844 results
Rift propagation signals the last act of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf despite low basal melt rates
- Christian T. Wild, Samuel B. Kachuck, Adrian Luckman, Karen E. Alley, Meghan A. Sharp, Haylee Smith, Scott W. Tyler, Christopher Kratt, Tiago S. Dotto, Daniel Price, Keith W. Nicholls, Suzanne L. Bevan, Gabriela Collao-Barrios, Atsuhiro Muto, Martin Truffer, Ted A. Scambos, Karen J. Heywood, Erin C. Pettit, the TARSAN team
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- Journal:
- Journal of Glaciology , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 September 2024, pp. 1-18
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Rift propagation, rather than basal melt, drives the destabilization and disintegration of the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf. Since 2016, rifts have episodically advanced throughout the central ice-shelf area, with rapid propagation events occurring during austral spring. The ice shelf's speed has increased by ~70% during this period, transitioning from a rate of 1.65 m d−1 in 2019 to 2.85 m d−1 by early 2023 in the central area. The increase in longitudinal strain rates near the grounding zone has led to full-thickness rifts and melange-filled gaps since 2020. A recent sea-ice break out has accelerated retreat at the western calving front, effectively separating the ice shelf from what remained of its northwestern pinning point. Meanwhile, a distributed set of phase-sensitive radar measurements indicates that the basal melting rate is generally small, likely due to a widespread robust ocean stratification beneath the ice–ocean interface that suppresses basal melt despite the presence of substantial oceanic heat at depth. These observations in combination with damage modeling show that, while ocean forcing is responsible for triggering the current West Antarctic ice retreat, the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf is experiencing dynamic feedbacks over decadal timescales that are driving ice-shelf disintegration, now independent of basal melt.
Testing maternal effects of vitamin-D and omega-3 levels on offspring neurodevelopmental traits in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study
- Robyn E. Wootton, Kyle Dack, Hannah J. Jones, Lucy Riglin, Paul Madley-Dowd, Carolina Borges, Panagiota Pagoni, Christine Roth, Anne Lise Brantsæter, Elizabeth C. Corfield, Camilla Stoltenberg, Anne-Siri Øyen, George Davey Smith, Helga Ask, Anita Thapar, Evie Stergiakouli, Alexandra Havdahl
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- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 September 2024, pp. 1-11
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Background
Maternal vitamin-D and omega-3 fatty acid (DHA) deficiencies during pregnancy have previously been associated with offspring neurodevelopmental traits. However, observational study designs cannot distinguish causal effects from confounding.
MethodsFirst, we conducted Mendelian randomisation (MR) using genetic instruments for vitamin-D and DHA identified in independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Outcomes were (1) GWAS for traits related to autism and ADHD, generated in the Norwegian mother, father, and child cohort study (MoBa) from 3 to 8 years, (2) autism and ADHD diagnoses. Second, we used mother–father–child trio-MR in MoBa (1) to test causal effects through maternal nutrient levels, (2) to test effects of child nutrient levels, and (3) as a paternal negative control.
ResultsAssociations between higher maternal vitamin-D levels on lower ADHD related traits at age 5 did not remain after controlling for familial genetic predisposition using trio-MR. Furthermore, we did not find evidence for causal maternal effects of vitamin-D/DHA levels on other offspring traits or diagnoses. In the reverse direction, there was evidence for a causal effect of autism genetic predisposition on lower vitamin-D levels and of ADHD genetic predisposition on lower DHA levels.
ConclusionsTriangulating across study designs, we did not find evidence for maternal effects. We add to a growing body of evidence that suggests that previous observational associations are likely biased by genetic confounding. Consequently, maternal supplementation is unlikely to influence these offspring neurodevelopmental traits. Notably, genetic predisposition to ADHD and autism was associated with lower DHA and vitamin-D levels respectively, suggesting previous associations might have been due to reverse causation.
F.6 Opportunities for improvement: understanding drivers of emergency department visits within 90 days of posterior spinal decompression surgery
- J Smith-Forrester, J Douglas, E Nemeth, J Alant, S Barry, A Glennie, W Oxner, L Weise, S Christie
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- Journal:
- Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Volume 51 / Issue s1 / June 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 May 2024, pp. S13-S14
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Background: Canadian Emergency Departments (EDs) are overburdened. Understanding the drivers for postoperative patients to attend the ED allows for targeted interventions thereby reducing demand. We sought to identify “bounce back” patterns for subsequent QI initiatives. Methods: From April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2022, all provincial ED datasets (EDIS, STAR, Meditech) identified patients presenting within 90 days post-spine surgery. Using Canadian Classification of Health Interventions codes, laminectomies (1SC80) and discectomies (1SE87) demonstrated the highest ED visit rates. Comprehensive chart reviews were conducted identifying surgical and medical reasons for presentation within this timeframe. Results: Reviewing a cohort of 2165 post-decompression patients, 42.1% presented to the ED (n=912) with 62.8% of these directly related to surgery. Primary reasons included wound care (31.6%), pain management (31.6%), and bladder issues (retention or UTI, 11.0%). Simple wound evaluation constituted 49.7% of wound-related visits, with surgical site infection 37.6% and dehiscence 6.6% accounting for the remainder. Pain-related presentations resulted in 72.3% discharge with additional medications, and 27.7% necessitating hospital admission. New or worsening neurologic deficits were reported in 8.9% of ED visits. Conclusions: These findings illuminate crucial aspects of postoperative care and ED utilization patterns. Prioritizing patient education, pain management, and wound care could help alleviate the national ED crisis.
A comprehensive hierarchical comparison of structural connectomes in Major Depressive Disorder cases v. controls in two large population samples
- Gladi Thng, Xueyi Shen, Aleks Stolicyn, Mark J. Adams, Hon Wah Yeung, Venia Batziou, Eleanor L. S. Conole, Colin R. Buchanan, Stephen M. Lawrie, Mark E. Bastin, Andrew M. McIntosh, Ian J. Deary, Elliot M. Tucker-Drob, Simon R. Cox, Keith M. Smith, Liana Romaniuk, Heather C. Whalley
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- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 March 2024, pp. 1-12
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Background
The brain can be represented as a network, with nodes as brain regions and edges as region-to-region connections. Nodes with the most connections (hubs) are central to efficient brain function. Current findings on structural differences in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) identified using network approaches remain inconsistent, potentially due to small sample sizes. It is still uncertain at what level of the connectome hierarchy differences may exist, and whether they are concentrated in hubs, disrupting fundamental brain connectivity.
