Automatic and Controlled Attentional Processes in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Use of a Mini-Verbal Test
Author(s)
Jonas Jardim de Paula*,
Danielle de Souza Costa,
Edgar Nunes de Moraes,
Rodrigo Nicolato,
Manuel Sedó,
Leandro Fernandes Malloy-Diniz
Affiliation(s)
Neuropsychological Investigations Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Internal Medicine Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Mental Health Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Mini-Verbal Tests, Boston, US.
Neuropsychological Investigations Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Internal Medicine Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Mental Health Department, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Mini-Verbal Tests, Boston, US.
ABSTRACT
Recent finding suggests that in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) executive functions deficits may be a frequent clinical finding. Automatic and Controlled attentional processes are related to the allocation of cognitive resources in different stimuli, being important to executive functioning. The present study aims at assessing the hypothesis of executive dysfunction deficits in MCI patients. Method: forty five MCI patients and forty five normal aging controls (NC) were assessed with the Five Digits Test (5D), a Mini-Verbal test version of the Stroop Test. Group comparisons were performed by t tests and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: comparisons indicates significant differences between NC and MCI in efficiency measures of controlled attentional processes, with moderate effect sizes, but not in automatic attentional processes or processing speed. Conclusion: the present work shows a selective pattern of impairment in MCI, indicating specific deficits in executive functioning with spared processing speed.
Recent finding suggests that in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) executive functions deficits may be a frequent clinical finding. Automatic and Controlled attentional processes are related to the allocation of cognitive resources in different stimuli, being important to executive functioning. The present study aims at assessing the hypothesis of executive dysfunction deficits in MCI patients. Method: forty five MCI patients and forty five normal aging controls (NC) were assessed with the Five Digits Test (5D), a Mini-Verbal test version of the Stroop Test. Group comparisons were performed by t tests and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: comparisons indicates significant differences between NC and MCI in efficiency measures of controlled attentional processes, with moderate effect sizes, but not in automatic attentional processes or processing speed. Conclusion: the present work shows a selective pattern of impairment in MCI, indicating specific deficits in executive functioning with spared processing speed.
Cite this paper
Jardim de Paula, J. , de Souza Costa, D. , Nunes de Moraes, E. , Nicolato, R. , Sedó, M. & Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, L. (2012). Automatic and Controlled Attentional Processes in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Use of a Mini-Verbal Test. Psychology, 3, 379-383. doi: 10.4236/psych.2012.35053.
Jardim de Paula, J. , de Souza Costa, D. , Nunes de Moraes, E. , Nicolato, R. , Sedó, M. & Fernandes Malloy-Diniz, L. (2012). Automatic and Controlled Attentional Processes in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Use of a Mini-Verbal Test. Psychology, 3, 379-383. doi: 10.4236/psych.2012.35053.
References
[1] Apostolova, L. G., Dutton, R. A., Dinov, I. D., Hayashi, J. M., Toga, A. W., Cummings, J. L., & Thompson, P. M. (2006). Conversion of mild cognitive impairment to alzheimer disease predicted by hippocampal atrophy maps. Archives of Neurology, 63, 693-699. doi:10.1001/archneur.63.5.693 [2] Balota, D. A., Tse, C. S., Hutchison, K. A., Spieler, D. H., Duchek, J. M., & Morris, J. C. (2010). Predicting conversion to dementia of the Alzheimer type in a healthy control sample: The power of errors in Stroop color naming. Psychology and Aging, 25, 208-218. doi:10.1037/a0017474 [3] Bondi, M. W., Serody, A. B., Chan, A. S., Eberson-Schumate, S. C., Delis, D. C., Hansen, L. A., & Salmon, D. P. (2002). Cognitive and neuropathologic correlates of stroop color-word test performance in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropsychology, 16, 335-343. