Is Speed of Processing or Working Memory the Primary Information Processing Deficit in Multiple Sclerosis?

DeLuca, John; Chelune, Gordon J.; Tulsky, David S.; Lengenfelder, Jean; Chiaravalloti, Nancy D.

doi:10.1080/13803390490496641

Cited by 331 publications

(285 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…7). The former problem is consistent with reports that the primary cognitive deficit in MS patients may be generalized slowing of information processing speed (DeLuca et al, 2004). Using sleep deprivation, Gottselig et al, (2006) induced such slowing in healthy research participants, who had to generate random numbers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Brain integrity, captured by various imaging techniques, has been shown to correlate with cognitive impairment (for review see Rocca et al, 2015), which is recognized as an important feature of MS, prevalent in 43-70% of MS patients (Chiaravalloti & DeLuca, 2008;Pflugshaupt, Geisseler, Nyffeler, & Linnebank, 2016). Although processing speed (DeLuca, Chelune, Tulsky, Lengenfelder, & Chiaravalloti, 2004;Roth, Denney, & Lynch, 2015) and episodic memory (e.g. Rogers & Panegyres, 2007) seem to be the most prominent cognitive feature of MS, these patients often exhibit significant deficits in executive functions Henry & Beatty, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Random number generation deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: Characteristics and neural correlates

Geisseler

Pflugshaupt

Buchmann

et al. 2016

Cortex

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Human subjects typically deviate systematically from randomness when attempting to produce a sequence of random numbers. Despite an increasing number of behavioral and functional neuroimaging studies on random number generation (RNG), its structural correlates have never been investigated. We set out to fill this gap in 44 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease whose impact on RNG has never been studied. The RNG task required the paced (1 Hz) generation of the numbers from 1 to 6 in a sequence as random as possible. The same task was administered in 39 matched healthy controls. To assess neuroanatomical correlates such as cortical thickness, lesion load and third ventricle width, all subjects underwent high-resolution structural MRI. Compared to controls, MS patients exhibited an enhanced tendency to arrange consecutive numbers in an ascending order ("forward counting"). Furthermore, patients showed a higher susceptibility to rule breaks (producing out-of-category digits like 7) and to skip beats of the metronome. Clinico-anatomical correlation analyses revealed two main findings: First, increased counting in MS patients was associated with higher cortical lesion load. Second, increased number of skipped beats was related to widespread cortical thinning. In conclusion, our test results illustrate a loss of behavioral complexity in the course of MS, while the imaging results suggest an association between this loss and cortical pathology. AbstractHuman subjects typically deviate systematically from randomness when attempting to produce a sequence of random numbers. Despite an increasing number of behavioral and functional neuroimaging studies on random number generation (RNG), its structural correlates have never been investigated. We set out to fill this gap in 44 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease whose impact on RNG has never been studied. The RNG task required the paced (1 Hz) generation of the numbers from 1 to 6 in a sequence as random as possible. The same task was administered in 39 matched healthy controls. To assess neuroanatomical correlates such as cortical thickness, lesion load and third ventricle width, all subjects underwent high-resolution structural MRI. Compared to controls, MS patients exhibited an enhanced tendency to arrange consecutive numbers in an ascending order ("forward counting"). Furthermore, patients showed a higher susceptibility to rule breaks (producing out-of-category digits like 7) and to skip beats of the metronome. Clinicoanatomical correlation analyses revealed two main findings: First, increased counting in MS patients was associated with higher cortical lesion load. Second, increased number of skipped beats was related to widespread cortical thinning. In conclusion, our test results illustrate a loss of behavioral complexity in the course of multiple sclerosis, while the imaging results suggest an association between this loss and cortical pathology. KeywordsRandom number generation; mental dice task; multiple sclerosis, neural correlates

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random number generation deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: Characteristics and neural correlates

Geisseler

Pflugshaupt

Buchmann

et al. 2016

Cortex

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“…A reduced processing speed is the most common cognitive deficit in MS (25). It is important to identify CI as early as possible and to monitor CI frequently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impaired information processing speed and attention allocation in multiple sclerosis patients versus controls: A high-density EEG study

Whelan

Lonergan

Kiiski

et al. 2010

Journal of the Neurological Sciences

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Background: The no-go P3a is a variant of the P300 event-related potential (ERP) that indexes speed of information processing and attention allocation.The aim of this study was to compare ERP findings with results from the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) and quantify latency, amplitude and topographical differences in P3a ERP components between multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and controls.Patients and Methods: Seventy-four subjects (20 relapsing remitting (RRMS) patients, 20 secondary progressive (SPMS) patients and 34 controls) completed a three-stimulus oddball paradigm (target, standard, nontarget).Subjects participated in separate visual and auditory tasks while data were recorded from 134 EEG channels. Latency differences were tested using an ANCOVA. Topographical differences were tested using statistical parametric mapping.Results: Visual P3a amplitude correlated with PASAT score in all MS patients over frontal and parietal areas. There were significant differences in latency, amplitude, and topography between MS patients and controls in the visual condition. RRMS and SPMS patients differed in visual P3a latency and amplitude at frontal and parietal scalp regions. In the auditory condition, there were latency differences between MS patients and controls only over the parietal region. Conclusion:The present results demonstrate that information processing speed and attention allocation are impaired in MS.3

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“…The most characteristic feature of cognitive dysfunction in MS is the slowing down of processing speed [2]. Another often affected domain is long-term episodic memory and attention (alternating and maintained).…”

Section: Cognitive Functions and Msmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Deficits and Neuropsychological Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

Javůrková¹,

Zimová²,

Tomašovičová³

et al. 2016

Trending Topics in Multiple Sclerosis

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The aim of this chapter was to introduce the contents of neuropsychological assessment in multiple sclerosis, which should include the functional evaluation of cognitive domains, the psychopathology of personality, levels of depression, and the assessment of psychosocial aspects and quality of life with multiple sclerosis. Further, the most commonly used neuropsychological diagnostics are described. The chapter hopes to draw attention to the importance of neuropsychological assessment which should be a part of neurological diagnostics and therapy, including rehabilitation and psychotherapy.

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Is Speed of Processing or Working Memory the Primary Information Processing Deficit in Multiple Sclerosis?

Abstract: Results strongly suggest that the primary information processing deficit in persons with MS is in speed of processing.

Cited by 331 publications

References 34 publications

Random number generation deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: Characteristics and neural correlates

Random number generation deficits in patients with multiple sclerosis: Characteristics and neural correlates

Impaired information processing speed and attention allocation in multiple sclerosis patients versus controls: A high-density EEG study

Cognitive Deficits and Neuropsychological Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

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