Showing papers on "Psychomotor learning published in 1995"

The Relationship of Neuropsychological Functioning to Quality of Life in Epilepsy

Abstract: Objective: To examine the relationship of objectively assessed cognitive functioning to self-reported quality of life. Design: Correlational, multiple regression, and factor analytic comparisons of a new self-report quality of life inventory with neuropsychological tests of cognition and mood. Subjects: Two hundred fifty-seven patients with epilepsy. Setting: Twenty-five epilepsy centers and neurology clinics across the United States. Measures: A recently developed self-report (ie, Quality of Life in Epilepsy—89 inventory) and objective tests of memory, verbal abilities, spatial functions, psychomotor and cognitive processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and mood. Results: Factors that assessed mood, psychomotor speed, verbal memory, and language correlated significantly with selected scales of the Quality of Life in Epilepsy—89 inventory ( P P P r =−.20 to r =−.73) and was the strongest predictor of quality of life in regression analyses (46.7% explained variance, P Conclusions: Mood may be adversely affected by diminished quality of life, or perceived quality of life may be affected by mood disturbance. Quantitative quality of life assessments can be used in conjunction with formal neuropsychological testing of mood and cognition when evaluating patients with epilepsy.

A Review of the Effects of Opioids on Psychomotor and Cognitive Functioning in Humans

Abstract: The literature on the effects of opioids on psychomotor and cognitive functioning in humans is evaluated. Some studies have examined the acute and chronic effects of various opioids on different subject populations. In addition, epidemiologic studies have examined the neuropsychological functioning

A prospective evaluation of cognitive decline in early Huntington's disease: Functional and radiographic correlates

Abstract: We examined prospectively the relationship between progressive disability in Huntington's disease (HD) and concomitant alterations in neuropsychological functioning and brain imaging indices in a cohort of 60 patients who were enrolled and followed for 30 to 42 months in a controlled clinical trial. Standardized measures of functional capacity and neuropsychological performance were collected, and CT was performed, at regular intervals every 6 to 12 months. Psychomotor skills showed the most significant and consistent decline among the cognitive functions assessed. Memory disturbances were already present at the time of enrollment, but memory did not deteriorate until patients reached advanced stages. Other cognitive operations, such as visual construction and semantic knowledge, manifested small and variable changes over time. CT indices of striatal atrophy correlated only with changes in psychomotor function, while the CT index of frontal atrophy weakly predicted memory and semantic knowledge scores at 42 months. These results confirmed earlier cross-sectional findings and extended our knowledge of the evolution of cognitive dysfunction in HD.

Infant feeding and mental and motor development at 18 months of age in first born singletons

Abstract: Objective To determine the relationship between type of infant feeding and mental and psychomotor development at age 18 months. Method A follow-up study of children born to primigravidae living in Dundee and booked into antenatal clinics in the City of Dundee (Local Authority District) from 1 May 1985 to 30 April 1986. The study population was 846 first born singletons, of whom 592 attended for developmental assessment at age 18 months. The main outcome measures were the Bayley Scales of Infant Mental and Motor Development. Results Higher mental development was significantly related to breast feeding on discharge from hospital and according to the health visitors' notes at about 2 weeks after discharge after allowing for partner's social class, mother's education, height, alcohol and cigarette consumption; placental weight and the child's sex, birth weight and gestational age at birth. After adjustment for statistically significant variables, the difference in Bayley mental development index between breast and bottle fed infants was between 3.7 and 5.7 units depending on the source of feeding data. No differences were found for psychomotor development or behaviour. Conclusion The study provides further evidence of a robust statistical association between type of feeding and child intelligence. However, the literature is replete with suggestions for potential confounding variables which offer alternative causal explanations. To unravel what is an important clinical and public health question, further research should concentrate on randomized trials of supplemented formula feeds for children of mothers opting for bottle feeding and on epidemiological studies designed to disentangle the relation between method of feeding, parental intelligence and social environment.

Speed of processing and verbal learning deficits in adults diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

Abstract: While frontal lobe dysfunction has been hypothesized to account for the cognitive and behavioral symptoms characteristic of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), inconsistent neuropsychological findings have been reported in adults with residual ADD. Twenty-five ADD adults were compared to 30 gender-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls on measures of sustained attention, psychomotor speed and integration, executive functioning, and verbal learning. There were no group differences in accuracy on the Continuous Performance Task ; however, ADD patients exhibited slower reaction time to targets. In addition, patients exhibited slowed psychomotor speed relative to controls. No group differences were observed in executive functioning. For memory, patients acquired less information and displayed inconsistent application of a semantic clustering strategy. Cuing memory with semantic prompts improved memory performance to a greater degree for patients than for controls. Patients were susceptible to retroactive interference and item recall inconsistency. The results indicate a selective pattern of deficits, revealing slowed cognitive processing and a significant list-learning deficit. Neurobehavioral deficits are discussed in relation to hypotheses of frontal lobe dysfunction in ADD.