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.16.3.335 [4] Brucki, S. M. D, Nitrini, R., Caramelli, P., Bertolluci, P. H. F., & Okamoto, I. H. (2003). Sugest?es para o uso do Mini-Exame do estado mental no Brasil. Arquivos de Neuropsiquiatria, 61, 777-781. doi:10.1590/S0004-282X2003000500014 [5] Cohen, R. A., Malloy, P. F., & Jenkins, M. A. (1998). Disorders of attention. In P. J Snyder, & P. D. Nussbaum (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology: A pocket handbook for assessment. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. [6] Cox, C. S., Chee, E., Chase, G. A., Baumgardner, T. L., Schuerholz, L. J., Reader, M. J., Mohr, J. & Denkla, M. B. (1997). Reading proficiency affects the construct validity of the Stroop test interference score. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 11, 105-110. doi:10.1080/13854049708407039 [7] Fisher, L. M., Freed, D. M., & Corkin, S. (1990). Stroop color-word test performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 12, 745-758. doi:10.1080/01688639008401016 [8] Fuster, J. M. (2008). The prefrontal cortex. London: Academic Press/ Elsevier. [9] Hervey, A. S., Epstein, J. N., & Curry, J. F. (2004). Neuropsychology of adults with attention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review. Neuropsychology, 18, 485-503. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.18.3.485 [10] Hsieh, S. J., & Tori, C. D. (2007). Normative data on cross-cultural neuropsychological tests obtained from mandarin-speaking adults across the life span. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 283296. doi:10.1016/j.acn.2007.01.004 [11] Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). (2007) Síntese de Indicadores Sociais—2007. [Internet]. [cited 2 February 2012]. Available from: http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticia=987 [12] Katz, S., Downs, T. D., Cash, H. R., & Grotz, R. C. (1970). Progress in the development of the index of ADL. Gerontologist, 10, 20-30. doi:10.1093/geront/10.1_Part_1.20 [13] Kogan, M. (1971). Educational implications of cognitive styles. In G. L. Lesser (Ed.), Psychology and Educational practice. Glenview: Scott Foresman. [14] Koss, E., Ober, B. A., Delis, D. C. & Friedland, R. P. (1984). The stroop color-word test: Indicator of dementia severity. International Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 53-61. doi:10.3109/00207458409079534 [15] Kramer, J. H., Nelson, A., Johnson, J. K., Yaffe, K., Glenn, S., Rosen, H. J., & Miller, B. L. (2006). Multiple cognitive deficits in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 22, 306-311. doi:10.1159/000095303 [16] Johnson, A. S., Flicker, L. J., & Lichtenberg, P. A. (2006). Reading ability mediates the relationship between education and executive function tasks. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12, 64-71. doi:10.1017/S1355617706060073 [17] Lang, J. A. (2002). Validation of the five digit test in a clinical sample: an alternative to the stroop color-word with possible cultural implications. Doctoral Dissertation, Alliant International University. [18] Lawton, M. P., & Brody, E. M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-monitoring and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist, 9, 179-186. doi:10.1093/geront/9.3_Part_1.179 [19] Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B. &, Loring, D. W. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment. New York: Oxford University Press. [20] Lin, H., Chan, R.C.K., Zheng, L., Yang, T., & Wang, Y. (2007). Executive functioning in healthy elderly Chinese people. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 501-511. doi:10.1016/j.acn.2007.01.028 [21] Lucas, J. A, Ivnik R. J., Smith, G. E., Ferman, T. J., Willis, F. B., Petersen, R. C., & Graff-Radford, N. R. (2005). Mayo’s older African Americans normative studies: Norms for Boston naming test, controlled oral word association, category fluency, animal naming, token test, wrat-3 reading, trail making test, stroop test, and judgement of line orientation. