冰毒滥用者84例脑电图分析

目的探讨冰毒滥用患者中枢神经系统损害的脑电图变化。方法对84例冰毒戒忌者进行脑电图检查,按吸入时间和吸入剂量分析。结果84例冰毒滥用者中,正常23例(27.4%),轻度异常36例(42.9%),中度异常21例(25.0%),重度异常4例(4.8%),脑电图异常率为72.6%。脑电图异常主要表现为额部及中央区的慢波增多,且冰毒吸入时间>2年,吸入剂量>2 g/d的脑电图异常率都明显增高。结论冰毒滥用者存在客观的脑功能损害。冰毒吸入时间长、剂量大,对脑电活动的影响也越大。     

首发精神分裂症患者及其父母执行功能障碍的研究

目的探讨首发精神分裂症患者及其父母执行功能障碍的情况。方法对32例符合DSM-Ⅳ精神分裂症诊断标准的精神分裂症患者,64例精神分裂症患者的健康父母,32例患者的健康对照组和64例患者父母的健康对照组等分别实施威斯康星卡片分类测试（WCST）,最后对WCST测试结果分别进行比较。结果在WCST正确数、错误数、持续错误数、非持续错误数、正确分类数等所有评定指标上,精神分裂症患者组及其父母组测试成绩均明显差于其各自的对照组（P〈0．01）,患者组与其父母组测试成绩对比无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论首发精神分裂症患者及其父母均存在执行功能障碍,但二者受损程度比较无显著性差异。     

海洛因依赖者认知功能障碍的WCST对照研究

目的 采用威斯康星卡片分类测验(Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST)分析海洛因依赖者认知功能损害情况.方法 分别对60例住院脱毒治疗的海洛因依赖者与40例正常对照者进行WCST测验.结果 与正常对照相比,海洛因依赖组WCST的总应答数(100.6±20.2)、完成分类数(5.4±1.4)、概念化水平百分数(87.9±13.0)%等测验值均较正常组差(海洛因依赖组60例,正常对照组40例,P<0.05);男女海洛因依赖者WCST测验结果无显著差异;相关性分析发现海洛因依赖者年龄、受教育年限、用毒品年限、每日使用量与WCST测验结果之间没有显著相关性.结论 海洛因依赖者存在认知功能损害,应对海洛因依赖者进行系统的康复治疗改善其认知功能预防复发.     

Effects of asthma on stability of Wisconsin card sorting test measures*☆ A twin study

BACKGROUND： The four measures used to assess the stability of the Wisconsin card sorting test （WCST）, that is, the number of preservative errors, percentage of preservative errors, number of categories completed, and the number of trials to complete the first category, reflect the function of the frontal lobe.
OBJECTIVE： This study was designed to investigate the effects of asthma on the stability of WCST measurements through the use of a twin study, and to analyze whether egg-type difference exists.
DESIGN： A cohort study.
SETTING： Mental Health Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.
PARTICIPANTS： Fifty-nine pairs of twins, aged 6-16 years, were primarily selected from schools between August 2005 and February 2007 and the WCST and Zygosity identification test was applied. Twins with achromatopsia, severe upper limb diseases, somatic diseases, or mental disorders were excluded. According to disease history of asthmatic attack, children were assigned into asthma （n = 16） and non-asthma （n = 43） groups.
METHODS： Four WCST measurements were determined in the 59 pairs of twins, and egg-type differences were identified in conjunction.
RESULTS： All 59 pairs of twins were included in the final analysis. Among the pairs of twins, 28 （48.5 %） were monozygotic twins, and 31 （52%） were dizygotic twins. Among the monozygotic and dizygotic twins, the number of preservative errors and percentage of preservative errors were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the non-asthma group （P 〈 0.05）. However, there was no significant difference of each corresponding measure between the monozygotic and dizygotic twins （P 〉 0.05）.
CONCLUSION： Asthma may affect the stability of WCST measures, but egg-type differences do not exist.     

