bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
33 Title: Examining memory performances in a sample of cognitively healthy illiterate older adult population in India
Authors: Arora Sonakshi 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Despite the rise in literacy, 773 million of the global population is estimated to be illiterate. The rate of illiteracy is even higher among women and older adults (OA). Literacy has been well documented to impact cognitive skills, and most neuropsychological tests developed are for individuals with higher education. Moreover, there is sparse research on cognitive process and performance of illiterate individuals across cognitive domains.Per a 2011 census, the illiteracy rate in the Indian older adult population was as high as 56%, and within this group, women and older adults in rural regions were especially vulnerable. Thus, it is important to understand cognitive performance of illiterate Indian older adult population, especially when they are being assessed for neurodegenerative disorders.Participants and Methods:This study used subset of data from Harmonized Longitudinal Aging Study of India, Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI DAD), which was developed by the Gateway to Global Aging Data. A sample of cognitive healthy OA (n = 715) was selected based on Hindi Mental Status Exam score of >19 and a Clinical Dementia Rating Scale of 0 (literate = 419, illiterate = 296). Given the heterogeneity of the population, adapted cognitive instruments were used. This study compared memory performances, using word list and constructional praxis with delayed recall tasks, of OA based on their literacy status (illiterate vs. literate).Results:Literate cognitive healthy OA (M = 15.27, SD = 3.9) learned more words over three trials than illiterate OA (M = 12.17, SD = 3.7) on a world list task, a statistically significant difference (M = 3.1, 95% CI [2.5, 3.6], t (713) = 10.62, p<0.05. Literate OA (M = 8.7, SD = 2.2) had higher scores on task of copy of simple geometrical figures than illiterate OA (M = 5.3, SD = 2.8), a statistically significant difference (M = 3.3, 95% CI [2.9, 3.7], t (713) = 7.1, p<0.05. Literate OA (M = 4.5, SD = 1.8) also recalled more words than illiterate OA (M = 3.6, SD = 2.1) after a delay. Recall of geometric figures after a delay was higher for literate OA (M = 5, SD = 2.9) as well compared to illiterate OA (M = 2.4, SD = 2.5).Conclusions:Conclusion: In a sample of cognitively healthy Indian older adults, literate OA consistently performed better than illiterate OA on both verbal and nonverbal memory measures. This is consistent with past literature which shows that illiterate individuals take longer to learn verbal information and have lower recall. Additionally, use of geometric figure may be complicated for these individuals. These are important considerations when assessing an OA for memory problems with low or no education. Next steps would be to look at differences across other cognitive domains and also examining if cognitive differences exist in illiterate OA based on gender.
37 Bilingualism does not modify the association between stroke and cognitive performance in Mexican American older adults
Authors: Briceno Emily M , Chang Wen , Heeringa Steven G , Becker Chris , Garcia Nelda , Longoria Ruth , Morgenstern Lewis B 
Published: December 2023

Objective:The Latinx population is rapidly aging and growing in the US and is at increased risk for stroke and dementia. We examined whether bilingualism confers cognitive resilience following stroke in a community-based sample of Mexican American (MA) older adults.Participants and Methods:Participants included predominantly urban, non-immigrant MAs aged 65+ from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi- Cognitive study. Participants were recruited using a two-stage area probability sample with door-to-door recruitment until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; sampling and recruitment were then completed via telephone. Cognition was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; 30-item in-person, 22-item via telephone) in English or Spanish. Bilingualism was assessed via a questionnaire and degree of bilingualism was calculated (range 0%-100% bilingual). Stroke history was collected via self-report. We harmonized the 22-item to the 30-item MoCA using published equipercentile equating. We conducted a series of regressions with the harmonized MoCA score as the dependent variable, stroke history and degree of bilingualism as independent variables, and age, sex/gender, education, assessment language, assessment mode (in-person vs. phone), and self-reported vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) as covariates. We included a stroke history by bilingualism interaction to examine whether bilingualism modifies the association between stroke history and MoCA performance.Results:Participants included 841 MA older adults (59% women; age M(SE) = 73.5(0.2); 44% less than high school education). Most (77%) of the sample completed the MoCA in English. 93 of 841 participants reported a history of stroke. In an unadjusted model, degree of bilingualism (b = 3.41, p < .0001) and stroke history (b = -1.98, p = .003) were associated with MoCA performance. In a fully adjusted model, stroke history (b = -1.79, p = .0007) but not bilingualism (b = 0.78, p = .21) was associated with MoCA performance. When an interaction term was added to the fully adjusted model, the interaction between stroke history and bilingualism was not significant (b= -0.47, p = .78).Conclusions:Degree of bilingualism does not modify the association between stroke history and MoCA performance in Mexican American older adults. These results should be replicated in samples of validated strokes, more comprehensive bilingualism and cognitive assessments, and in other bilingual populations.