Methylphenidate in the treatment of neurobehavioral slowing associated with cancer and cancer treatment

Abstract: Psychostimulants used in the treatment of psychiatric conditions, including depression, alleviate some of the observed psychomotor retardation. We describe 3 patients with impairments of arousal and psychomotor speed secondary to tumor-related organic brain dysfunction who benefited from stimulant therapy.

Cognitive performance after progression to AIDS : a longitudinal study from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

Abstract: Objective To describe changes in cognitive functioning before and after development of an acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness or CD4+ lymphocyte count 3 in participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Methods The study population included participants who either were diagnosed with an AIDS-defining illness (n = 52) or had at least one measurement of CD4+ count 3 (n = 57) and who had at least four neuropsycho-logical (NP) evaluations, two or more before and two or more after the AIDS diagnosis. A group of subjects with clinical diagnosis of dementia (n = 29) was also included for comparison. The NP test battery included measures of attention, memory, constructional abilities, and psychomotor speed. Longitudinal data analysis, using the generalized estimating equation, was performed separately for each NP measure. Time was measured in months from the date of clinical AIDS or CD4+ 3 . Results Before AIDS, the dementia group showed significant decline (slope different from zero) only on measures of psychomotor speed. For all other measures, there was no evidence of decline in performance before AIDS for the other groups. ARer development of AIDS, the group with clinical AIDS showed significant decline on psychomotor speed but none on the other cognitive measures. The group with CD4+ 3 did not show significant decline on any of the cognitive measures after AIDS. As expected, the dementia group showed significant decline on all measures. Sensory neuropathy was associated with a significant decline in performance on measures of psychomotor speed after AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy was not associated with any measurable changes in NP performance. Conclusion These results are consistent with previous findings showing no significant decline in cognitive functions before AIDS, unless overt dementia is present, and no decline in immunosuppressed subjects who have had no AIDS-defining illness. By contrast, in subjects who have developed clinical AIDS, there is mild decline in fine motor skills but no significant change in other cognitive domains.

Critical Skills for Kindergarten: Perceptions From Kindergarten Teachers

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the views of kindergarten teachers regarding those skills children need to be successful in their classes. One-hundred seventy-six kindergarten teachers ranked 149 skills within 5 domains: gross motor, fine motor, general knowledge and school readiness, language, and social. A factor analysis was employed on these ratings revealing the following 5 factors: Academic Readiness, Language Competence, Social Competence, Motor Competence, and Self-Help Skills. These data suggest that items related to academic readiness were not seen as critical as skills related to independence.

Moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and psychomotor development at preschool age.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES. This study investigated the effect of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure on psychomotor development of preschool-age children in a longitudinal study. METHODS. Pregnant women were interviewed about their alcohol consumption at their first visit to the maternity hospital in Roubaix, France. Alcohol consumption before pregnancy and during the first trimester was assessed with a structured questionnaire. The psychomotor development of 155 children of these women was assessed with the McCarthy scales of children's abilities when the children were about 4 1/2 years old. RESULTS. Consumption of 1.5 oz of absolute alcohol (approximately three drinks) or more per day during pregnancy was significantly related to a decrease of 7 points in the mean score on the general cognitive index of the McCarthy scales, after gender, birth order, maternal education, score for family stimulation, family status, maternal employment, child's age at examination, and examiner were controlled for. CONCLUSIONS. This study...

Age and cognitive ability as predictors of computerized information retrieval

Abstract: This paper presents an empirical investigation of age and cognitive ability as predictors of computerized information retrieval. Upon the basis of age-related changes in cognitive ability, hypotheses were generated relating to the effects of database structure (linear, hierarchical, or network) and node selection method (explicit or embedded menu). In keeping with previous research in other areas of human-computer interaction, there was a significant main effect of age, with older subjects performing more slowly. However, interactive effects of ‘question block’ indicated that older subjects were at a particular disadvantage in the early stages of task performance. Age differences in processing speed and/or psychomotor skill appeared to be a particularly important factor. Whilst the effects of cognitive ability were generally weak, spatial memory and logical reasoning scores were negatively correlated with information retrieval response times. Although interactions were not significant, trends in ...