MethodsWe utilized two large cohorts, UK Biobank (UKB, N = 5104) and Generation Scotland (GS, N = 725), to investigate MDD case–control differences in brain network properties. Network analysis was done across four hierarchical levels: (1) global, (2) tier (nodes grouped into four tiers based on degree) and rich club (between-hub connections), (3) nodal, and (4) connection.
ResultsIn UKB, reductions in network efficiency were observed in MDD cases globally (d = −0.076, pFDR = 0.033), across all tiers (d = −0.069 to −0.079, pFDR = 0.020), and in hubs (d = −0.080 to −0.113, pFDR = 0.013–0.035). No differences in rich club organization and region-to-region connections were identified. The effect sizes and direction for these associations were generally consistent in GS, albeit not significant in our lower-N replication sample.
ConclusionOur results suggest that the brain's fundamental rich club structure is similar in MDD cases and controls, but subtle topological differences exist across the brain. Consistent with recent large-scale neuroimaging findings, our findings offer a connectomic perspective on a similar scale and support the idea that minimal differences exist between MDD cases and controls.
Head and Neck Cancer: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines, Sixth Edition
- Jarrod J Homer, Stuart C Winter, Elizabeth C Abbey, Hiba Aga, Reshma Agrawal, Derfel ap Dafydd, Takhar Arunjit, Patrick Axon, Eleanor Aynsley, Izhar N Bagwan, Arun Batra, Donna Begg, Jonathan M Bernstein, Guy Betts, Colin Bicknell, Brian Bisase, Grainne C Brady, Peter Brennan, Aina Brunet, Val Bryant, Linda Cantwell, Ashish Chandra, Preetha Chengot, Melvin L K Chua, Peter Clarke, Gemma Clunie, Margaret Coffey, Clare Conlon, David I Conway, Florence Cook, Matthew R Cooper, Declan Costello, Ben Cosway, Neil J A Cozens, Grant Creaney, Daljit K Gahir, Stephen Damato, Joe Davies, Katharine S Davies, Alina D Dragan, Yong Du, Mark R D Edmond, Stefano Fedele, Harriet Finze, Jason C Fleming, Bernadette H Foran, Beth Fordham, Mohammed M A S Foridi, Lesley Freeman, Katherine E Frew, Pallavi Gaitonde, Victoria Gallyer, Fraser W Gibb, Sinclair M Gore, Mark Gormley, Roganie Govender, J Greedy, Teresa Guerrero Urbano, Dorothy Gujral, David W Hamilton, John C Hardman, Kevin Harrington, Samantha Holmes, Jarrod J Homer, Deborah Howland, Gerald Humphris, Keith D Hunter, Kate Ingarfield, Richard Irving, Kristina Isand, Yatin Jain, Sachin Jauhar, Sarra Jawad, Glyndwr W Jenkins, Anastasios Kanatas, Stephen Keohane, Cyrus J Kerawala, William Keys, Emma V King, Anthony Kong, Fiona Lalloo, Kirsten Laws, Samuel C Leong, Shane Lester, Miles Levy, Ken Lingley, Gitta Madani, Navin Mani, Paolo L Matteucci, Catriona R Mayland, James McCaul, Lorna K McCaul, Pádraig McDonnell, Andrew McPartlin, Valeria Mercadante, Zoe Merchant, Radu Mihai, Mufaddal T Moonim, John Moore, Paul Nankivell, Sonali Natu, A Nelson, Pablo Nenclares, Kate Newbold, Carrie Newland, Ailsa J Nicol, Iain J Nixon, Rupert Obholzer, James T O'Hara, S Orr, Vinidh Paleri, James Palmer, Rachel S Parry, Claire Paterson, Gillian Patterson, Joanne M Patterson, Miranda Payne, L Pearson, David N Poller, Jonathan Pollock, Stephen Ross Porter, Matthew Potter, Robin J D Prestwich, Ruth Price, Mani Ragbir, Meena S Ranka, Max Robinson, Justin W G Roe, Tom Roques, Aleix Rovira, Sajid Sainuddin, I J Salmon, Ann Sandison, Andy Scarsbrook, Andrew G Schache, A Scott, Diane Sellstrom, Cherith J Semple, Jagrit Shah, Praveen Sharma, Richard J Shaw, Somiah Siddiq, Priyamal Silva, Ricard Simo, Rabin P Singh, Maria Smith, Rebekah Smith, Toby Oliver Smith, Sanjai Sood, Francis W Stafford, Neil Steven, Kay Stewart, Lisa Stoner, Steve Sweeney, Andrew Sykes, Carly L Taylor, Selvam Thavaraj, David J Thomson, Jane Thornton, Neil S Tolley, Nancy Turnbull, Sriram Vaidyanathan, Leandros Vassiliou, John Waas, Kelly Wade-McBane, Donna Wakefield, Amy Ward, Laura Warner, Laura-Jayne Watson, H Watts, Christina Wilson, Stuart C Winter, Winson Wong, Chui-Yan Yip, Kent Yip
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- Journal:
- The Journal of Laryngology & Otology / Volume 138 / Issue S1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 March 2024, pp. S1-S224
- Print publication:
- April 2024
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39K Solid-State NMR Studies of Potassium Tecto- and Phyllosilicates: The In Situ Detection of Hydratable K+ in Smectites
- J.-F. Lambert, R. Prost, M. E. Smith
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- Clays and Clay Minerals / Volume 40 / Issue 3 / June 1992
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 28 February 2024, pp. 253-261
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We report the first application of 39K solid-state NMR to the study of tecto- and phyllosilicates. Under high field (11.7 Tesla) and with the application of a spin-echo sequence, informative 39K spectra can be obtained for several compounds of interest to the geologist and the agronomist. Tectosilicates and phyllosilicates can be distinguished from the uncorrected frequency (δCG) of the observed NMR peak. A series of montmorillonites submitted to increasing numbers of wetting and drying cycles was studied in order to discriminate between mobile and “fixed” forms of K+: when the spectra are run on hydrated samples, two different signals are observed corresponding to K+ in different hydration states, and NMR data can be correlated with the amount of exchangeable K+ measured by ion exchange. Thus, it appears that NMR can provide useful information on K fixation complementary to classical chemical methods.
