Differential Effect of Alcoholism and HIV Infection on Visuomotor Procedural Learning and Retention

Abstract

Background Selective declarative memory processes are differentially compromised in chronic alcoholism (ALC) and HIV infection (HIV) and likely reflect neuropathology associated with each condition: frontocerebellar dysfunction in ALC and frontostriatal dysfunction in HIV infection. Evidence for disease overlap derives from observed exacerbated impairments in these declarative memory processes in ALC‐HIV comorbidity. Less is known about nondeclarative memory processes in these disease conditions. Examination of visuomotor learning in chronic ALC and HIV infection could provide insight into the differential and combined contribution of selective disease‐related injury to visuomotor procedural memory processes. Methods We examined component processes of visuomotor learning and retention on the rotary pursuit task in 29 ALC, 23 HIV, 28 ALC + HIV, and 20 control subjects. Participants were given 4 rotary pursuit learning sessions over 2 testing days, typically separated by 1 week, to assess visuomotor learning and retention patterns. Ancillary measures of simple motor, psychomotor, explicit memory, and balance abilities were administered to test which component processes independently predicted visuomotor learning. Results All clinical groups showed visuomotor learning across rotary pursuit testing sessions, despite impairment in visuomotor speed in the HIV groups and impairment in explicit memory and psychomotor speed in the alcohol groups. The 2 alcoholic groups showed retention and consolidation over time (i.e., improved performance without further training), whereas the HIV‐infected group showed learning and retention but no consolidation effect. The comorbid group shared impairments associated with the ALC‐only group (explicit memory and psychomotor speed) and the HIV‐only group (visuomotor speed), although there was no clear compounded effect of alcohol and HIV infection on visuomotor learning performance. Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis that ALC and HIV infection exert differential effects on components of visuomotor procedural learning. Further, the results provide behavioral evidence for dissociable influences of frontocerebellar and frontostriatal disruption to visuomotor procedural learning and retention.

Profiles of impaired, spared, and recovered neuropsychologic processes in alcoholism

“…Although these abnormalities may not be evident through superficial observation, neuropsychological tests have been able to illuminate the impairments (Leber and Parsons, 1982; Tivis et al, 1995; Clark et al, 2007; Rourke and Grant, 2009). Similarly, neuroimaging techniques have revealed reliable differences between alcoholic and nonalcoholic control groups in brain activation patterns and structural integrity, with the most vulnerable networks being the frontocerebellar system and mesocorticolimbic circuitry (Agartz et al, 1999; Makris et al, 2008; Fama et al, 2012; Chanraud et al, 2013). However, relatively few studies have demonstrated definitive and direct links between specific component neuropsychological impairments and measures of highly localized brain abnormalities.…”

Thalamic volume deficit contributes to procedural and explicit memory impairment in HIV infection with primary alcoholism comorbidity

“…Visuomotor skill learning is a complex function that depends on multiple, dissociable mnemonic and nonmnemonic component processes, including selective attention, working memory, explicit (declarative) memory, visuospatial abilities, and motor skills (Corkin, 1968; Fama et al, 2012). A recent behavioral study examining cognitive component processes of visuomotor procedural learning in HIV infection and chronic alcoholism (Fama et al, 2012) reported that attention and explicit memory contributed to overall visuomotor learning and retention in individuals with comorbid HIV infection and chronic alcoholism.…”

“…A recent behavioral study examining cognitive component processes of visuomotor procedural learning in HIV infection and chronic alcoholism (Fama et al, 2012) reported that attention and explicit memory contributed to overall visuomotor learning and retention in individuals with comorbid HIV infection and chronic alcoholism.…”

“…Having previously established behavioral relations between visuomotor procedural learning and attention and memory processes in HIV infection with alcoholism comorbidity (Fama et al, 2012), we now focused on the neural correlates of these cognitive processes. Accordingly, the aims of the present study were to identify brain-behavior relations in HIV with substance abuse comorbidity, primarily alcoholism, that are associated with visuomotor procedural memory and cognitive processes known to contribute to implicit memory performance, including explicit memory and attention.…”

Problematic Alcohol Use Among Individuals with HIV: Relations with Everyday Memory Functioning and HIV Symptom Severity

“…However, the literature speaking to these associations is mixed [42]. Compared to healthy controls and participants with a single diagnosis, individuals with co-occurring HIV and alcohol dependence or abuse have been shown to perform worse on measures of immediate and delayed memory [WMS-R; 43], and on selective memory processes (immediate episodic memory WMS-R [44]). In contrast, Rothlind et al [16] did not observe differences on measures of verbal and visual learning and memory in a comparison of light/nondrinking and heavy drinking (100?…”