The relationship between sleep patterns and attention levels

Fifty-nine adults slept five nights with an Actigraph and answered two questionnaires related to sleeping quality and morningness/eveningness preferences. Next they performed a computerized attention task (the mathematics continuous performance test (MATH-CPT)) to assess various measures of attention. Results showed significant correlations between six attention variables and two measures of sleep assessed by the Actigraph. Linear regression with sleep variables as independent variables, and measures of the computerized test as dependent variables showed that sleep measures explained 30% of the variance of the score in the “final attention formula” of the test, and 27% of the “rate of response.”     

认知能力发展与年龄的关系

目的:采用新编的华文认知能力量表探讨中国普通人群的认知能力发展与年龄的关系。方法:采用华文认知能力量表对791名来自无锡和芜湖的普通人群进行个别测试,分析认知能力的年龄发展趋势。结果:言语智商、操作智商、总智商、各因子商数、以及认知能力量表的分量表与年龄的趋势图均呈类似倒U字形;言语智商、操作智商、总智商、各因子商数、以及认知能力量表的分量表的高分基本在15.5~20岁年龄组或20~30岁年龄组,在15.5~20岁年龄组之前随年龄的增长逐渐升高,在20~30岁年龄组之后随年龄升高逐渐降低。结论:认知能力的成长曲线呈类倒U字形,在20~30岁年龄组之后逐渐呈非线性衰退。     

No relationship between testosterone levels and depressive symptoms in aging men.

We investigated the associations between depression and serum testosterone levels in the elderly. There was no significant difference in the mean levels of the serum testosterone between the groups of patients and normals. For both groups, there was no significant correlation between testosterone and total depression scores or age.     

The relationship between cognitive ability and depression: a longitudinal data analysis

Purpose

There is literature indicating cognitive ability and depression are related, but few studies have examined the direction of the relationship. This study examined the relationship between depression levels and cognitive abilities from adolescence to early adulthood.

Methods

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 14,322), this study used path modeling to investigate the relationship between depression and cognitive ability at baseline and again 8 years later.

Results

After controlling for initial levels of depression, cognitive ability, and other covariates, depressive symptoms in adolescence are related to cognitive ability in early adulthood, but adolescent cognitive ability is not related to adult depression levels. Moreover, after controlling for adolescent levels of depression and cognitive ability, the cognitive ability–depression relationship disappears in adulthood.

Conclusions

The cognitive ability–depression relationship appears early in life, and it is likely that the presence of depressive symptoms leads to lower cognitive ability. Thus, intervening at early signs of depression not only can help alleviate depression, but will likely have an effect of cognitive ability as well.     

The relationship between depression and cognitive deficits

In the last years cognitive impairment in depression has been widely reported. It is clear that cognitive symptoms persist after remission of psychopathological symptoms but little is known about the pathophysiological events linking depression and cognitive impairment. Novel biological, structural and functional neuroimaging techniques have allowed a better definition of this relation. Depression and cognitive dysfunction share a common neuropathological platform in cortical and sub-cortical brain areas implicated in emotional and cognitive processing which may be under the control of genetic and environmental factors.     

The relationship between leftward turning bias and visuospatial ability in humans.

A significant relationship was found between a bias to make complete counter-clockwise (leftward) turns and performance levels on tests of visuospatial function. Subjects who turned preferentially to the left over a four-day period performed above average on visuospatial tests with those having the greatest turning bias performing the best. Subjects who tended to turn to the right performed below average on tests of visuospatial function. There was no relationship between rotational bias and verbosequential skills, but there was a significant relationship between turning bias and a cognitive profile defined as the difference between visuospatial ability and verbosequential ability. The cognitive profile effectively partialed out overall ability suggesting that the turning bias is related to the bias for better visuospatial processing rather than the level of visuospatial performance per se. Asymmetric turning has been shown to be related to asymmetries of dopamine activity in rats. Therefore, the present results are discussed in relation to the possibility that the dopamine neurotransmitter system may underlie both rotational behavior and visuospatial cognitive function in humans.     