Preparation and Porous Properties of Materials Prepared by Selective Leaching of Phlogopite
- Kiyoshi Okada, Noriyuki Nakazawa, Yoshikazu Kameshima, Atsuo Yasumori, Jadambaa Temuujin, Kenneth J. D. MacKenzie, Mark E. Smith
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- Clays and Clay Minerals / Volume 50 / Issue 5 / October 2002
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 January 2024, pp. 624-632
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Porous silica products obtained by selective leaching of phlogopite using an acid solution were investigated by XRD, MAS NMR, SEM, TEM, DTA/TG, and N2 and Ar gas adsorptions. The phlogopite powder was leached by a nitric acid solution at various concentrations (0.01–10 M) at 5–150°C for 10 min–480 h. Selective leaching of the phlogopite powder became extensive when the concentration of nitric acid was >1 M. Only SiO2 remained after the treatment, the other components (MgO, Al2O3, K2O and Fe2O3) being selectively leached from the product. At higher leaching temperatures, the leaching rate became faster and the resulting maximum specific surface area of the porous silica product became larger at each leaching temperature. The porous silica products were found by SEM and TEM, to maintain their original platy particle shape even after the selective leaching. The 29Si MAS NMR spectra of the products, however, revealed that the linkage structure of SiO4 tetrahedra converted to a framework type from a layered type in the original phlogopite. The porous silica product with the maximum specific surface area (532 m2/g) was obtained by leaching in a nitric acid solution with concentration of 5 M at 90°C for 15 min. The pore-size distribution of the porous silica product was bimodal with micropores of ∼0.7 nm and mesopores of ∼4 nm. The pore size of the products changed from 0.7 nm to 4 nm and further to 6 nm with increased leaching time. The present results are discussed in relation to those reported for phlogopite by other workers.
Helium as a Surrogate for Deuterium in LPI Studies
- Matthias Geissel, Adam J. Harvey-Thompson, Matthew R. Weis, Jeffrey R. Fein, David Ampleford, David E. Bliss, Aaron M. Hansen, Christopher Jennings, Mark W. Kimmel, Patrick Rambo, Jonathon E. Shores, Ian C. Smith, C. Shane Speas, John L. Porter, Fabrizio Consoli
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- Laser and Particle Beams / Volume 2023 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 January 2024, e2
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Helium or neopentane can be used as surrogate gas fill for deuterium (D2) or deuterium-tritium (DT) in laser-plasma interaction studies. Surrogates are convenient to avoid flammability hazards or the integration of cryogenics in an experiment. To test the degree of equivalency between deuterium and helium, experiments were conducted in the Pecos target chamber at Sandia National Laboratories. Observables such as laser propagation and signatures of laser-plasma instabilities (LPI) were recorded for multiple laser and target configurations. It was found that some observables can differ significantly despite the apparent similarity of the gases with respect to molecular charge and weight. While a qualitative behaviour of the interaction may very well be studied by finding a suitable compromise of laser absorption, electron density, and LPI cross sections, a quantitative investigation of expected values for deuterium fills at high laser intensities is not likely to succeed with surrogate gases.
53 2-Back Performance Does Not Differ Between Cognitive Training Groups in Older Adults Without Dementia
- Nicole D Evangelista, Jessica N Kraft, Hanna K Hausman, Andrew O’Shea, Alejandro Albizu, Emanuel M Boutzoukas, Cheshire Hardcastle, Emily J Van Etten, Pradyumna K Bharadwaj, Hyun Song, Samantha G Smith, Steven DeKosky, Georg A Hishaw, Samuel Wu, Michael Marsiske, Ronald Cohen, Gene E Alexander, Eric Porges, Adam J Woods
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 360-361
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Objective:
Cognitive training is a non-pharmacological intervention aimed at improving cognitive function across a single or multiple domains. Although the underlying mechanisms of cognitive training and transfer effects are not well-characterized, cognitive training has been thought to facilitate neural plasticity to enhance cognitive performance. Indeed, the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) proposes that cognitive training may enhance the ability to engage in compensatory scaffolding to meet task demands and maintain cognitive performance. We therefore evaluated the effects of cognitive training on working memory performance in older adults without dementia. This study will help begin to elucidate non-pharmacological intervention effects on compensatory scaffolding in older adults.
Participants and Methods:48 participants were recruited for a Phase III randomized clinical trial (Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults [ACT]; NIH R01AG054077) conducted at the University of Florida and University of Arizona. Participants across sites were randomly assigned to complete cognitive training (n=25) or an education training control condition (n=23). Cognitive training and the education training control condition were each completed during 60 sessions over 12 weeks for 40 hours total. The education training control condition involved viewing educational videos produced by the National Geographic Channel. Cognitive training was completed using the Posit Science Brain HQ training program, which included 8 cognitive training paradigms targeting attention/processing speed and working memory. All participants also completed demographic questionnaires, cognitive testing, and an fMRI 2-back task at baseline and at 12-weeks following cognitive training.
Results:Repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), adjusted for training adherence, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) condition, age, sex, years of education, and Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR) raw score, revealed a significant 2-back by training group interaction (F[1,40]=6.201, p=.017, η2=.134). Examination of simple main effects revealed baseline differences in 2-back performance (F[1,40]=.568, p=.455, η2=.014). After controlling for baseline performance, training group differences in 2-back performance was no longer statistically significant (F[1,40]=1.382, p=.247, η2=.034).
Conclusions:After adjusting for baseline performance differences, there were no significant training group differences in 2-back performance, suggesting that the randomization was not sufficient to ensure adequate distribution of participants across groups. Results may indicate that cognitive training alone is not sufficient for significant improvement in working memory performance on a near transfer task. Additional improvement may occur with the next phase of this clinical trial, such that tDCS augments the effects of cognitive training and results in enhanced compensatory scaffolding even within this high performing cohort. Limitations of the study include a highly educated sample with higher literacy levels and the small sample size was not powered for transfer effects analysis. Future analyses will include evaluation of the combined intervention effects of a cognitive training and tDCS on nback performance in a larger sample of older adults without dementia.
