Working Memory and Cognitive Flexibility Mediates Visuoconstructional Abilities in Older Adults with Heterogeneous Cognitive Ability

Abstract

Previous studies suggest that executive functions influence the performance on visuoconstructional tasks. This study aims to investigate whether the relationship between planning ability and the copy of complex figures is mediated by distinct components of executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility). We included a 129 older adults with Alzheimer's disease (n=36, AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n=67), and with no evidence of cognitive impairment (controls, n=26). We evaluated the mediation effect of planning abilities, working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control on visuoconstructional tasks using a multiple mediation models. We found a significant direct effect of planning on visuoconstructional abilities and a partial mediation effect of working memory and cognitive flexibility on visuoconstructional abilities. The present results indicate that the performance on visuoconstructional task is mediated by multiple interrelated executive functions components, in particular working memory and cognitive flexibility.

The Effect of Planning, Strategy Learning, and Working Memory Capacity on Mental Workload

“…This indicated that planning imposed higher mental workload suggesting that more cognitive resources were required during planning than working memory task. The result was consistent with literature that stated that planning is a higher-order executive function that integrates core cognitive processes such as working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility [26][27][28] . Although attentive readers could argue that the time limit set for the math operations during the AOSPAN task might result in time pressure and increase mental workload, our results did not support this assumption.…”

“…The aim of our study was the investigation of the effect of planning, strategy learning, and working memory capacity on mental workload. In a first step, we aimed to show that a higher-level executive function like planning involving several core cognitive processes [26][27][28] imposes a higher mental workload than a working memory task as it binds more cognitive resources. Next, we investigated interrelations between planning, strategy learning, working memory capacity, and mental workload according to the last two hypotheses.…”

Effects of an APOE Promoter Polymorphism on Fronto-Parietal Functional Connectivity During Nondemented Aging

“…The Chinese translation of the MMSE served as a general cognitive function test. The other tests included the following: (1) episodic memory, Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT; Markowitz, 2015 ) and Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure test (ROCF; recall component; Peluso et al, 2015 ); (2) processing speed, Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT; Markowitz, 2015 ); (3) visual–spatial ability, ROCF (Ávila et al, 2015 ); (4) language ability, Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT) (Jeon and Han, 2012 ); and (5) executive function, Stroop Color–Word Test (Ryan et al, 2015 ).…”

Categorization Working Memory Span Task: Validation study of two Brazilian alternate versions

“…Among cognitive functions that significantly change in the aging process, one could cite working memory (WM), which refers to the ability to temporarily maintain information for use in ongoing mental operations . Scores in WM tend to be lower in older adults compared to younger individuals, and it is further impaired in patients with neurocognitive disorders …”

“…4 Scores in WM tend to be lower in older adults compared to younger individuals, [5][6][7] and it is further impaired in patients with neurocognitive disorders. 8,9 Daneman and Carpenter 10 devised 2 working memory tests-the reading span and the listening/reading span test. In these tasks, the participant is required to read or listen to a number of sentences and remember the last word contained in each sentence.…”