The relationship between laterality and numerical and spatial ability

Hypotheses derived from right shift theory concerning the relationship between laterality and mathematical ability were investigated. This was done by dividing a group of 129 subjects into subgroups with presumably different distributions of the rs+ +, rs+ - and rs- - genotypes on the basis of their manual skills and then assessing their numerical and spatial abilities. No relationship was found between laterality and ability when the group as a whole were considered, but some marginal effects were found for numerical ability when data for a subgroup of 96 young female subjects were analysed separately. The results did not, however, conform to the predictions of right shift theory.     

The association between caesarean section and cognitive ability in childhood

Purpose

Global rates of caesarean section (CS) rates have increased rapidly in recent years. This is a growing public health concern as it has been proposed that CS may impact cognitive outcomes in childhood. However, the evidence for this association is limited and inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between obstetric mode of delivery and longitudinal cognitive outcomes in childhood.

Methods

We examined this question using data from a longitudinal cohort study of 8845 participants from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative UK cohort, who completed a range of verbal and visual-spatial cognitive assessments at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 years.

Results

We found a statistically significant association between planned CS and visual-spatial cognitive delay in the pattern construction assessment at age 5 (OR 1.31, 95% CI 0.99–1.72) and age 7 (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.12–1.81). Additionally planned CS was also associated with increased odds of “early childhood delay” (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.15–2.50) and borderline increased odds of “persistent delay” (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.99–1.89) in visual-spatial cognitive tests. Mode of delivery was not associated with verbal ability or with patterns of delay at any age point in verbal cognitive tests.

Conclusion

We have reported a small association between planned CS and visual-spatial cognitive delay in childhood. However, while this result should be interpreted with caution, it highlights the need to further explore this potential relationship and the causal basis of such an association.

     

无症状脑梗死与认知功能的关系

目的探讨无症状脑梗死（SCI）与认知功能障碍的关系。方法采用简易精神状态检查法（MMSE）及临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）对61例无症状脑梗死患者和79例健康体检者的认知功能进行评分,比较两组轻度认知功能障碍（MCI）的发生率。结果无症状脑梗死组发生轻度认知功能障碍者13例（21．3％）,显著高于健康体检组（P〈0．05）。结论SCI与认知功能障碍关系密切。     

轻度认知功能障碍与血浆同型半胱氨酸水平的相关性研究

目的 探讨轻度认知功能障碍(MCI)与血浆同型半胱氨酸、维生素B12、叶酸水平的关系.方法 68例MCI患者测定血浆同型半胱氨酸、维生素B12、叶酸水平及简易精神量表评分等,并与70例健康老人作对照.结果 MCI患者血浆HCY明显高于对照组,而维生素B12、叶酸水平明显低于对照组(均P＜0.05);在轻度认知功能障碍组,当患者血浆HCY＞15umol/l时,其轻度认知功能障碍的优势比OR值为4.3,95%CI为1.89～7.43. MCI 患者HCY水平与维生素B12、叶酸水平及评分均称负相关关系.结论 血浆HCY升高是MCI的重要因素,体内叶酸、维生素B12缺乏是导致血浆HCY升高的原因.     

The relationship between cognitive control and posttraumatic stress symptoms

Background and objectivesRecently researchers have theorized that individual differences in cognitive control (i.e., the ability to complete goal-directed behavior by actively maintaining information while inhibiting irrelevant information) may elucidate processes involved in disorders characterized by intrusive thoughts and memories. By this account, the relationship between cognitive control and emotional disorders would be specific to symptoms associated with intrusive cognitions, such as re-experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).MethodsIn the present study, 77 undergraduate participants with a self-reported history of trauma exposure were administered assessments of cognitive control (working memory capacity; WMC), PTSD symptoms, trait anxiety, and depression. PTSD symptoms from each of the three symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal) were predicted from trait anxiety, depression, and WMC performance scores using separate regression models.ResultsAfter controlling for trait anxiety and depression, there was a negative, statistically significant relationship between cognitive control and re-experiencing symptoms but not avoidance or hyperarousal symptoms.LimitationsThe study was completed cross-sectionally and did not include a diagnostic assessment of PTSD.ConclusionsFindings add to extant literature suggesting a relationship between cognitive control and intrusive cognitions. Moreover, the present study expands the current literature by demonstrating the specificity of this relationship within individuals with varying degrees of PTSD symptom severity.     