8 The Dunning-Kruger Effect on a Latinx Population
- Carolina Garza Castaneda, Matthew J. Wright, Raymundo Cervantes, Tara L. Victor, Krissy E. Smith, Chelsea McElwee, Adriana Cuello, Alberto L. Fernandez, Isabel D. C. Munoz, David J. Hardy, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 423-424
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Objective:
Individuals tend to overestimate their abilities in areas where they are less competent. This cognitive bias is known as the Dunning-Krueger effect. Research shows that Dunning-Krueger effect occurs in persons with traumatic brain injury and healthy comparison participants. It was suggested by Walker and colleagues (2017) that the deficits in cognitive awareness may be due to brain injury. Confrontational naming tasks (e.g., Boston Naming Test) are used to evaluate language abilities. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontational naming task developed to be administered in multiple languages. Hardy and Wright (2018) conditionally validated a measure of perceived mental workload called the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). They found that workload ratings on the NASA-TLX increased with increased task demands on a cognitive task. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs in a Latinx population and possible factors driving individuals to overestimate their abilities on the CNT. We predicted the low-performance group would report better CNT performance, but underperform on the CNT compared to the high-performance group.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 129 Latinx participants with a mean age of 21.07 (SD = 4.57). Participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy. Our sample was divided into two groups: the low-performance group and the high-performance group. Participants completed the CNT and the NASA-TLX in English. The NASA-TLX examines perceived workload (e.g., performance) and it was used in the present study to evaluate possible factors driving individuals to overestimate their abilities on the CNT. Participants completed the NASA-TLX after completing the CNT. Moreover, the CNT raw scores were averaged to create the following two groups: low-performance (CNT raw score <17) and high-performance (CNT raw score 18+). A series of ANCOVA's, controlling for gender and years of education completed were used to evaluate CNT performance and CNT perceived workloads.
Results:We found the low-performance group reported better performance on the CNT compared to the high-performance, p = .021, np2 = .04. However, the high-performance group outperformed the low-performance group on the CNT, p = .000, np2 = .53. Additionally, results revealed the low-performance group reported higher temporal demand and effort levels on the CNT compared to the high-performance group, p's < .05, nps2 = .05.
Conclusions:As we predicted, the low-performance group overestimated their CNT performance compared to the high-performance group. The current data suggest that the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs in healthy Latinx participants. We also found that temporal demand and effort may be influencing awareness in the low-performance group CNT performance compared to the high-performance group. The present study suggests subjective features on what may be influencing confrontational naming task performance in low-performance individuals more than highperformance individuals on the CNT. Current literature shows that bilingual speakers underperformed on confrontational naming tasks compared to monolingual speakers. Future studies should investigate if the Dunning-Kruger effects Latinx English monolingual speakers compared to Spanish-English bilingual speakers on the CNT.
2 Higher White Matter Hyperintensity Load Adversely Affects Pre-Post Proximal Cognitive Training Performance in Healthy Older Adults
- Emanuel M Boutzoukas, Andrew O’Shea, Jessica N Kraft, Cheshire Hardcastle, Nicole D Evangelista, Hanna K Hausman, Alejandro Albizu, Emily J Van Etten, Pradyumna K Bharadwaj, Samantha G Smith, Hyun Song, Eric C Porges, Alex Hishaw, Steven T DeKosky, Samuel S Wu, Michael Marsiske, Gene E Alexander, Ronald Cohen, Adam J Woods
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 671-672
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Objective:
Cognitive training has shown promise for improving cognition in older adults. Aging involves a variety of neuroanatomical changes that may affect response to cognitive training. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are one common age-related brain change, as evidenced by T2-weighted and Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) MRI. WMH are associated with older age, suggestive of cerebral small vessel disease, and reflect decreased white matter integrity. Higher WMH load associates with reduced threshold for clinical expression of cognitive impairment and dementia. The effects of WMH on response to cognitive training interventions are relatively unknown. The current study assessed (a) proximal cognitive training performance following a 3-month randomized control trial and (b) the contribution of baseline whole-brain WMH load, defined as total lesion volume (TLV), on pre-post proximal training change.
Participants and Methods:Sixty-two healthy older adults ages 65-84 completed either adaptive cognitive training (CT; n=31) or educational training control (ET; n=31) interventions. Participants assigned to CT completed 20 hours of attention/processing speed training and 20 hours of working memory training delivered through commercially-available Posit Science BrainHQ. ET participants completed 40 hours of educational videos. All participants also underwent sham or active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as an adjunctive intervention, although not a variable of interest in the current study. Multimodal MRI scans were acquired during the baseline visit. T1- and T2-weighted FLAIR images were processed using the Lesion Segmentation Tool (LST) for SPM12. The Lesion Prediction Algorithm of LST automatically segmented brain tissue and calculated lesion maps. A lesion threshold of 0.30 was applied to calculate TLV. A log transformation was applied to TLV to normalize the distribution of WMH. Repeated-measures analysis of covariance (RM-ANCOVA) assessed pre/post change in proximal composite (Total Training Composite) and sub-composite (Processing Speed Training Composite, Working Memory Training Composite) measures in the CT group compared to their ET counterparts, controlling for age, sex, years of education and tDCS group. Linear regression assessed the effect of TLV on post-intervention proximal composite and sub-composite, controlling for baseline performance, intervention assignment, age, sex, years of education, multisite scanner differences, estimated total intracranial volume, and binarized cardiovascular disease risk.
Results:RM-ANCOVA revealed two-way group*time interactions such that those assigned cognitive training demonstrated greater improvement on proximal composite (Total Training Composite) and sub-composite (Processing Speed Training Composite, Working Memory Training Composite) measures compared to their ET counterparts. Multiple linear regression showed higher baseline TLV associated with lower pre-post change on Processing Speed Training sub-composite (ß = -0.19, p = 0.04) but not other composite measures.
Conclusions:These findings demonstrate the utility of cognitive training for improving postintervention proximal performance in older adults. Additionally, pre-post proximal processing speed training change appear to be particularly sensitive to white matter hyperintensity load versus working memory training change. These data suggest that TLV may serve as an important factor for consideration when planning processing speed-based cognitive training interventions for remediation of cognitive decline in older adults.
