Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit

About: Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit is a facility organization based out in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cognition & Semantic memory. The organization has 801 authors who have published 3055 publications receiving 257962 citations.

Where do you know what you know? The representation of semantic knowledge in the human brain.

Abstract: Mr M, a patient with semantic dementia - a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the gradual deterioration of semantic memory - was being driven through the countryside to visit a friend and was able to remind his wife where to turn along the not-recently-travelled route. Then, pointing at the sheep in the field, he asked her "What are those things?" Prior to the onset of symptoms in his late 40s, this man had normal semantic memory. What has gone wrong in his brain to produce this dramatic and selective erosion of conceptual knowledge?

Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders

Abstract: A review of recent research on cognitive processing indicates that biases in attention, memory, and interpretation, as well as repetitive negative thoughts, are common across emotional disorders, although they vary in form according to type of disorder. Current cognitive models emphasize specific forms of biased processing, such as variations in the focus of attention or habitual interpretative styles that contribute to the risk of developing particular disorders. As well as predicting risk of emotional disorders, new studies haveprovided evidence of a causal relationship between processing bias and vulnerability. Beyond merely demonstrating the existence of biased processing, research is thus beginning to explore the cognitive causes of emotional vulnerability, and their modification.

The Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R): a brief cognitive test battery for dementia screening

Abstract: There is a clear need for brief, but sensitive and specific, cognitive screening instruments as evidenced by the popularity of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE). Objectives We aimed to validate an improved revision (the ACE-R) which incorporates five sub-domain scores (orientation/attention, memory, verbal fluency, language and visuo-spatial). Methods Standard tests for evaluating dementia screening tests were applied. A total of 241 subjects participated in this study (Alzheimer's disease = 67, frontotemporal dementia = 55, dementia of Lewy Bodies = 20; mild cognitive impairment–MCI = 36; controls = 63). Results Reliability of the ACE-R was very good (alpha coefficient = 0.8). Correlation with the Clinical Dementia Scale was significant (r = −0.321, p < 0.001). Two cut-offs were defined (88: sensitivity = 0.94, specificity = 0.89; 82: sensitivity = 0.84, specificity = 1.0). Likelihood ratios of dementia were generated for scores between 88 and 82: at a cut-off of 82 the likelihood of dementia is 100:1. A comparison of individual age and education matched groups of MCI, AD and controls placed the MCI group performance between controls and AD and revealed MCI patients to be impaired in areas other than memory (attention/orientation, verbal fluency and language). Conclusions The ACE-R accomplishes standards of a valid dementia screening test, sensitive to early cognitive dysfunction. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.