Selective Attention and Information Processing Speed in Graves’ Disease: Stroop Interference Effect

Abstract

Background Cognitive functions are affected by thyroid hormones. In this study, we aimed to investigate the selective attention and information processing speed in thyrotoxic Graves' disease. Methodology This study was conducted among 40 patients with thyrotoxic Graves' disease and age and gender-matched 40 healthy controls. Stroop Color and Word test were applied to healthy controls once and to patients with Graves' disease during thyrotoxic and euthyroid periods. Stroop interference effect was calculated. Results The mean age was 34.67 ± 11 in the Graves' group and 34.72 ± 9.16 in the control group (p > 0.05). The number of errors and self-corrections in Stroop Color and Word test was higher in patients with thyrotoxic Graves' disease than both patients with euthyroid Graves' disease and healthy controls (p < 0.05). Stroop interference effect was significantly longer in patients with thyrotoxic Graves' disease than both patients with euthyroid Graves' disease and healthy controls (p < 0.05). All parameters obtained from the Stroop Color and Word test including errors, self-corrections, and Stroop interference effect were similar in patients with euthyroid Graves' disease and healthy controls. Conclusions Selective attention was impaired and information processing speed was slow in patients with thyrotoxic Graves' disease, and these findings were associated with age and educational level. After becoming euthyroid through antithyroid medication, these pathological findings returned to normal levels. Additionally, Stroop interference effect was significantly decreased when patients with Graves' disease became euthyroid.

Neuropsychological functioning of adults with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome

“…Furthermore, an average performance on Stroop card III and a low average performance on Stroop card I and II were noted. This suggests a slow pace of word reading and color naming, which could possibly be explained by reading difficulties, slowed visual information processing, or observed oral motor functioning (Ekinci et al, 2021;Proulx & Elmasry, 2015). In addition, a substantial part of adults with PHTS showed lower performance on immediate memory recall and speed of information processing, which have been observed to varying degrees in previous studies and mostly in PHTS individuals with ASD (Balci et al, 2018;Busch et al, 2019;Plamper et al, 2020).…”