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 19, 243-269. doi:10.1080/13854040590945337 [22] Palmer, K., Iulio, D. V., Varsi, A. E., Gianni, W., Sancesario, G., Caltagione, C., & Spalleta, G. (2010). Neuropsychiatric predictor of progression from amnestic-mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease: The role of depression and apathy. Journal of the Alzheimer Disease, 20, 175-183. [23] Paradela, E. M. P., Louren?o, R. A., & Veras, R. P. (2005) Validation of geriatric depression scale in a general outpatient clinic. Revista de SaúdePública, 39, 918-923. [24] Petersen, R., Doody, R., Kurz, A., et al. (2001). Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment. Arquives of Neurology, 58, 1985-1992. doi:10.1001/archneur.58.12.1985 [25] Petersen, R.C., & Negash, S. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment: An overview. CNS Spectrums, 13, 45-53. [26] Reiten, R. M. (1955). The relation of trail making test to organic brain damage. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 10, 76-88. [27] Salthouse, T. A., & Meinz, E. J. (1995). Aging, inhibition, working memory, and speed. Journal of Gerontology, 508, 297-306. [28] Sedó, M. A., & DeCristoforo, L. (2001). All-language verbal tests free from linguistics barriers. Revista Espa?ola de Neuropsicología, 3, 68-82. [29] Sedó, M. A. (2007). FDT—Test de los cinco digitos. Madrid, Spain: TEA Ediciones. [30] Sedó, M. A. (2004). Test de las cinco cifras: una alternativa multilingüe y no lectora al test de Stroop. Revista Espa?ola de Neurología, 38, 824-828. [31] Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reaction. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651 [32] Traykov, L., Raoux, N., Latour, F., Gallo, L., Hanon, O., Baudic, S., Bayle, C., Wenisch, E., Remy, P., & Rigaud, A. S. (2007). Executive functions deficits in mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, 20, 219-224. doi:10.1097/WNN.0b013e31815e6254 [33] Zelazo, P. D., Craik, F. I. M., & Booth, L. (2004). Executive function across the life span. Acta Psychologica, 115, 167-184. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2003.12.005
[1] Apostolova, L. G., Dutton, R. A., Dinov, I. D., Hayashi, J. M., Toga, A. W., Cummings, J. L., & Thompson, P. M. (2006). Conversion of mild cognitive impairment to alzheimer disease predicted by hippocampal atrophy maps. Archives of Neurology, 63, 693-699. doi:10.1001/archneur.63.5.693 [2] Balota, D. A., Tse, C. S., Hutchison, K. A., Spieler, D. H., Duchek, J. M., & Morris, J. C. (2010). Predicting conversion to dementia of the Alzheimer type in a healthy control sample: The power of errors in Stroop color naming. Psychology and Aging, 25, 208-218. doi:10.1037/a0017474 [3] Bondi, M. W., Serody, A. B., Chan, A. S., Eberson-Schumate, S. C., Delis, D. C., Hansen, L. A., & Salmon, D. P. (2002). Cognitive and neuropathologic correlates of stroop color-word test performance in Alzheimer’s disease. Neuropsychology, 16, 335-343. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.16.3.335 [4] Brucki, S. M. D, Nitrini, R., Caramelli, P., Bertolluci, P. H. F., & Okamoto, I. H. (2003). Sugest?es para o uso do Mini-Exame do estado mental no Brasil. Arquivos de Neuropsiquiatria, 61, 777-781. doi:10.1590/S0004-282X2003000500014 [5] Cohen, R. A., Malloy, P. F., & Jenkins, M. A. (1998). Disorders of attention. In P. J Snyder, & P. D. Nussbaum (Eds.), Clinical neuropsychology: A pocket handbook for assessment. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. [6] Cox, C. S., Chee, E., Chase, G. A., Baumgardner, T. L., Schuerholz, L. J., Reader, M. J., Mohr, J. & Denkla, M. B. (1997). Reading proficiency affects the construct validity of the Stroop test interference score. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 11, 105-110. doi:10.1080/13854049708407039 [7] Fisher, L. M., Freed, D. M., & Corkin, S. (1990). Stroop color-word test performance in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 12, 745-758. doi:10.1080/01688639008401016 [8] Fuster, J. M. (2008). The prefrontal cortex. London: Academic Press/ Elsevier. [9] Hervey, A. S., Epstein, J. N., & Curry, J. F. (2004). Neuropsychology of adults with attention Deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review. Neuropsychology, 18, 485-503. doi:10.1037/0894-4105.18.3.485 [10] Hsieh, S. J., & Tori, C. D. (2007). Normative data on cross-cultural neuropsychological tests obtained from mandarin-speaking adults across the life span. