS) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Cox-proportional hazard models were constructed to examine the influence of MS onset type, age at onset, gender, depression and level of education on the time course, expressed as age or disease. Results: Survival curves of tests focusing on information processing speed (IPS) declined significantly faster than tests with less specific demands of IPS. Median age for pathological decline was 56.2 years (95% CI: 54.4–58.2) on the SDMT and 63.9 years (95% CI: 60–66.9) on the CLTR, a memory task. Conclusion: In conclusion, IPS is the cognitive domain not only most widely affected by MS but it is also the first cognitive deficit to emerge in MS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 110-123
Author(s):  
E.I. Donii ◽  
N.B. Shumakova

The work is aimed at identifying specific manifestations of creativity and basic cognitive characteristics in young adolescents with artistic and intellectual giftedness. The relevance of the study is due to lack of study of the issue of cognitive manifestations of different types of giftedness in early adolescence, in which the issue of specialization of education is often resolved. The study involved 54 intellectually gifted adolescents (M = 11.4 years old) and 32 artistically gifted peers (M = 11.2 years old). The study used the following methods: a computerize d battery of test tasks for studying bas ic cognitive characteristics (“number sense”, visua l working memory and information processing speed), "Raven’s Progressive Matrixes”, “Verbally-figura l creativity test”, drawing tests of Urban and "Horizon Line ". The results confirm the hypothesis about the specificity of creativity in younger adolescents with different types of giftedness (intellectual and artistic). Intellectually gifted younger adolescents show higher rates of divergent verbal creativity compared to their artistically gifted peers; and artistically gifted younger adolescents surpass their intellectually gifted peers in terms of picturesque (figurative) creativity and are distinguished by their highquality originality, revealing a high emotional expressiveness and creative approach to the implementation of the plan. No statistically significant intergroup differences in the basic indicators of cognitive development and general intelligence were found, although artistically gifted adolescents better than their intellectually gifted peers compare asymmetrically expressed amounts (“number sense”), but they are inferior in terms of information processing speed.


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