43 Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation Effects on Functional Connectivity of the Hippocampus in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: O'Neal Alexandria G , Cohen Ronald , Porges Eric C , Lamb Damon G , Murphy Aidan , DeKosky Steven T , Williamson John B 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) is a promising potential intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its influence on brain functions and mechanisms important in disease progression. Regions of interest include projection to the nucleus of the solitary tract, locus coeruleus, and hippocampus. Deterioration of the hippocampus is one of the most prominent early characteristics of AD, particularly during the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage. tVNS could modify function of the hippocampus. We examined resting state functional connectivity from the bilateral hippocampus in response to tVNS in patients with MCI.Participants and Methods:Fifty older adults (28 women, 60-89 years of age) diagnosed with MCI were assessed. MCI was confirmed via diagnostic consensus conference with a neurologist and neuropsychologist (sources of information: Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test [MoCA], Clinical Dementia Rating scale [CDR], Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised [HVLT-R] and medical record review). Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was collected on a 3T Siemens Prisma scanner while participants received either unilateral tVNS (left tragus, n = 25) or sham stimulation (left ear lobe, n = 25). fMRI data were processed using CONN toolbox v18b and hippocampal seed to voxel (whole brain) analyses were conducted with voxel and cluster level multiple comparison correction.Results:Contrasting tVNS and sham stimulation, whole-brain seed-to-voxel analysis demonstrated significant changes in connectivity from the left hippocampus to several cortical and subcortical regions bilaterally. Specifically, there was increased connectivity to prefrontal regions and cingulate gyri, and decreased connectivity to anterior and medial temporal lobes. A seed-to-voxel analysis from the right hippocampus indicated significant decrease in connectivity to a single cluster of regions in the left anterior temporal lobe in response to tVNS.Conclusions:In conclusion, tVNS modified connectivity from the hippocampus to multiple brain regions implicated in semantic and salience functions, in which disruption correlates with deterioration in AD. These findings indicate afferent target engagement of tVNS. Future work is needed to investigate the long-term effects of tVNS in patients with MCI and whether it could contribute to meaningful cognitive change and subsequent improvements in quality of life.
49 Cerebral hemodynamic during motor imagery of self-feeding with chopsticks: Differences between dominant and nondominant hand
Authors: Matsuo Moemi 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Motor imagery is defined as a dynamic state during which a subject mentally simulates a given action without overt movements. Our aim was to use near-infrared spectroscopy to investigate differences in cerebral hemodynamic during motor imagery of self-feeding with chopsticks using the dominant or non-dominant hand.Participants and Methods:Twenty healthy right-handed people participated in this study. The motor imagery task involved eating sliced cucumber pickles using chopsticks with the dominant (right) or non-dominant (left) hand. Activation of regions of interest (pre-supplementary motor area, supplementary motor area, pre-motor area, pre-frontal cortex, and sensorimotor cortex was assessed.Results:Motor imagery vividness of the dominant hand tended to be significantly higher than that of the non-dominant hand. The time of peak oxygenated hemoglobin was significantly earlier in the right pre-frontal cortex than in the supplementary motor area and left pre-motor area. Hemodynamic correlations were detected in more regions of interest during dominant-hand motor imagery than during non-dominant-hand motor imagery.Conclusions:Hemodynamic might be affected by differences in motor imagery vividness caused by variations in motor manipulation.