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 283296. doi:10.1016/j.acn.2007.01.004 [11] Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). (2007) Síntese de Indicadores Sociais—2007. [Internet]. [cited 2 February 2012]. Available from: http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticia=987 [12] Katz, S., Downs, T. D., Cash, H. R., & Grotz, R. C. (1970). Progress in the development of the index of ADL. Gerontologist, 10, 20-30. doi:10.1093/geront/10.1_Part_1.20 [13] Kogan, M. (1971). Educational implications of cognitive styles. In G. L. Lesser (Ed.), Psychology and Educational practice. Glenview: Scott Foresman. [14] Koss, E., Ober, B. A., Delis, D. C. & Friedland, R. P. (1984). The stroop color-word test: Indicator of dementia severity. International Journal of Neuroscience, 24, 53-61. doi:10.3109/00207458409079534 [15] Kramer, J. H., Nelson, A., Johnson, J. K., Yaffe, K., Glenn, S., Rosen, H. J., & Miller, B. L. (2006). Multiple cognitive deficits in amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 22, 306-311. doi:10.1159/000095303 [16] Johnson, A. S., Flicker, L. J., & Lichtenberg, P. A. (2006). Reading ability mediates the relationship between education and executive function tasks. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 12, 64-71. doi:10.1017/S1355617706060073 [17] Lang, J. A. (2002). Validation of the five digit test in a clinical sample: an alternative to the stroop color-word with possible cultural implications. Doctoral Dissertation, Alliant International University. [18] Lawton, M. P., & Brody, E. M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-monitoring and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist, 9, 179-186. doi:10.1093/geront/9.3_Part_1.179 [19] Lezak, M. D., Howieson, D. B. &, Loring, D. W. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment. New York: Oxford University Press. [20] Lin, H., Chan, R.C.K., Zheng, L., Yang, T., & Wang, Y. (2007). Executive functioning in healthy elderly Chinese people. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22, 501-511. doi:10.1016/j.acn.2007.01.028 [21] Lucas, J. A, Ivnik R. J., Smith, G. E., Ferman, T. J., Willis, F. B., Petersen, R. C., & Graff-Radford, N. R. (2005). Mayo’s older African Americans normative studies: Norms for Boston naming test, controlled oral word association, category fluency, animal naming, token test, wrat-3 reading, trail making test, stroop test, and judgement of line orientation. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 19, 243-269. doi:10.1080/13854040590945337 [22] Palmer, K., Iulio, D. V., Varsi, A. E., Gianni, W., Sancesario, G., Caltagione, C., & Spalleta, G. (2010). Neuropsychiatric predictor of progression from amnestic-mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease: The role of depression and apathy. Journal of the Alzheimer Disease, 20, 175-183. [23] Paradela, E. M. P., Louren?o, R. A., & Veras, R. P. (2005) Validation of geriatric depression scale in a general outpatient clinic. Revista de SaúdePública, 39, 918-923. [24] Petersen, R., Doody, R., Kurz, A., et al. (2001). Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment. Arquives of Neurology, 58, 1985-1992. doi:10.1001/archneur.58.12.1985 [25] Petersen, R.C., & Negash, S. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment: An overview. CNS Spectrums, 13, 45-53. [26] Reiten, R. M. (1955). The relation of trail making test to organic brain damage. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 10, 76-88. [27] Salthouse, T. A., & Meinz, E. J. (1995). Aging, inhibition, working memory, and speed. Journal of Gerontology, 508, 297-306. [28] Sedó, M. A., & DeCristoforo, L. (2001). All-language verbal tests free from linguistics barriers. Revista Espa?ola de Neuropsicología, 3, 68-82. [29] Sedó, M. A. (2007). FDT—Test de los cinco digitos. Madrid, Spain: TEA Ediciones. [30] Sedó, M. A. (2004). Test de las cinco cifras: una alternativa multilingüe y no lectora al test de Stroop. Revista Espa?ola de Neurología, 38, 824-828. [31] Stroop, J. R. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reaction. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662. doi:10.1037/h0054651 [32] Traykov, L., Raoux, N., Latour, F., Gallo, L., Hanon, O., Baudic, S., Bayle, C., Wenisch, E., Remy, P., & Rigaud, A. S. (2007). Executive functions deficits in mild cognitive impairment. Cognitive & Behavioral Neurology, 20, 219-224. doi:10.1097/WNN.0b013e31815e6254 [33] Zelazo, P. D., Craik, F. I. M., & Booth, L. (2004). Executive function across the life span. Acta Psychologica, 115, 167-184. doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2003.12.005