Effects of asthma on stability of Wisconsin card sorting test measures A twin study

BACKGROUND:The four measures used to assess the stability of the Wisconsin card sorting test (WEST),that is,the number of preservative errors,percentage of preservative errors,number of categories completed,and the number of trials to complete the first category,reflect the function of the frontal lobe.OBJECTIVE:This study was designed to investigate the effects of asthma on the stability of WCST measurements through the use of a twin study,and to analyze whether egg-type difference exists.DESIGN:A cohort study.SETTING:Mental Health Center,the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.PARTICIPANTS:Fifty-nine pairs of twins,aged 6-16 years,were primarily selected from schools between August 2005 and February 2007 and the WeST and Zygosity identification test was applied.Twins with achromatopsia,severe upper limb diseases,somatic diseases,or mental disorders were excluded.According to disease history of asthmatic attack,children were assigned into asthma(n=16)and non-asthma(n=43)groups.METHODS:Four WCST measurements were determined in the 59 pairs of twins,and egg-type differences were identified in conjunction.RESULTS:All 59 pairs of twins were included in the final analysis.Among the pairs of twins,28 (48.5%)were monozygotic twins,and 31(52%)were dizygotic twins.Among the monozygotic and dizygotic twins,the number of preservative errors and percentage of preservative errors were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the non-asthma group(P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference of each corresponding measure between the monozygotic and dizygotic twins (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Asthma may affect the stability of WCST measures,but egg-type differences do not exist.     

Cerebral metabolic dysfunction and impaired vigilance in recently abstinent methamphetamine abusers.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine (MA) abusers have cognitive deficits, abnormal metabolic activity and structural deficits in limbic and paralimbic cortices, and reduced hippocampal volume. The links between cognitive impairment and these cerebral abnormalities are not established. METHODS: We assessed cerebral glucose metabolism with [F-18]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in 17 abstinent (4 to 7 days) methamphetamine users and 16 control subjects performing an auditory vigilance task and obtained structural magnetic resonance brain scans. Regional brain radioactivity served as a marker for relative glucose metabolism. Error rates on the task were related to regional radioactivity and hippocampal morphology. RESULTS: Methamphetamine users had higher error rates than control subjects on the vigilance task. The groups showed different relationships between error rates and relative activity in the anterior and middle cingulate gyrus and the insula. Whereas the MA user group showed negative correlations involving these regions, the control group showed positive correlations involving the cingulate cortex. Across groups, hippocampal metabolic and structural measures were negatively correlated with error rates. CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunction in the cingulate and insular cortices of recently abstinent MA abusers contribute to impaired vigilance and other cognitive functions requiring sustained attention. Hippocampal integrity predicts task performance in methamphetamine users as well as control subjects.     

Wisconsin card sorting test: a new global score, with Italian norms, and its relationship with the Weigl sorting test

The Wisconsin card sorting test and the Weigl test are two neuropsychological tools widely used in clinical practice to assess frontal lobe functions. In this study we present norms useful for Italian subjects aged from 15 to 85 years, within 5–17 years of education. Concerning the Wisconsin card sorting test, a new measure of global efficiency (global score) is proposed as well as norms for some well known, qualitative aspects of the performance, i. e. perseverative responses, failure to maintain the set and non-perseverative errors. In setting normative values, we followed a statistical methodology (equivalent scores) employed in Italy for other neuropsychological tests, in order to favour the possibility of comparison among these tests. A correlation study between the global score of the Wisconsin card sorting test and the score on the Weigl test was carried out and it emerges that some cognitive aspects are not overlapping in these two measures. Received: 15 June 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 10 November 2000     

精神分裂症认知障碍与精神症状的关系

目的：探索精神分裂症认知障碍特点及其与阴性、阳性症状间的关系。方法：比较32例未用过抗精神病药的精神分裂症患者及15例正常受试者的事件相关电位(ERPs)和威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)成绩，并进行相关分析。结果：精神分裂症患者多个位点N2和P3波潜伏期延长，P3波幅降低。WCST中分类完成数偏少，持续错误数和总错误数增加。N2潜伏期和波幅与阳性症状与阴性症状量表(PANSS)阳性症状分呈负相关，而WCST总错误数与PANSS总分和阴性症状分正相关。结论：精神分裂症病人存在中枢信息处理障碍、认知障碍，与阴性、阳性症状之间具有一定的内在联系。     

抑郁症患者识别动态面部表情的执行功能研究

目的：通过威斯康星卡片分类测试（WCST）及动态面部表情识别任务,探讨抑郁症执行功能障碍特征及可能机制。方法：42例抑郁症患者及30名正常对照进行WCST测试;其中抑郁症患者19例及正常对照15名进行动态面部表情识别作业,记录反应时和正确率。结果：与正常对照组相比,抑郁症组存在不同程度WCST的操作损伤,动态面部表情的识别反应时延长,正确率降低。结论：抑郁症患者存在执行功能障碍,对区别不同面部表情的执行功能存在差异。     

Impairments of facial emotion recognition and theory of mind in methamphetamine abusers