78 BVMT-R Learning Ratio Moderates Cognitive Training Gains in Useful Field of View Task in Healthy Older Adults
- Cheshire Hardcastle, Jessica N. Kraft, Hanna K. Hausman, Andrew O’Shea, Alejandro Albizu, Nicole D. Evangelista, Emanuel Boutzoukas, Emily J. Van Etten, Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj, Hyun Song, Samantha G. Smith, Eric Porges, Steven DeKosky, Georg A. Hishaw, Samuel Wu, Michael Marsiske, Ronald Cohen, Gene E. Alexander, Adam J. Woods
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 180-181
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Objective:
Cognitive training using a visual speed-of-processing task, called the Useful Field of View (UFOV) task, reduced dementia risk and reduced decline in activities of daily living at a 10-year follow-up in older adults. However, there is variability in the level of cognitive gains after cognitive training across studies. One potential explanation for this variability could be moderating factors. Prior studies suggest variables moderating cognitive training gains share features of the training task. Learning trials of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) recruit similar cognitive abilities and have overlapping neural correlates with the UFOV task and speed-ofprocessing/working memory tasks and therefore could serve as potential moderators. Exploring moderating factors of cognitive training gains may boost the efficacy of interventions, improve rigor in the cognitive training literature, and eventually help provide tailored treatment recommendations. This study explored the association between the HVLT-R and BVMT-R learning and the UFOV task, and assessed the moderation of HVLT-R and BVMT-R learning on UFOV improvement after a 3-month speed-ofprocessing/attention and working memory cognitive training intervention in cognitively healthy older adults.
Participants and Methods:75 healthy older adults (M age = 71.11, SD = 4.61) were recruited as part of a larger clinical trial through the Universities of Florida and Arizona. Participants were randomized into a cognitive training (n=36) or education control (n=39) group and underwent a 40-hour, 12-week intervention. Cognitive training intervention consisted of practicing 4 attention/speed-of-processing (including the UFOV task) and 4 working memory tasks. Education control intervention consisted of watching 40-minute educational videos. The HVLT-R and BVMT-R were administered at the pre-intervention timepoint as part of a larger neurocognitive battery. The learning ratio was calculated as: trial 3 total - trial 1 total/12 - trial 1 total. UFOV performance was measured at pre- and post-intervention time points via the POSIT Brain HQ Double Decision Assessment. Multiple linear regressions predicted baseline Double Decision performance from HVLT-R and BVMT-R learning ratios controlling for study site, age, sex, and education. A repeated measures moderation analysis assessed the moderation of HVLT-R and BVMT-R learning ratio on Double Decision change from pre- to post-intervention for cognitive training and education control groups.
Results:Baseline Double Decision performance significantly associated with BVMT-R learning ratio (β=-.303, p=.008), but not HVLT-R learning ratio (β=-.142, p=.238). BVMT-R learning ratio moderated gains in Double Decision performance (p<.01); for each unit increase in BVMT-R learning ratio, there was a .6173 unit decrease in training gains. The HVLT-R learning ratio did not moderate gains in Double Decision performance (p>.05). There were no significant moderations in the education control group.
Conclusions:Better visuospatial learning was associated with faster Double Decision performance at baseline. Those with poorer visuospatial learning improved most on the Double Decision task after training, suggesting that healthy older adults who perform below expectations may show the greatest training gains. Future cognitive training research studying visual speed-of-processing interventions should account for differing levels of visuospatial learning at baseline, as this could impact the magnitude of training outcomes.
6 Adjunctive Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cognitive Training Alters Default Mode and Frontoparietal Control Network Connectivity in Older Adults
- Hanna K Hausman, Jessica N Kraft, Cheshire Hardcastle, Nicole D Evangelista, Emanuel M Boutzoukas, Andrew O’Shea, Alejandro Albizu, Emily J Van Etten, Pradyumna K Bharadwaj, Hyun Song, Samantha G Smith, Eric S Porges, Georg A Hishaw, Samuel Wu, Steven DeKosky, Gene E Alexander, Michael Marsiske, Ronald A Cohen, Adam J Woods
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 675-676
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Objective:
Aging is associated with disruptions in functional connectivity within the default mode (DMN), frontoparietal control (FPCN), and cingulo-opercular (CON) resting-state networks. Greater within-network connectivity predicts better cognitive performance in older adults. Therefore, strengthening network connectivity, through targeted intervention strategies, may help prevent age-related cognitive decline or progression to dementia. Small studies have demonstrated synergistic effects of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and cognitive training (CT) on strengthening network connectivity; however, this association has yet to be rigorously tested on a large scale. The current study leverages longitudinal data from the first-ever Phase III clinical trial for tDCS to examine the efficacy of an adjunctive tDCS and CT intervention on modulating network connectivity in older adults.
Participants and Methods:This sample included 209 older adults (mean age = 71.6) from the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults multisite trial. Participants completed 40 hours of CT over 12 weeks, which included 8 attention, processing speed, and working memory tasks. Participants were randomized into active or sham stimulation groups, and tDCS was administered during CT daily for two weeks then weekly for 10 weeks. For both stimulation groups, two electrodes in saline-soaked 5x7 cm2 sponges were placed at F3 (cathode) and F4 (anode) using the 10-20 measurement system. The active group received 2mA of current for 20 minutes. The sham group received 2mA for 30 seconds, then no current for the remaining 20 minutes.
Participants underwent resting-state fMRI at baseline and post-intervention. CONN toolbox was used to preprocess imaging data and conduct region of interest (ROI-ROI) connectivity analyses. The Artifact Detection Toolbox, using intermediate settings, identified outlier volumes. Two participants were excluded for having greater than 50% of volumes flagged as outliers. ROI-ROI analyses modeled the interaction between tDCS group (active versus sham) and occasion (baseline connectivity versus postintervention connectivity) for the DMN, FPCN, and CON controlling for age, sex, education, site, and adherence.
Results:Compared to sham, the active group demonstrated ROI-ROI increases in functional connectivity within the DMN following intervention (left temporal to right temporal [T(202) = 2.78, pFDR < 0.05] and left temporal to right dorsal medial prefrontal cortex [T(202) = 2.74, pFDR < 0.05]. In contrast, compared to sham, the active group demonstrated ROI-ROI decreases in functional connectivity within the FPCN following intervention (left dorsal prefrontal cortex to left temporal [T(202) = -2.96, pFDR < 0.05] and left dorsal prefrontal cortex to left lateral prefrontal cortex [T(202) = -2.77, pFDR < 0.05]). There were no significant interactions detected for CON regions.