The Effects of Dynavision Rehabilitation on Behind-the-Wheel Driving Ability and Selected Psychomotor Abilities of Persons After Stroke

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Many conventional rehabilitation exercises, such as pencil-and-paper and computer tasks, may not train perceptual and motor skills as applied to a complex, multiskill activity such as driving. The present study examined the usefulness of the Dynavision apparatus for driving-related rehabilitation. The Dynavision was designed to train visual scanning, peripheral visual awareness, visual attention, and visual-motor reaction time across a broad, active visual field. METHOD: Ten persons with a cerebrovascular accident participated in the study. All had failed behind-the-wheel driving assessments. Subjects participated in a 6-week Dynavision training program using exercises designed to impose various motor, perceptual, and cognitive demands. RESULTS: Dynavision training resulted in significantly improved behind-the-wheel driving assessments as compared to expected outcomes. Comparisons between pretests, posttests, and follow-up tests on a number of Dynavision, response, and reaction time variables showed significant improvements and maintenance effects. Dynavision performance, and, to a lesser extent, choice visual reaction and response times, were found to differentiate between persons assessed as safe and unsafe to drive, and between older and younger drivers. Subject self-reports suggested that a variety of training-related improvements had occurred in everyday functioning. CONCLUSION: Dynavision training shows some rehabilitative promise for improving driving and basic psychomotor skills. Future research on the benefits and limitations of this apparatus should use finer laboratory skill measures and more comprehensive tests of driving and daily functioning to assess more thoroughly skill improvements in persons after stroke. Language: en

The anatomy of melancholia: does frontal-subcortical pathophysiology underpin its psychomotor and cognitive manifestations?

Abstract: The last few years have witnessed a major paradigm shift in the understanding of basal ganglia function. In line with this has been an increasing appreciation of both the centrality of psychomotor deficits in melancholia and the striking clinical parallels between melancholia and certain basal ganglia disorders such as Parkinson's disease. It is in view of these developments that a more considered appraisal of the role of the basal ganglia and their frontal connections in the pathogenesis of melancholia has become possible. ' Endogenous' or 'melancholic' depression has been regarded by many as a categorical entity with its own pathophysiological underpinnings (Carney et al. 1965), though classification of the depressive disorders remains contentious (Kendell, 1968). Among a number of statistical attempts to separate melancholic and non-melancholic depression, some factor analytical studies have demonstrated that psychomotor retardation may be one of the best discriminators of these two syndromes (Nelson & Charney, 1981). Within this context the last decade has seen a re-evaluation of the clinical features of melancholia, with increased interest in the objective or behavioural aspects both motor and cognitive of this disorder. In particular, motor disturbance is gaining increasing attention as a potential core behavioural manifestation of melancholia (Widlocher, 1983; Parker et al. 1990, 1994). Cognitive deficits are also a prominent feature, especially in elderly and/or severely depressed patients, where the impairment is sometimes of such magnitude that these patients have been described as suffering from a 'depressive pseudodementia' (Kiloh, 1961) or 'depressive dementia' (Stoudemire et al. 1989). Concurrent with this focus upon behavioural aspects of depression has been the development of the concept of'sub-cortical dementia'. This term was introduced by Albert et al. (1974) to describe the clinical presentation of disorders with predominant subcortical pathology such as progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's Chorea and Wilson's disease which are characterized by slowed mentation and movement, apathy, depression and reduced ability to manipulate acquired knowledge. In view of the significant 'frontal' executive deficits also noted in these disorders, the term was subsequently revised by Albert (1978) to 'frontal-subcortical dementia'. Although the clinical validity of both 'sub-cortical dementia' and 'depressive dementia' has since been questioned (Mahendra, 1985), the use of these terms has led to another important conceptual shift: from defining functional psychiatric disorders, including depression, in purely phenomenological terms to viewing them in terms of regional cerebral dysfunction and disruption of neuronal networks. Traditionally, the basal ganglia were considered to be involved only in the modulation of movement. More recently, however, Alexander et al. (1986) have proposed the existence of a number of functional neural networks passing through the basal ganglia that may impact not only on motor function but also cognitive processes and mood. For example, motor disturbance could result from dysfunction of Alexander et a/.'s (1986) 'motor loop'. Mood and motivational disturbances seen in these disorders could be related to dysfunction in the 'limbic loop' linking medial prefrontal structures with the ventral striatum, and cognitive deficits to disturbances in the 'prefrontal loop' linking lateral prefrontal structures to the caudate nucleus.