71 Treatment with TMS Improves Aspects of Attention in Depression: A Pilot Study
Authors: Walker Nicole C , Ramirez Nathan , Chin Laurie , Rehman Sonia S , Gee Stephanie C , Hodges Kathleen , Williams Leanne M , Hickson Robert , Chauncey Green L. , Patton Talaya , Aldasouqi Hanaa , Philip Noah S , Andrew Kozel F. , Yesavage Jerome A , Madore Michelle R 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an evidenced based treatment for adults with treatment resistant depression (TRD). The standard clinical protocol for TMS is to stimulate the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Although the DLPFC is a defining region in the cognitive control network of the brain and implicated in executive functions such as attention and working memory, we lack knowledge about whether TMS improves cognitive function independent of depression symptoms. This exploratory analysis sought to address this gap in knowledge by assessing changes in attention before and after completion of a standard treatment with TMS in Veterans with TRD.Participants and Methods:Participants consisted of 7 Veterans (14.3% female; age M = 46.14, SD = 7.15; years education M = 16.86, SD = 3.02) who completed a full 30-session course of TMS treatment and had significant depressive symptoms at baseline (Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PHQ-9 score >5). Participants were given neurocognitive assessments measuring aspects of attention [Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th Edition (WAIS-IV) subtests: Digits Forward, Digits Backward, and Number Sequencing) at baseline and again after completion of TMS treatment. The relationship between pre and post scores were examined using paired-samples t-test for continuous variables and a linear regression to covary for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is often comorbid with depression in Veteran populations.Results:There was a significant improvement in Digit Span Forward (p=.01, d=-.53), but not Digit Span Backward (p=.06) and Number Sequencing (p=.54) post-TMS treatment. Depression severity was not a significant predictor of performance on Digit Span Forward (f(1,5)=.29, p=.61) after TMS treatment. PTSD severity was also not a significant predictor of performance on Digit Span Forward (f(1,5)=1.31, p=.32).Conclusions:Findings suggested that a standard course of TMS improves less demanding measures of working memory after a full course of TMS, but possibly not the more demanding aspects of working memory. This improvement in cognitive function was independent of improvements in depression and PTSD symptoms. Further investigation in a larger sample and with direct neuroimaging measures of cognitive function is warranted.
CE Workshop 10: Advances in Event-Related Potential Methods for Assessing Clinical Populations
Authors: Luck Steven J. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:Event-related potentials (ERPs) have been used to examine perceptual, cognitive, motor, and affective processes for over 50 years. Although newer techniques provide greater neuroanatomical specificity, the excellent temporal resolution and ease of acquisition of ERPs continue to be highly valuable. In addition, continued methodological refinements have made it possible to answer progressively more sophisticated questions using ERPs. In this presentation, I will describe several key methodological improvements that are now in widespread use or are on the verge of becoming widely used. This will include improved recording methods, such as innovations in electrodes that allow both fast and low-noise EEG acquisition. It will also include EEG preprocessing methods that minimize artifacts and increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the ERPs. Finally, it will include multivariate pattern analysis methods that can be used to "decode" what a participant perceives and stores in working memory. Together, these new methods have dramatically increased the information that can be obtained about dysfunctional brain activity in clinical populations.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Evaluate and critically assess ERP studies of clinical populations that were published over the last decade, making use of advanced recording and analysis methods that are now widely used2.Evaluate and critically assess ERP studies of clinical populations that have been published recently or will be published in the near future that take advantage of state-of-the-art recording and analysis methods, such as dry electrodes and multivariate pattern analysis3.Integrate recent and emerging research findings into your research or clinical practice
Invited Symposium 2: The Need for a Highly Individualized Approach to Brain Mapping: Neuroanatomical, Lifespan and Cultural-Language Considerations
Authors: Sabsevitz David S. , Berl Madison , Monika Połczyńska 
