Ex-Gaussian analysis of simple response time as a measure of information processing speed and the relationship with brain morphometry in multiple sclerosis.

Background: The polyfactorial nature of the widely used symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) introduces significant measurement challenges in characterizing information processing speed (IPS) deficits in multiple sclerosis (MS). Measures with high psychometric IPS-specificity and less contamination from other cognitive domains are necessary to fully understand IPS changes.

Objective: Investigate how three mathematical modeling ex-Gaussian parameter estimates (mu, sigma, tau) derived from a simple response time (RT) task (1) differentiate MS from healthy control participants and (2) correspond to structural brain changes, to evaluate a novel IPS measurement approach.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with processing speed, but not learning and memory, in cognitively impaired persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Physical activity (PA), measured as steps/day, correlates with cognition in persons with MS.

Objectives: The current study extended previous research by examining the association between device-measured PA and cognitive outcomes based on neuropsychological testing among persons with MS who were pre-screened for cognitive impairment.

Methods: The sample included 60 persons with MS who underwent cognitive performance tests (SDMT, CVLT-II, and BVMT-R) and wore an accelerometer on an elastic waist band during the waking hours of a 7-day period for measuring PA across the activity spectrum (sedentary behavior, light PA [LPA], and moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA].

Character Strengths Across Disabilities: An International Exploratory Study and Implications for Positive Psychiatry and Psychology.

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in character strengths for people with disabilities by using an international dataset by the VIA Institiute on Character. Specifically, we aimed to explore (a) the top and bottom five character strengths reported by different disability groups and all people with disabilities more broadly, and (b) group differences in each character strength and total character strengths. The investigator contacted the VIA Institute on Character (http://www.

The efficacy of speed of processing training for improving processing speed in individuals with multiple sclerosis: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The current study examines the efficacy of speed of processing training (SOPT) to improve processing speed (PS) in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Outcomes included changes in the useful field of view (UFOV) and neuropsychological evaluation (NPE).

Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial included 84 participants with clinically definite MS and impaired PS, 43 in the treatment group and 41 in the placebo control group.

Cognitive and Central Vestibular Functions Correlate in People With Multiple Sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment is common, but poorly managed in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Balance has been correlated with cognition in people with MS, potentially through shared utilization of central sensory integration pathways. This study characterized the relationship between central vestibular integration and cognition in people with MS through measurement of several clinical vestibular functions requiring central sensory integration and multiple cognitive domains.

Effects of walking exercise training on learning and memory and hippocampal neuroimaging outcomes in MS: A targeted, pilot randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The current pilot study involved a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effects of treadmill walking exercise training compared with an active control condition on learning and memory (L/M) and hippocampal neuroimaging outcomes in 11 fully-ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) who demonstrated impairments in new learning.

Methods: The study protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03319771 (February 2018).

The effect of severe traumatic brain injury on social cognition, emotion regulation, and mood.

This chapter provides a review of the emotional and psychosocial consequences of moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Many of the disorders affecting socioemotional function arise from damage to frontotemporal systems, exacerbated by white matter injury. They include disorders of social cognition, such as the ability to recognize emotions in others, the ability to attribute mental states to others, and the ability to experience empathy.

Do physical activity and social cognitive theory variable scores differ across symptom cluster severity groups in multiple sclerosis?

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience co-occurring symptoms termed "symptom clusters" that can be distinguished based on mild, moderate, or severe symptom severity termed "symptom cluster severity." Physical activity (PA) may be an approach for improving co-occurring symptoms.

Objective: To examined if PA and social cognitive theory (SCT) variables differed by symptom cluster groups, and if associations between SCT variables and PA were moderated by symptom cluster groups.

The role of language ability in verbal fluency of individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Background: While cognitive deficits in memory and processing speed have been well-documented in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), language is largely considered to be intact. Verbal fluency deficits observed in MS are often attributed to impaired processing speed and executive functions rather than language ability. The current study evaluates the contribution of various cognitive factors to verbal fluency including language ability, oral-motor speed, processing speed, and executive functions.

Postural Control Dysfunction and Balance Rehabilitation in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at an increased risk for falls and fall-related injuries. It is unclear whether current balance rehabilitation techniques largely developed in cognitively intact populations would be successful in older adults with MCI. This mapping review examined the available balance rehabilitation research conducted in older adults with MCI.

Variability in the analysis of a single neuroimaging dataset by many teams.

Data analysis workflows in many scientific domains have become increasingly complex and flexible. Here we assess the effect of this flexibility on the results of functional magnetic resonance imaging by asking 70 independent teams to analyse the same dataset, testing the same 9 ex-ante hypotheses. The flexibility of analytical approaches is exemplified by the fact that no two teams chose identical workflows to analyse the data.

Reward presentation reduces on-task fatigue in traumatic brain injury.

While cognitive fatigue is experienced by up to 80% of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI), little is known about its neural underpinnings. We previously hypothesized that presentation of rewarding outcomes leads to cognitive fatigue reduction and activation of the striatum, a brain region shown to be associated with cognitive fatigue in clinical populations and processing of rewarding outcomes. We have demonstrated this in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Brain activation patterns associated with paragraph learning in persons with multiple sclerosis: The MEMREHAB trial.

The modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) is a memory rehabilitation program that combines training in visualization and context formation to improve learning and memory. Previous studies have shown improvement in learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) after undergoing the mSMT, including changes in brain activity related to working memory and word encoding. The current study examined changes in brain activity in 16 individuals diagnosed with MS (n  = 6; n  = 10) when they were presented with to-be-remembered information within a meaningful context (i.