Chronic use of methamphetamine is related to behavioral disturbances including depression, aggressive behavior, and social isolation. These alterations of social behavior may be attributable to impairments in social cognition. However, few studies have evaluated social cognition in methamphetamine (MA) abusers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether MA abusers exhibit social cognition deficits in terms of facial emotion recognition and theory of mind (ToM). We also assessed cognitive flexibility by using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to evaluate the impact of this function on social cognition. Twenty-eight MA abusers and twenty-seven healthy subjects enrolled in this study. All participants performed the Facial Emotion Recognition Task and advanced ToM tasks such as the Eye Test and Hinting Task. The Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised and computerized versions of the WCST were also administrated. The performances of MA abusers on the Facial Emotion Recognition Task and Eyes Test were lower than those of healthy subjects. In the WCST, MA abusers completed significantly fewer categories and made more total and perseverative errors than healthy subjects did. In addition, impairments in cognitive flexibility are correlated with impairments in facial emotion recognition and ToM within MA abusers. These findings lend further support to the assertion that the capacity to identify emotions from facial expression and infer mental state of others is impaired in MA abusers. Therefore, treatment and rehabilitation for MA abusers must consider role of social cognition and include relearning social interactions and behaviors.     

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex affects divided attention immediately after cessation of stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation has evolved into a powerful neuroscientific tool allowing to interfere transiently with specific brain functions. In addition, repetitive TMS (rTMS) has long-term effects (e.g. on mood), probably mediated by neurochemical alterations. While long-term safety of rTMS with regard to cognitive functioning is well established from trials exploring its therapeutic efficacy, little is known on whether rTMS can induce changes in cognitive functioning in a time window ranging from minutes to hours, a time in which neurochemical effects correlated with stimulation have been demonstrated. This study examined effects of rTMS on three measures of executive function in healthy subjects who received one single rTMS session (40 trains of 2 s duration 20 Hz stimuli) at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Compared to a sham condition one week apart, divided attention performance was significantly impaired about 30-60 min after rTMS, while Stroop-interference and performance in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test was unaffected after rTMS. Repetitive TMS of the left DLPFC, at stimulation parameters used in therapeutic studies, does not lead to a clinically relevant impairment of executive function after stimulation. However, the significant effect on divided attention suggests that cognitive effects of rTMS are not limited to the of acute stimulation, and may possibly reflect known neurochemical alterations induced by rTMS. Sensitive cognitive measures may be useful to trace those short-term effects of rTMS non-invasively in humans.     

Enlarged striatum in abstinent methamphetamine abusers: a possible compensatory response.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about structural brain abnormalities associated with methamphetamine (METH) abuse; therefore, we aimed: 1) to evaluate possible morphometric changes, especially in the striatum of recently abstinent METH-dependent subjects; 2) to evaluate whether morphometric changes are related to cognitive performance; and 3) to determine whether there are sex-by-METH interactions on morphometry. METHODS: Structural MRI was performed in 50 METH and 50 comparison subjects with the same age range and sex proportion; quantitative morphometric analyses were performed in the subcortical gray matter, cerebellum and corpus callosum. Neuropsychological tests were also performed in 44 METH and 28 comparison subjects. RESULTS: METH users showed enlarged putamen (left: + 10.3%, p = .0007; right: + 9.6%, p = .001) and globus pallidus (left: + 9.3%, p = .002; right: + 6.6%, p = .01). Female METH subjects additionally showed larger mid-posterior corpus callosum (+ 9.7%, p = .05). Although METH users had normal cognitive function, those with smaller striatal structures had poorer cognitive performance and greater cumulative METH usage. CONCLUSIONS: Since METH subjects with larger striatal structures had relatively normal cognitive performance and lesser cumulative METH usage, the enlarged putamen and globus pallidus might represent a compensatory response to maintain function. Possible mechanisms for the striatal enlargement include glial activation and inflammatory changes associated with METH-induced injury.     