Conclusions:These findings (a) demonstrate the feasibility of modulating network connectivity using tDCS and CT and (b) provide important information regarding the pattern of connectivity changes occurring at these intervention parameters in older adults. Importantly, the active stimulation group showed increases in connectivity within the DMN (a network particularly vulnerable to aging and implicated in Alzheimer’s disease) but decreases in connectivity between left frontal and temporal FPCN regions. Future analyses from this trial will evaluate the association between these changes in connectivity and cognitive performance post-intervention and at a one-year timepoint.
42 Lexical Retrieval and Acculturation in Generation Z Mexicans
- Yvette D Jesus, Krissy E Smith, Krithika Sivaramakrishnan, Reymundo Cervantes, Tara L Victor, Brittany Heuchert, Dorthy Schmidt, Diana Palacios, Chelsea McElwee, David J Hardy, Enrique Lopez, Alberto L Fernandez, Daniel W Lopez Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, p. 453
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Objective:
The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item lexical retrieval task that was developed to be administered in multiple languages. Research shows that self-identifying Mexicans residing in Mexico outperform self-identifying Mexicans that reside in the United States on the CNT. Studies indicate that the process of acculturation can influence cognitive performance. Previous studies demonstrated that Generation Z individuals (i.e., people born between 1997 and 2012) have underperformed on the CNT compared to Generation Y individuals (i.e., people born between 1981 and 1996). To our knowledge, no study has examined the influence of acculturation on Generation Z Mexicans’ CNT performance. We expected Mexicans residing in Mexico (MRM) to outperform Mexicans residing in the United States on the CNT and to report higher acculturation traits. We also predicted that acculturation would correlate with CNT performance.
Participants and Methods:The present study sample consisted of 285 Generation Z psychologically and neurologically healthy Mexicans with a mean age of 20.32 (SD = 1.60). Participants were divided into three groups: MRM, Mexicans residing in the United States, and Mexican-Americans residing in the United States (MARUS). All participants completed the CNT and acculturation measure in Spanish. Acculturation traits were measured by the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS). ANCOVAs were used to evaluate differences in the CNT and AMAS (i.e., Spanish language, Latino competency, Latino identity). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between acculturation on CNT performance.
Results:MRM outperformed the Mexicans residing in the United States and MARUS on the CNT, p = .000, np2 = .49. The MRM group reported better Spanish language abilities compared to Mexicans residing in the United States and the MARUS groups, p = .000, np2 = .10. Additionally, MRM reported better Latino competency than the MARUS group, p = .000, np2 = .08. Pearson’s correlation coefficient revealed that the MARUS’s Spanish language abilities impacted CNT performance, p = .000, r = .48. In addition, we found that Latino competency correlated with CNT performance, p’s < .05, r’s = .20-.47, in both the MRM and Mexicans residing in the United States groups. Latino identity did not significantly correlate with CNT performance in any group.
Conclusions:Results confirmed that MRM individuals perform better on the CNT than Mexicans residing in the United States and MARUS. Additionally, we found that several acculturation traits correlated with Mexican groups’ CNT performance. Our research indicates that while all Generation Z individuals of Mexican heritage feel strongly connected to their Latino identity regardless of where they live, MARUS feel less competent in Spanish and Latinx culture than MRM and Mexicans residing in the United States. Future work should further explore these differences for better insight into how acculturative factors influence lexical retrieval performance. Future work with bigger sample sizes can additionally examine CNT performance and acculturation in Generation Z first-generation and non-first-generation Mexicans (e.g., second-generation, third-generation) residing in the United States.
22 Cordoba Naming Test Performance and Acculturation in a Geriatric Population
- Isabel C.D. Muñoz, Krissy E. Smith, Santiago I. Espinoza, Diana M. R. Maqueda, Adriana C. Cuello, Ana Paula Pena, Carolina Garza, Raymundo Cervantes, Jill Razani, Tara L. Victor, David J. Hardy, Alberto L. Fernandez, Natalia Lozano Acosta, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 335-336
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Objective:
A commonly used confrontation naming task used in the United States is The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Performance differences has been found in Caucasian and ethnic minorities on the BNT. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task developed in Argentina. Past research has shown acculturation levels can influence cognitive performance. Furthermore, one study evaluated geriatric gender differences on CNT performance in Spanish. Researchers reported that older male participants outperformed female participants on the CNT. To our knowledge, researchers have not evaluated ethnic differences on the CNT using a geriatric sample. The purpose of the present study was to examined CNT performance and acculturation in a Latinx and Caucasian geriatric sample. It was predicted the Caucasian group would outperform the Latinx group on the CNT. Moreover, the Caucasian group would report higher acculturation levels on the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS) compared to the Latinx group.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 9 Latinx and 11 Caucasian participants with a mean age of 66.80 (SD =6.10), with an average of 14.30 (SD = 2.00) years of education. All participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy and completed the CNT and the AMAS in English. Acculturation was measured via the AMAS English subscales (i.e., English Language, United States. Identity, United States, Competency). A series of ANCOVAs, controlling for years of education completed and gender, was used to evaluate CNT performance and acculturation.
Results:The ethnic groups were not well demographically matched (i.e., years of education and gender).We found that the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on CNT performance p = .012, ηp 2 = .34. Furthermore, the Caucasian group reported higher acculturation levels (i.e., English Language, United States, Identity, United States, Competency) compared to the Latinx group p’s < .05, ηps2 = .42-.64.
Conclusions:To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate CNT performance between ethnic groups with a geriatric sample. As expected the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on the CNT. Also, as expected the Caucasian group reported higher English acculturation levels compared to the Latinx group. Our findings are consistent with past studies showing ethnic differences on confrontational naming performance (i.e., The Boston Naming Test), favoring Caucasians. A possible explanation for group differences could have been linguistic factors (e.g., speaking multiple languages) in our Latinx group. Therefore, since our Latinx group reported lower levels of English Language, United States identity, and United States competency the Latinx group assimilation towards United States culture might of influence their CNT performance. Future studies with different ethnic groups (e.g., African-Americans) and a larger sample size should examine if ethnic differences continue to cross-validate in a geriatric sample.