Published: December 2023

Abstract & Learning Objectives:Brain mapping is critical in reducing risk for cognitive morbidity in epilepsy and brain tumor surgery. Mapping using functional MRI, and extra- and intraoperative electrical stimulation, requires a high level of expertise in functional neuroanatomy but also an understanding of individual patient characteristics that can impact mapping results and post-operative outcome. Patients can vary considerably with respect to their cognitive status going into surgery. The neuroanatomy of the disease, age and developmental level, and cultural and language differences can all influence patients' performance during brain mapping and impact surgical decision making. The purpose of this session is to discuss the importance of taking a highly individualized approach to brain mapping, focusing on anatomical considerations and individual patient differences in task selection and data interpretation. We will cover language mapping in patients who speak more than one language. Practical information will be provided to help guide informed task selection through illustrative case presentations that highlight the need for individualized brain mapping.Upon conclusion of this course, learners will be able to:
1.Discuss informed task selection based on cortical and subcortical functional neuroanatomy2.Explain how functional maps change with normal development and factors that should be considered when interpreting results for presurgical planning3.Assess differences between the bilingual and monolingual brain, factors that modulate the neuroanatomical representation of language in bilinguals and strategies in mapping multiple languages for surgical planning
5 Social perception and ability to evaluate sincerity of speech impacted by childhood hemispherectomy
Authors: Spezzaferri Mitchell R , Paul Lynn K , Brown Warren S 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Hemispherectomy (HE) is a surgical intervention to treat intractable epilepsy. It involves disconnecting or removing the right or left cerebral hemisphere, depending on the location of the pathological substrate or epileptogenic activity. HE impacts neural functions related to social cognition (Fournier et al., 2008). This study investigates the effects of childhood HE on social deception and sarcasm using the Thames Awareness of Social Inferences Task (TASIT; McDonald, Flanagan, & Rollins, 2010) to explore emotion identification and social inference appraisal as adults.Participants and Methods:Fifteen adults with hemispherectomy and 16 neurotypical controls completed the TASIT. All HE patients underwent hemispherectomy (right-HE = 10) during childhood (age of surgery = 3 months to 16 years) and had FSIQ > 70 at the time of study. HE and control groups were matched for age (HE M = 25.7, SD = 5.4; control M = 27.1, SD = 10.7) and education (HE M = 14.0, SD = 1.88; control M = 13.3, SD = 1.8). FSIQ was significantly lower in the HE group than control group (HE M= 90.8, SD = 9.4; control (M = 100.4, SD = 7.1). TASIT uses videotaped vignettes to assess aspects of social perception: emotion recognition (Part 1), social inference regarding sincerity, simple sarcasm, and paradoxical sarcasm (Part 2) and social inference regarding sincerity of speech (lie vs sarcasm) in the presence of additional text or visual cues (Part 3).Results:For Part 1, MANCOVA (covarying FSIQ) found no group difference in emotion identification. Analysis of data from Part 2 was conducted using repeated measures ANCOVA accounting for 2 groups x 3 conditions (sincere, simple sarcasm, and paradoxical sarcasm) and revealed only a significant overall group effect, F (1, 28) = 5.72, p = .024, np2 = .170. Likewise, analysis of Part 3 using repeated measures ANCOVA accounting for 2 groups x 2 cue types (visual, text) and 2 actor intentions (lie, sarcasm) revealed only a significant overall group effect, F (1,28) = 11.35, p = .002, np2 = .288, with no interaction of group by condition.Conclusions:HE patients exhibited no difficulty identifying basic emotional expressions. Performance was significantly impaired when additional social information was added to the context (i.e., detecting sarcasm or deception). HE patients begin to struggle with the complexity of new social information or how it changes the meaning of a conversation. Even simple sarcastic exchanges are difficult to interpret. When a visual or textual cue was introduced to reveal the true state of affairs, HE patients could not could integrate the information into their interpretations of the scenario. There are unique contributions of the left and right hemispheres to cognitive processes for complex social behavior, and absence of an entire hemisphere results in deficits in social language comprehension. Future research should investigate performance differences in left vs. right HE patients.