Sub-typing depression, I. Is psychomotor disturbance necessary and sufficient to the definition of melancholia?

Abstract: Melancholia is most commonly distinguished from non-melancholic depression by the presence of psychomotor disturbance (PMD) and a set of 'endogeneity' symptoms. We examine the capacity of an operationalized clinician-rated measure of PMD (the CORE system) to predict diagnostic assignment to 'melancholic/endogenous' classes by the DSM-III-R and Newcastle systems. Examining a pre-established CORE cut-off score (> or = 8) against independent diagnostic assignment, PMD was present in 51% of those assigned as melancholic by DSM-III-R, and 85% of those assigned as endogenous by the Newcastle system, quantifying the extent to which it is 'necessary' to the two definitions of 'melancholia'. Additionally, multivariate analyses established that the addition of a refined set of historically suggested endogeneity symptoms added only slightly to overall discrimination of melancholic and non-melancholic depressives. While only few endogeneity symptoms independent of psychomotor disturbance were suggested, their specific relevance varied against system definition of melancholia (appetite/weight loss and terminal insomnia being identified for DSM-III-R; anhedonia for Newcastle; and diurnal variation in mood and energy for both systems). Results allow consideration of the relative importance of two domains (psychomotor disturbance and 'endogeneity' symptoms) to clinical definition of melancholia, and have the potential to assist both classification and pursuit of neurobiological determinants. We interpret findings as suggesting a 'core and mantle' model for conceptualizing the clinical features of melancholia, with psychomotor disturbance as the core and with independent endogeneity symptoms as only a thin mantle.

Cognition and depression in a cohort of aging men: results from the western collaborative group study

Abstract: Relationships between cognitive performance and self-ratings of depression on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D; L. S. Radloff, 1977) were examined for 1,217 older men. After controlling for demographic variables and both objective and subjective measures of health, significant associations were observed between several CES-D variables and measures of cognitive mental status, memory, and psychomotor speed. The Well-Being factor of the CES-D was the most robust predictor of cognitive scores. Therefore, for older adults with generally favorable health and socioeconomic resources, there may be a link between positive affect and maintenance of cognitive effectiveness

Effects of cannabis on psychomotor skills and driving performance: a metaanalysis of experimental studies

Abstract: Taking part in road traffic under the influence of drugs, especially marijuana, has become a serious problem in most western societies. Thus traffic medicine is demanded to provide scientific knowledge of the effects of cannabinoids on driving performance. The present study is intended to analyse all available data on the influence of cannabinoids on psychomotor skills relevant to driving behaviour using a metaanalytic approach. About 150 experimental studies including laboratory, driving simulator and on road experiments make up the basis of the investigation. With the help of a systematic questionnaire the most important information extracted were: number, age, sex and user behaviour of the subjects, manner of drug treatment, time between drug intake and testing, tasks presented and the experimental findings concerning the drug effects. Subsequently the data were examined by the means of interferential statistics. For the first time a methodological approach is applied enabling to establish detailed statements on kind, intensity and duration of drug impairment dependent on dose, user behaviour, treatment and further variables. (a) For the record of the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no 868581.

A pilot study of the effect of low level exposure to mercury on the health of dental surgeons.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES--This project was conducted to examine whether the computerised analysis of psychomotor responses available from Cognitive Drug Research is appropriate for measuring an effect of low level exposure to mercury in dentists. METHODS--A computerised battery of psychomotor tests was given to two groups of dentists (older dentists and trainees) and to two age matched control groups. As well as the psychomotor tests, volunteers were required to complete a questionnaire to identify potential influences on psychomotor performance and to provide a sample for analysis of urinary mercury. RESULTS--Statistical analysis of the results showed that the older dentists had slightly higher concentrations of urinary mercury although most were around background levels and they were all within occupational limits. Five of the psychomotor tests showed no differences between the performance of the four groups. The older dentists showed significantly better performance on the simple reaction time test and significantly poorer performance in the immediate word recall and delayed word recall tests. CONCLUSIONS--Poorer performance in memory recall tests confirms previously reported studies. This together with the confirmation that this test system is a practical tool in the occupational setting suggests that a larger study of the effects of mercury exposure on dentists would be appropriate.