30 Analyzing Spanish Speakers Cordoba Naming Test Performance
- Raymundo Cervantes, Isabel D.C. Munoz, Estefania J. Aguirre, Natalia Lozano Acosta, Mariam Gomez, Adriana C. Cuello, Krissy E. Smith, Diana I. Palacios Mata, Krithika Sivaramakrishnan, Yvette De Jesus, Santiago I. Espinoza, Diana M. R. Maqueda, David J. Hardy, Tara L. Victor, Alberto L. Fernandez, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 443-444
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Objective:
A 30-item confrontation naming test was developed in Argentina for Spanish speakers, The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT). The Boston Naming Test is an established confrontation naming task in the United States. Researchers have used the Boston Naming Test to identify individuals with different clinical pathologies (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease). The current literature on how Spanish speakers across various countries perform on confrontational naming tasks is limited. To our knowledge, one study investigated CNT performance across three Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, and Guatemala). Investigators found that the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentine and Mexican groups. The purpose of this study was to extend the current literature and investigate CNT performance across five Spanish-speaking countries (i.e., Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, United States). We predicted that the Argentine group would outperform the other Spanish-speaking countries.
Participants and Methods:The present study sample consisted of 502 neurologically and psychologically healthy participants with a mean age of 29.06 (SD = 13.41) with 14.75 years of education completed (SD = 3.01). Participants were divided into five different groups based on their country of birth and current country residency (i.e., United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, & Colombia). All participants consented to voluntary participation and completed the CNT and a comprehensive background questionnaire in Spanish. The CNT consisted of 30 black and white line drawings, ranging from easy to hard in difficulty. An ANCOVA, controlling for gender, education, and age, was used to evaluate CNT performance between the five Spanish-speaking country groups. Meanwhile, a Bonferroni post-hoc test was utilized to evaluate the significant differences between Spanish-speaking groups. We used a threshold of p < .05 for statistical significance.
Results:Results revealed significant group differences between the five Spanish speaking groups on the CNT, p = .000, np2 = .48. Bonferroni post-hoc test revealed that the United States group significantly underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. Next, we found the Guatemalan group underperformed on the CNT compared to the Argentinian, Mexican, and Colombian groups. Additionally, we found the Argentinian group outperformed the Mexican, Guatemalan, and United States groups on the CNT. No significant differences were found between the Argentinian group and Colombian group or the Mexican group and Colombian group on the CNT.
Conclusions:As predicted, the Argentinian group outperformed all the Spanish-speaking groups on the CNT except the Colombian group. Additionally, we found that the United States group underperformed on the CNT compared to all the Spanish-speaking groups. A possible explanation is that Spanish is not the official language in the United States compared to the rest of the Spanish-speaking groups. Meanwhile, a possible reason why the Argentinian and Colombian groups demonstrated better CNT performances might have been that it was less culturally sensitive than the United States, Mexican, and Guatemalan groups. Further analysis is needed with bigger sample sizes across other Spanish-speaking countries (e.g., Costa Rica, Chile) to evaluate what variables, if any, are influencing CNT performance.
86 The Examination Between Credible and Non-Credible Groups on Embedded PVT Tests
- Krissy E. Smith, Tara L. Victor, Matthew J. Wright, Kyle B. Boone, Daniel W. Lopez-Hernandez
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 759-760
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Objective:
Performance validity tests (PVTs) are included in neuropsychological testing to ensure examinees are performing to the best of their abilities. There are two types of PVTs: embedded and free standing. Embedded PVTs are tests that are derived from standard neuropsychological tests of various cognitive domains. Freestanding PVTs are tests that are designed with the intention of being a PVT. Research studies show that undergraduate samples do not always performed to the best of their abilities. The purpose of this study was to cross-validate previous research on the topic of performance validity in a college sample. It was predicted that the non-credible group would demonstrate higher failure rates on embedded PVTs compared to the credible group.
Participants and Methods:The sample consisted of 198 neurologically and psychologically healthy undergraduate students with a mean age of 19.69 (SD = 2.11). Participants were broken into two groups: non-credible (i.e., participants that failed two or more PVTs) and credible (i.e., participants that did not failed two or more PVTs). The Rey-Osterrith copy test, Comalli Stroop part A (CSA), B (CSB), and C (CSC), Trail Making Test part A and B, Symbol Digit Modalities Test written (SDMT-W) and oral (SDMT-O) parts, Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) letter fluency, and Finger Tapping Test were used to evaluate failure rates in our sample. PVT cutoff scores were use from previously validated in the literature. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate failure rates between the groups.
Results:Chi-square analysis revealed significant failure rate differences between groups on several PVTs. Results revealed that 15% of the non-credible group failed the CSA compared to 1% of the credible group, X2=14.77, p=.000. Meanwhile, 26% of the non-credible group failed the CSB compared to 2% of the credible group, X2=24.72, p=.000. Furthermore, results showed that 11% of the non-credible group failed the CSC compared to 1% of the credible group, X2=13.05, p=.000.Next, 48% of the non-credible group failed the Trail Making Test part A compared to 8% of the credible group, X2=31.61, p=.000. We also found that 15% of the non-credible group failed the SDMT-W part compared to 1% of the credible group,X2=19.18, p=.000. Meanwhile, on the SDMT-O part 19% of the non-credible group failed compared to 1% of the credible group, X2=25.52, p =.000. On the COWAT letter fluency task 74% of the non-credible group failed compared to 19% of the credible group, X2=36.90, p=.000. Finally, results revealed on the Finger Tapping Test 19% of the non-credible group failed compared to 3% of the credible group, X2=10.01, p=.002.
Conclusions:As expected, the non-credible participants demonstrated significantly higher PVT failure rates compared to credible participants. A possible explanation driving higher failure rates in our sample can be due to cultural variables (e.g., bilingualism). It was suggested by researchers that linguistic factors may be impacting higher PVT failure rates and developing a false-positive error. Future research using undergraduate samples need to identify which PVT’s are being impacted by linguist factors.
4 Does Working Memory Training for Children Need to be Adaptive? A Randomised Controlled Trial
- Regine C Lau, Peter J Anderson, Joshua F Wiley, Susan E Gathercole, Megan Spencer-Smith
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 512-513
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A common assumption to maximise cognitive training outcomes is that training tasks should be adaptive, with difficulty adjusted to the individual’s performance. This has only been tested once in adults (von Bastian & Eschen, 2016). We aimed to examine children’s outcomes of working memory training using adaptive, self-select and stepwise approaches to setting the difficulty of training tasks compared to an active control condition.