Optimising cognition in at-risk older people: A journey of discovery, clinical research and health translation
Authors: Naismith Sharon 
Published: December 2023

AbstractModifiable dementia risk factors such as depression, cardiovascular disease and physical and cognitive activity account for 40-50% of dementia risk and their association with neuropsychological performance is evident in both preclinical and prodromal dementia stages. Over the course of her career, Professor Naismith has examined how modifiable risk factors relate to various aspects of cognition and brain degeneration and how best to treat them. She has led the development of cognitive training programs and clinical trials targeting these risk factors. She has authored more than 350 papers across a range of fields largely focused on cognition but also utilising neuroimaging, genetics, e-health, data syntheses, as well as clinical trials and health services. Her most recent work focuses on how sleep and circadian disturbance is linked to cognitive decline, how best to treat sleep disturbance in older people and how to utilise new digital sleep technologies to derive maximal reach and scale within the rapidly rising ageing population.In this presentation, the evolution of her program of work over time will be considered with respect to core discipline-specific foundations but also amidst the changing research landscape, research challenges and the need to optimise health impact. The importance of multidisciplinarity, career mentors and partners, capacity building, and engaging with government and policy makers will be discussed as well as other factors considered to be key to mid-career research success.
6 Trauma Exposure as a Predictor for Score Profiles on Structured and Unstructured Tasks of Verbal Memory in a Community Sample
Authors: Hussaini Halima , VanLandingham Hannah , Sadoff Madeline , Patil Kush , Rosen Jay , Kaup Allison , Alasantro Lori Haase 
Published: December 2023

Objective:Evidence suggests that the most consistent cognitive impairment found in individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder symptomology is verbal memory impairment (Johnsen & Asbjornsen, 2008). More specifically, research has shown that patients with PTSD perform poorer on verbal memory tasks relating to logical (story) memory than on word memory tasks, such as CVLT-III (Barrera-Valencia et al., 2017). While recent literature accounts for memory impairments related to PTSD, less is known about this relationship for individuals with mere trauma exposure compared to individuals without trauma exposure. The present research aims to determine if there is a significant impact on WMS-LM when compared to CVLT-III for individuals in a community sample that have been exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime.Participants and Methods:One hundred nineteen patients presented to a community-based practice for neuropsychological evaluation. Patients were screened for trauma exposure during a clinical interview. Immediate and long delay trials of Wechsler Memory Scale IV Logical Memory (WMS-LM) were used to examine structured learning and memory and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) immediate and long delay recalls were used to examine unstructured learning and memory. Out of the 119 patients, 36 patients reported trauma exposure. Twenty-five were diagnosed as “normal,” 62 were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, and 32 were diagnosed with dementia. A one-way MANOVA was conducted to examine the relationship across the multiple dependent variables.Results:There was a statistically significant difference in immediate recall in memory based on exposure to trauma, F (2, 116) = 3.28, p < .05; Wilk’s A = 0.947, partial n2 = .53, such that individuals with trauma exposure performed better. For long delay recall performance, there was a similar trend though it did not reach statistical significance F (2, 114) = 3.03, p = .052; Wilk’s A = 0.949, partial n2 = .51.Conclusions:Data showed that patients who reported trauma exposure scored significantly higher on immediate recall performance on CVLT and WMS-LM than those who did not report trauma exposure. Although research suggests that patients who were exposed to trauma often experience cognitive deficits on verbal memory tasks, evidence also shows that trauma exposure can lead to higher immediate recall performance in memory related to attentional allocation modeling (Hayes et al., 2012).