Behavioral effects of alcohol in novice and experienced drinkers: alcohol expectancies and impairment

Abstract: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that the relation between an individual's expected and actual impairment under alcohol develops as a function of drinking experience. Fourteen early stage, novice (N) and 14 experienced (E) male social drinkers participated in the research. Group N had been drinking for 20 months or less (mean = 8.1 months). Group E subjects had been drinkers for 24 or more (mean = 42.7 months). All subjects practised a task that measured psychomotor skill (pursuit rotor) and rated the degree to which alcohol was expected to impair their performance on the task. Half of the subjects in each group then performed the task under alcohol (0.56 g/kg). The remainder served as controls and received no beverage prior to performing the task. In accord with the hypothesis, experienced drinkers who expected more impairment performed more poorly under alcohol, whereas novice drinkers' expected and actual impairment were not related. In addition, when novice and experienced drinkers received no beverage, their expectations were unrelated to their drug-free performance. Thus alcohol expectancies were not relevant to performance in a non-drinking situation. These findings contribute new information identifying drinking history as an important factor strengthening the relationship between expectations about the effect of alcohol and behavior under the drug.

Visuo-spatial attention and psychomotor performance in elderly community residents: effects of age, gender, and education.

Abstract: In cross-sectional analysis of 1,799 subjects of the Paquid Research Program, an epidemiological study on brain aging conducted in the Bordeaux area (France), we have studied the effects of age, gender, and education level on psychometric tests requiring visuo-spatial focused attention and psychomotor performance. Although previous studies suggest that normal aging produces no significant change in focused attention, we did observe lower attentional abilities and lower speed of execution with increasing age. Female gender and low education level were also related to poorer attention and psychomotor performance. As the effects of these individual factors are difficult to disentangle from each other on the small samples of subjects used in group studies, epidemiological surveys seem useful to provide a better understanding of the neuropsychology of aging.

Impact of chronic undernutrition on higher mental functions in Indian boys aged 10–12 years

Abstract: Undernourished rural children 10-12 years of age demonstrated the following, when compared to normal nourished children : (i) a relative deficit of memory quotients assessed by the Wechsler memory scale ; (ii) lower scores for abilities related to personal and current information, orientation, mental control, logical memory, digit span, visual reproduction and associative learning ; (iii) impaired set formation and flexibility in attention as assessed by the card sorting test ; and (iv) impairment in conditional learning on maze and conditional associative learning tests. The performance on the finger dexterity test for fine motor coordination was not affected in undernourished children.

Culture-Relevant Functional Performance Assessment of the Hispanic Elderly:

Abstract: Because the Hispanic population is growing, there is a need for a reliable and valid functional assessment that is not culturally biased for white North Americans and that incorporates culture-rele...

The impact of sertraline, desipramine, and placebo on psychomotor functioning in depression

Abstract: Impairment of psychomotor performance is a common adverse effect of many antidepressants, particularly tricyclics. Desipramine is thought to be an exception, with possible performance enhancing effects on psychomotor function. This multicentre study examined the relative effects on psychomotor function of sertraline versus desipramine versus placebo in mild to moderate depression. Fifty-eight patients who satisfied DSM-III-R criteria for major depression and had a minimum HAM-D score of 15 (17 items) completed eight weeks of treatment. They underwent a standardized assessment which included depression and anxiety rating scales (HAM-D, HAM-A, MADRS) and a battery of psychomotor performance tests (The Simple and Choice Reaction Time, The Digit Symbol Substitution and The Trail Making Test), before, during, and after eight weeks of treatment with sertraline, desipramine, or placebo. At baseline, there was a trend for both the sertraline and placebo groups to exhibit better psychomotor performance than desipramine. No significant differences were found between groups after treatment nor between groups for the change from baseline to week 8. However, at week 3, the sertraline group performed significantly better in the trail making test than the placebo patients (p<0.05). Within each treatment group, there was a trend towards improvement in performance for all four parameters from baseline to the end of the study, with these improvements being most obvious in the desipramine group. Sertraline, however, was found to be associated with significantly fewer other adverse effects than the desipramine group, i.e. sweating, dry mouth, anorexia. These results suggest that desipramine and sertraline do not adversely affect psychomotor performance and may even enhance it in mild to moderately depressed patients.

Effectiveness of an Intervention to Improve Occupational Performance in Dementia

Abstract: The Model of Human Occupation was used as a conceptual model for an intervention program to support performance of activities of daily living in four patients with dementia at varying stages of dev...