Clustering and switching in verbal fluency: a comparison between control and individuals with brain damage

Pagliarin, Karina Carlesso; Fernandes, Eduarda Giovelli; Muller, Maryndia Diehl; Portalete, Caroline Rodrigues; Fonseca, Róchele Paz; Altmann, Raira Fernanda

doi:10.1590/2317-1782/20212020365

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The semantic fluency total score is strongly intertwined with the qualitative aspects of the task. For accurate and timely word retrieval, both AoA and LF [ 26 ], and clustering and switching components [ 27 ] are required. Coinciding with the results of our principal component analysis, in which we found a AoA-LF component and a clusters-switches component, previous studies found strong correlations between AoA and LF, and between the number of clusters and the number of switches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With respect to the relation between AoA and LF, correlations have found to be high in natural languages, as early-acquired words tend to occur more frequently than late-required words [ 28 ]. The number of switches and the number of clusters are correlated, as by identifying the number of clusters, one can generate the number of switches (corresponds to the number of clusters minus one) [ 27 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Longitudinal changes in qualitative aspects of semantic fluency in presymptomatic and prodromal genetic frontotemporal dementia

Jiskoot,

van den Berg,

Laenen

et al. 2023

J Neurol

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Background The semantic fluency test is one of the most widely used neuropsychological tests in dementia diagnosis. Research utilizing the qualitative, psycholinguistic information embedded in its output is currently underexplored in presymptomatic and prodromal genetic FTD. Methods Presymptomatic MAPT (n = 20) and GRN (n = 43) mutation carriers, and controls (n = 55) underwent up to 6 years of neuropsychological assessment, including the semantic fluency test. Ten mutation carriers became symptomatic (phenoconverters). Total score and five qualitative fluency measures (lexical frequency, age of acquisition, number of clusters, cluster size, number of switches) were calculated. We used multilevel linear regression modeling to investigate longitudinal decline. We assessed the co-correlation of the qualitative measures at each time point with principal component analysis. We explored associations with cognitive decline and grey matter atrophy using partial correlations, and investigated classification abilities using binary logistic regression. Results The interrater reliability of the qualitative measures was good (ICC = 0.75–0.90). There was strong co-correlation between lexical frequency and age of acquisition, and between clustering and switching. At least 4 years pre-phenoconversion, GRN phenoconverters had fewer but larger clusters (p < 0.001), and fewer switches (p = 0.004), correlating with lower executive function (r = 0.87–0.98). Fewer switches was predictive of phenoconversion, correctly classifying 90.3%. Starting at least 4 years pre-phenoconversion, MAPT phenoconverters demonstrated an increase in lexical frequency (p = 0.009) and a decline in age of acquisition (p = 0.034), correlating with lower semantic processing (r = 0.90). Smaller cluster size was predictive of phenoconversion, correctly classifying 89.3%. Increase in lexical frequency and decline in age of acquisition were associated with grey matter volume loss of predominantly temporal areas, while decline in the number of clusters, cluster size, and switches correlated with grey matter volume loss of predominantly frontal areas. Conclusions Qualitative aspects of semantic fluency could give insight into the underlying mechanisms as to why the “traditional” total score declines in the different FTD mutations. However, the qualitative measures currently demonstrate more fluctuation than the total score, the measure that seems to most reliably deteriorate with time. Replication in a larger sample of FTD phenoconverters is warranted to identify if qualitative measures could be sensitive cognitive biomarkers to identify and track mutation carriers converting to the symptomatic stage of FTD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%