The relationship between visuospatial ability and perceptual motor function in Parkinson''s disease.

To assess the contribution of visuoperceptual function to complex visuomotor responding in Parkinson's disease, 14 patients with idiopathic PD and 12 normal controls matched for age, education and general intellectual function were administered a visual tracing task. No difference was found between the groups on two visuoperceptual tests, the Benton Line Orientation test and a test of trajectory judgement. However, patients were significantly impaired in tracing a sawtooth design when two consecutive angles of the sawtooth were occluded. This impairment occurred in reproducing the basic form of the stimulus and not with accuracy of fine detail. These results suggest higher-order perceptual motor dysfunction independent of any breakdown in basic visuoperceptual processing or loss of fine motor control. It is concluded that Parkinsonian patients are unable to use sensory information accurately to plan and execute complex or new movements.     

The relationship of play behavior to cognitive ability in developmentally disabled preschoolers

The relationship of play behavior to cognitive functioning in preschool developmentally disabled children was studied by comparing performance on Lowe and Costello's Symbolic Play Test (SPT) with that on the Bayley Scales and Stanford-Binet Scale. Subjects were 247 children referred for evaluation to a hospital-based child development clinic. Subjects were classified as midley retarded, moderately retarded, atypical, borderline, and language disordered. Correlations between the Bayley/Binet and SPT for the whole sample were significant and in the low to moderate range. Correlations between cognitive and play measures for each clinical group were in the low to moderate range, except for atypical children where the correlations were negligible. The retarded and borderline groups achieved similar mental ages on the Bayley/Binet and SPT but the language-disordered and atypical groups demonstrated marked differences in their Bayley/Binet and SPT functioning. Implications for using the SPT in clinical practive were discussed.We thank Maxine Field, Nancy Fox, Jean Fridy, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Also, we are grateful to Paul Crits-Christoph for his statistical consultation.     

Fluoxetine treatment and testosterone levels.

BACKGROUND: Two published case studies have reported SRI/SNRI-associated low testosterone levels. Apathy and low testosterone, observed during venlafaxine treatment in one report, both resolved upon venlafaxine discontinuation. No studies have investigated the effect of chronic SRI treatment on human testosterone levels.As decreased testosterone has several negative health effects, we conducted a pilot study investigating the effect of fluoxetine treatment on testosterone levels. METHODS: Fourteen depressive disorder patients in good health (BDI = 15) were studied. In addition, 4 non-depressed patients were studied. Testosterone levels were drawn, and an apathy questionnaire (under development, not yet validated) was administered at intake.Fluoxetine was provided (10 mg/day for 7 days then 20 mg/day). To measure outcome, a follow-up testosterone level was drawn after 1 month's treatment. RESULTS: Eleven depressed, and 3 non-depressed, patients completed the study. While there were large differences-both increases and decreases-in some individuals' testosterone levels after fluoxetine treatment, for the study population as a whole, there was no relationship (depressed patients, p = 0.4; non-depressed patients, p 0.3) between fluoxetine treatment and testosterone levels.In patients with BDI = 20, testosterone levels at intake were highly associated with intake apathy levels (p = 0.0033). CONCLUSIONS: Further, larger, studies correlating changes in testosterone levels during SRI treatment with treatment response, apathy levels and possibly sexual dysfunction seem indicated.     