Functional connectivity abnormalities underlying mood disturbances in male abstinent methamphetamine abusers

Anxiety and depression are the most common withdrawal symptoms of methamphetamine (METH) abuse, which further exacerbate relapse of METH abuse. To date, no effective pharmacotherapy exists for METH abuse and its withdrawal symptoms. Therefore, understanding the neuromechanism underlying METH abuse and its withdrawal symptoms is essential for developing clinical strategies and improving patient care. The aims of this study were to investigate brain network abnormalities in METH abusers (MAs) and their associations with affective symptoms. Forty‐eight male abstinent MAs and 48 age‐gender matched healthy controls were recruited and underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The severity of patient anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured by Hamilton anxiety and depression rating scales, which decreased across the duration of abstinence. Independent component analysis was used to investigate the brain network functional connectivity (FC) properties. Compared with healthy controls, MAs demonstrated hypo‐intra‐network FC in the cerebellar network and hyper‐intra‐network FC in the posterior salience network. A whole‐brain regression analysis revealed that FC strength of clusters located in the right rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) within the ventromedial network (VMN) was associated with affective symptoms in the patients. Importantly, the intra‐network FC strength of the rACC in VMN mediated the association between abstinence duration and the severity level of affective symptoms. Our results demonstrate alterations in brain functional networks underlying METH abuse, and that the FC of rACC within VMN serve as a neural substrate in the association between abstinence length and affective symptom severity in the MAs.     

Metacognitive impairment in patients with episodic and chronic migraine

Migraine is one of the most common medical disorder in the world. Metacognition is the ability to monitor one’s own cognitive functioning and consequently direct one’s behavior. In adult migraine patients, the neuropsychological profile has been poorly investigated, and metacognitive functions have never been assessed. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate executive metacognitive abilities in patients with episodic and chronic migraine. Sixty-four migraine patients (male/female = 18/46; mean age = 45.65 ± 11.61 years): 27 patients with episodic migraine without aura (male/female = 9/18; mean age ± SD = 45.11 ± 12.18 years) and 37 patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache (male/female = 9/28; mean age ± SD = 46.05 ± 11.32 years) were selected for the study. Twenty-nine controls (male/female = 12/17; mean age ± SD = 42.86 ± 14.78 years) were also enrolled in the research. Metacognitive and executive skills were assessed using the metacognitive version of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Migraine patients exhibited a lower performance in metacognitive tasks in respect to controls in term of worse outcomes in accuracy score (p = 0.012), global monitoring (p = 0.015), monetary gains (p = 0.022), and control sensitivity (p = 0.027). A reduction in accuracy score (p = 0.001), free-choice improvement (p = 0.002), global monitoring (p = 0.003), monetary gains (p = 0.009), and control sensitivity (p < 0.001) was also found in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache in respect to patients with episodic migraine. Our study supports the hypothesis that migraine patients show metacognitive dysfunctions that become worse with the chronicization of the disease and the increase of medication use.     

男性精神分裂症患者前额叶质子波谱特点及其与执行功能的关系

目的探讨男性精神分裂症患者前额叶氢质子磁共振波谱(proton magnetic resonance spectrosco-py,1H-MRS)的特点及与执行功能的关系。方法纳入26例7d内未使用抗精神病药物及影响脑内乙酰胆碱神经递质药物的男性精神分裂症患者及28名男性正常对照。两组在入组24h内采用多体素1H-MRS检测前额叶生化代谢物N-乙酰基天门冬氨酸(NAA)、胆碱复合物(Cho)与肌酸复合物(Cr),完成NAA/Cr值、Cho/Cr值和NAA/(Cho+Cr)值的计算,同时进行威斯康星卡片分类测验(Wisconsin Card Sorting Test,WCST)评定受试者的执行功能。结果患者组左侧前额叶NAA/Cr值(1.40±0.34)低于对照组(1.69±0.31),差异有统计学意义(t=2.93,P0.01)。患者组WCST的错误应答数、持续应答数、持续错误数均明显高于对照组(t分别为2.32、2.25、2.40,P均小于0.05),分类数和概念化水平应答数均明显低于对照组(t=2.91,P0.01;t=2.46,P0.05)。患者组左侧前额叶NAA/Cr值与错误应答数、持续错误数呈正相关(r=0.45,P0.05;r=0.47,P0.05),与分类数、概念化水平应答数呈负相关(r=-0.54,P0.01;r=-0.56,P0.01)。结论男性精神分裂症患者左侧前额叶可能存在神经元功能和(或)结构异常,这可能是引起额叶执行功能障碍的原因。     

有暴力行为的男性青少年神经生化与认知功能

目的:探索男性不良青少年暴力行为的神经生化、神经内分泌及神经心理学基础.方法:以88例有官方暴力型违法乱纪记录的青少年为研究组,以68例职业高中生为对照组,对两组进行血小板5-HT浓度和血清甲状腺素(T4)、三碘甲状腺原氨酸(T3)、血清促甲状腺素(TSH)、血清睾酮(testosterone,T)测定,以及威斯康星卡...     