Participants and Methods:In a randomised controlled trial (ACTRN 12621000990820), children in Grades 2-5 (7 to 11 years) were allocated to one of four conditions: adaptive working memory training, self-select working memory training, stepwise working memory training, or active control. An experimental intervention embedded in Minecraft was developed for teachers to deliver in the classroom over two weeks (10 x 20-minute sessions). The working memory training comprised two training tasks with processing demands similar to daily activities: backward span with digits and following instructions with objects. The control condition comprised creative building tasks. As part of a larger protocol, children completed at baseline and immediately post-intervention working memory measures similar to the training activities (primary outcome): backward span digits and letters versions, following instructions objects and letters versions. Primary analyses were intention-to-treat. Secondary analyses included only children who completed 10 sessions.
Results:Of 204 children recruited into the study, 203 were randomised, with 95% retention at post-intervention. 76% of children completed all 10 training sessions. Comparisons between each working memory training condition and the active control on working memory measures were non-significant (f 2 = 0.00), with one exception. Children in the self-select condition on average performed 1-point better than the controls on the following instructions objects measure (p = .02, f2 = 0.03). A pattern emerged that the self-select condition performed better on most measures.
Conclusions:We found little evidence that an adaptive approach to setting the difficulty of training tasks maximises training outcomes for children. Findings suggest that working memory outcomes following training are limited and are not modulated by the approach to setting the difficulty of training tasks. This is consistent with findings from von Bastian & Eschen (2016), who also observed that the self-select condition (and not the adaptive condition) showed a slightly larger change in working memory performance following training than the control. It is helpful for clinicians to be aware that adaptive working memory training programs might not be superior in improving children’s working memory, and the benefits of programs are limited.
9 Connecting memory and functional brain networks in older adults: a resting state fMRI study
- Jori L Waner, Hanna K Hausman, Jessica N Kraft, Cheshire Hardcastle, Nicole D Evangelista, Andrew O’Shea, Alejandro Albizu, Emanuel M Boutzoukas, Emily J Van Etten, Pradyumna K Bharadwaj, Hyun Song, Samantha G Smith, Steven T DeKosky, Georg A Hishaw, Samuel S Wu, Michael Marsiske, Ronald Cohen, Gene E Alexander, Eric C Porges, Adam J Woods
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- Journal:
- Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society / Volume 29 / Issue s1 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 December 2023, pp. 527-528
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Nonpathological aging has been linked to decline in both verbal and visuospatial memory abilities in older adults. Disruptions in resting-state functional connectivity within well-characterized, higherorder cognitive brain networks have also been coupled with poorer memory functioning in healthy older adults and in older adults with dementia. However, there is a paucity of research on the association between higherorder functional connectivity and verbal and visuospatial memory performance in the older adult population. The current study examines the association between resting-state functional connectivity within the cingulo-opercular network (CON), frontoparietal control network (FPCN), and default mode network (DMN) and verbal and visuospatial learning and memory in a large sample of healthy older adults. We hypothesized that greater within-network CON and FPCN functional connectivity would be associated with better immediate verbal and visuospatial memory recall. Additionally, we predicted that within-network DMN functional connectivity would be associated with improvements in delayed verbal and visuospatial memory recall. This study helps to glean insight into whether within-network CON, FPCN, or DMN functional connectivity is associated with verbal and visuospatial memory abilities in later life.
Participants and Methods:330 healthy older adults between 65 and 89 years old (mean age = 71.6 ± 5.2) were recruited at the University of Florida (n = 222) and the University of Arizona (n = 108). Participants underwent resting-state fMRI and completed verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test - Revised [HVLT-R]) and visuospatial memory (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test - Revised [BVMT-R]) measures. Immediate (total) and delayed recall scores on the HVLT-R and BVMT-R were calculated using each test manual’s scoring criteria. Learning ratios on the HVLT-R and BVMT-R were quantified by dividing the number of stimuli (verbal or visuospatial) learned between the first and third trials by the number of stimuli not recalled after the first learning trial. CONN Toolbox was used to extract average within-network connectivity values for CON, FPCN, and DMN. Hierarchical regressions were conducted, controlling for sex, race, ethnicity, years of education, number of invalid scans, and scanner site.
Results:Greater CON connectivity was significantly associated with better HVLT-R immediate (total) recall (ß = 0.16, p = 0.01), HVLT-R learning ratio (ß = 0.16, p = 0.01), BVMT-R immediate (total) recall (ß = 0.14, p = 0.02), and BVMT-R delayed recall performance (ß = 0.15, p = 0.01). Greater FPCN connectivity was associated with better BVMT-R learning ratio (ß = 0.13, p = 0.04). HVLT-R delayed recall performance was not associated with connectivity in any network, and DMN connectivity was not significantly related to any measure.
Conclusions:Connectivity within CON demonstrated a robust relationship with different components of memory function as well across verbal and visuospatial domains. In contrast, FPCN only evidenced a relationship with visuospatial learning, and DMN was not significantly associated with memory measures. These data suggest that CON may be a valuable target in longitudinal studies of age-related memory changes, but also a possible target in future non-invasive interventions to attenuate memory decline in older adults.
Developing a framework to improve global estimates of conservation area coverage
- Rachel E. Sykes, Helen M.K. O'Neill, Diego Juffe-Bignoli, Kristian Metcalfe, P.J. Stephenson, Matthew J. Struebig, Piero Visconti, Neil D. Burgess, Naomi Kingston, Zoe G. Davies, Robert J. Smith
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Area-based conservation is a widely used approach for maintaining biodiversity, and there are ongoing discussions over what is an appropriate global conservation area coverage target. To inform such debates, it is necessary to know the extent and ecological representativeness of the current conservation area network, but this is hampered by gaps in existing global datasets. In particular, although data on privately and community-governed protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures are often available at the national level, it can take many years to incorporate these into official datasets. This suggests a complementary approach is needed based on selecting a sample of countries and using their national-scale datasets to produce more accurate metrics. However, every country added to the sample increases the costs of data collection, collation and analysis. To address this, here we present a data collection framework underpinned by a spatial prioritization algorithm, which identifies a minimum set of countries that are also representative of 10 factors that influence conservation area establishment and biodiversity patterns. We then illustrate this approach by identifying a representative set of sampling units that cover 10% of the terrestrial realm, which included areas in only 25 countries. In contrast, selecting 10% of the terrestrial realm at random included areas across a mean of 162 countries. These sampling units could be the focus of future data collation on different types of conservation area. Analysing these data could produce more rapid and accurate estimates of global conservation area coverage and ecological representativeness, complementing existing international reporting systems.