The relationship between cognitive dysfunction and stress sensitivity in schizophrenia

The aim of the current study was to replicate the finding that cognitive impairments are not or inversely associated with sensitivity to stress in a sample of 25 patients diagnosed with psychotic disorder. The results indicated that impairments in performance on the Trailmaking Test and the Stroop Color Word Test were inversely associated with sensitivity to stress in daily life, whereas impairment in a subtest of the Behavioral Assessment of Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) was not associated with stress-sensitivity. The data thus show that in some instances cognitive functioning is not, and in other instances is inversely associated with momentary sensitivity to stress. Cognitive impairment and affective reactivity thus appear to be independent or mutually exclusive mechanisms in psychosis, suggesting competing causal pathways.     

ADMA与认知障碍严重程度的关系

目的本研究观察新的血管内皮功能障碍的预测因子-非对称二甲基精氨(ADMA)与认知障碍严重程度的相关性,并进一步分析影响认知障碍的相关危险因素,为以后的科研及临床干预老年人认知障碍的发展提供更多证据支持。方法采用随机抽样的方法,共收集172例,其中男99例,女73例;年龄48岁~89岁,平均66.62±9.99岁。入选者均同意进行蒙特利尔认知评估北京版(Mo CA)的调查。收集并记录所有入选者的年龄、学历、性别、冠心病、糖尿病史等临床资料。常规检测空腹血糖、甘油三脂(TG)、总胆固醇(T-CH)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(Cr)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)等生化指标。同时应用酶联免疫法测定各组研究对象血清中的ADMA浓度。结果按Mo CA评分分组的各组中,年龄(P0.001)、学历(P0.001)、收缩压(P=0.026)、ALT(P=0.01)、AST(P=0.011)、内生肌酐清除率(P=0.002)、血清ADMA浓度(P=0.028)的差别有统计学意义。按Mo CA量表评分的各组间,随着评分越低,血清ADMA的含量越高(P0.05)。结论 Mo CA评分反映早期认知功能受损程度较灵敏。按照这一量表分组,ADMA与认知功能障碍的程度成正比。说明内皮功能受损与认知功能障碍程度呈正相关。     

Anticonvulsant serum levels: relationship to impairments of cognitive functioning.

Twenty-eight patients with epilepsy were seen on two occasions at an interval of three months. On one session anticonvulsant serum levels were high and on the other session the serum levels were lower. On each of the two sessions patients performed a series of psychological tests and had a blood sample taken for the analysis of anticonvulsant serum concentrations. Seizure frequency in the previous three months was documented and several patients had an EEG recording made. Deficits in psychological test performance were found at high serum concentrations. Furthermore, lower serum level concentrations did not appear to be accompanied by worsened seizure control.     

精神分裂症患者性激素与认知功能的关系

目的:探讨精神分裂症患者性激素与认知功能的关系。方法:精神分裂症患者95例,使用利培酮治疗6周,分别于治疗前和治疗后进行雌二醇(E2)、孕酮(Prog)、睾酮(T)、催乳素(PRL)、促卵泡激素(FSH)、黄体生成素(LH)检测、简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)评定和瑞文标准推理测验。结果:男性患者的E2、T、FSH、LH水平与瑞文测验正确题数、知觉辨别、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系正确题数均正相关;治疗后E2、T水平不再与瑞文推理测验相关。女性患者的E2、Prog、T、FSH、LH水平与瑞文测验正确题数、智商数、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系、抽象推理正确题数均正相关;治疗后E2、LH水平仍与瑞文测验正确题数、智商数、类同比较、比较推理、系列关系、抽象推理正确题数正相关,T水平与瑞文测验正确题数及所有因子正确题数负相关。结论:男女精神分裂症患者性激素对认知功能有不同影响。     

The relationship between cognitive failures, psychoneurotic symptoms and sex

As Broadbent et al's (1) original analysis of the relationship between the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) was conducted on an altered version of the MHQ, the present study undertook this same analysis using the full MHQ. In addition, the relationship was examined to see if it was mediated by the differences in the scoring of males and females on each questionnaire. Our results support and strengthen Broadbent et al's conclusion that high rates of cognitive failure are associated with psychoneurotic symptoms. The sex difference on the CFQ is discussed in terms of vulnerability to stress to account for the higher incidence of psychoneurotic symptoms in females.