Exploring the Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) as a tool to enhance cognitive functions and alleviate clinical symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Enhancing Cognitive Functions in Multiple Sclerosis Using Virtual Reality.

People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) suffer cognitive and motor impairments that significantly impact their work life and daily functioning. Because virtual reality (VR) technologies have shown promise in the field of neurorehabilitation, in this study we developed a VR-based cognitive training program and assessed whether it could improve cognitive functioning in a cohort of PwMS (n = 33) and healthy control participants (n = 26). We observed that, in both groups of participants, repeated practice led to a day-by-day increase in correct responses and a progressive reduction in errors in the VR task.

Univariate and multivariate sex differences and similarities in gray matter volume within essential language-processing areas.

Background: Sex differences in language-related abilities have been reported. It is generally assumed that these differences stem from a different organization of language in the brains of females and males. However, research in this area has been relatively scarce, methodologically heterogeneous and has yielded conflicting results.

Pre-training working memory/information processing capabilities and brain atrophy limit the improving effects of cognitive training.

Background: Computerized training in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) seems to enhance working memory (WM)/information processing (IP), but factors associated with the efficacy of the treatment have not been sufficiently explored. Objective: To identify clinical and radiological characteristics associated with positive WM/IP training responses.

Methods: Radiological and neuropsychological assessments were carried out on a sample of 35 PwMs who were divided into "WM/IP-impaired" and "WM/IP-preserved.

Are gender-science stereotypes barriers for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics? Exploring when, how, and to whom in an experimentally-controlled setting.

Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory principles, the present study sought to investigate whether stereotype threat experiences could act as a barrier and reduce the persistence of women in math-intensive activities. More specifically, we assessed whether the experimental activation of stereotypes about women's lower math capabilities affected the performance, persistence, and self-selected difficulty of engineering students in a math task which required sustained effort. We also evaluated the relationships between these effects and the participants' pre-testing gender-science stereotypes and math self-concept.

Multiple Sclerosis and Depression: Translation and Adaptation of the Spanish Version of the Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory and the Study of Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms.

Objective: Depressive disorder occurs in up to 50% of persons with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Accurate assessment of depression in MS is essential in clinical settings because depressive symptomatology can affect the clinical course of the disease.

Methods: We translated, adapted, and tested the Spanish version of the Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory (CMDI), a specific test to assess depression in neurological disorders.

Possible evidence of near transfer effects after adaptive working memory training in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cognitive deficits, especially in working memory (WM) and information processing (IP) efficiency, are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Few studies have examined the efficacy of n-back training in improving these two cognitive functions in PwMS. In the present study, we examined the effects of an intensive n-back training program by measuring the gains on the trained task (2- and 3-back tasks), but we also studied possible near transfer effects to other tests that assess WM and IP, as well as far transfer effects or improvements in other cognitive functions.

Enhanced frontoparietal connectivity in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls in response to an intensive computerized training focused on working memory.

Background: Working memory (WM) deficits are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Computerized cognitive training may enhance WM capabilities but its efficacy in MS patients has not been sufficiently explored.

Methods: This study examines the effects of n-back training on cognitive performance and functional connectivity (FC) in 29 MS patients and 29 healthy controls (HC).