Cognitive flexibility and its electrophysiological correlates in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome

Motor symptoms in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) have been related to changes in frontostriatal brain networks. These changes may also give rise to alterations in cognitive flexibility. However, conclusive evidence for altered cognitive flexibility in patients with GTS is still lacking. Here, we meta-analyzed data from 20 neuropsychological studies that investigated cognitive flexibility in GTS using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results revealed medium-sized GTS-related performance deficits, which were significantly modulated by age: Whilst being substantial in children and adolescents with GTS, WCST deficits seem to dissolve in adult patients with GTS. This age-related normalization of WCST performance might result from the compensatory recruitment of cognitive control in adult patients with GTS. We addressed this possibility by examining neural correlates of proactive and reactive cognitive control in an event-related potential (ERP) study. We analyzed cue- and target-locked ERPs from 23 adult patients with GTS and 26 matched controls who completed a computerized version of the WCST. Compared to controls, patients with GTS showed a marked increase in parietal cue-locked P3 activity, indicating enhanced proactive cognitive control. We conclude that the additional recruitment of proactive cognitive control might ensure flexible cognitive functioning in adult patients with GTS.     

Executive function in children with pervasive developmental disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder assessed by the Keio version of the Wisconsin card sorting test

The Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) comprehensively examines executive function (EF). The Keio version of the WCST (KWCST) uses fewer cards and presents them in two steps, separated by a short pause during which an instruction is given. Being of short duration, this test is suitable for children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), yet few studies have examined the performance of children with such developmental disorders in the second step of a two-step test such as the KWCST. Using the KWCST, this study compares EF in children with PDD (n=52), or AD/HD (n=46) to that in typically developing (TD) children (n=52). Scores for the six indices of this test, including numbers of response cards until the first category achieved (NUCA), total errors (TE), and non-perseverative errors of Nelson (NPEN), were analyzed using ANOVA. Compared to the TD group, scores in the PDD and/or AD/HD groups were significantly lower for all indices except NUCA and NPEN for the first step, and lower for all indices except NUCA for the second step. Moreover, significantly fewer improvements in TE were seen in the PDD group, and significantly fewer improvements in NPEN were seen in the AD/HD group, compared with TD. This study suggests that both PDD and AD/HD make it difficult for children to utilize their experience in the first step and to effectively apply the instruction given before the second step. It also suggests that the two-step nature of the KWCST is clinically important.     

Glial dysfunction in abstinent methamphetamine abusers

Persistent neurochemical abnormalities in frontal brain structures are believed to result from methamphetamine use. We developed a localized ¹³C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) assay on a conventional MR scanner, to quantify selectively glial metabolic flux rate in frontal brain of normal subjects and a cohort of recovering abstinent methamphetamine abusers. Steady-state bicarbonate concentrations were similar, between 11 and 15 mmol/L in mixed gray-white matter of frontal brain of normal volunteers and recovering methamphetamine-abusing subjects (P>0.1). However, glial ¹³C-bicarbonate production rate from [1-¹³C]acetate, equating with glial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle rate, was significantly reduced in frontal brain of abstinent methamphetamine-addicted women (methamphetamine 0.04 μmol/g per min (N=5) versus controls 0.11 μmol/g per min (N=5), P=0.001). This is equivalent to 36% of the normal glial TCA cycle rate. Severe reduction in glial TCA cycle rate that normally comprises 10% of total cerebral metabolic rate may impact operation of the neuronal glial glutamate cycle and result in accumulation of frontal brain glutamate, as observed in these recovering methamphetamine abusers. Although these are the first studies to define directly an abnormality in glial metabolism in human methamphetamine abuse, sequential studies using analogous ¹³C MRS methods may determine ‘cause and effect'' between glial failure and neuronal injury.     

首次发病与复发抑郁症患者执行功能的对照研究

目的:探讨首发和复发抑郁症患者执行功能损害情况。方法:采用威斯康星卡片分类测验(WCST)、Stroop测验、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD-17)对100例抑郁症患者进行评定,其中首次发病(首发组)患者41例,复发(复发组)患者59例;同时以50名正常人作为对照组进行测评并分析比较。结果:在WSCT的总错误数、分类完成数、持续性错误数及持续性应答数、以及Stroop色词测验的彩色文字阅读(Stroop-c)时间和彩色文字的色彩阅读(Stroop-cw)正确数上,首发组、复发组与对照组之间差异均有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01);Stroop-c正确数上首发组和复发组之间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:无论首发还是复发抑郁症患者均存在明显的执行功能损害,复发者更为显著。