Autobiographical memory, self, and stress-related psychiatric disorders: which implications in cancer patients?

International audienceAutobiographical memory refers to information and memories of personal life events, accumulated since childhood, which enable the construction of a feeling of identity and continuity. Autobiographical memory retrieval is a dynamic and reconstructive process, as mental representations change with the passage of time. This flexible aspect of memory is linked to one's changing self and aspirations over time, that evolve according to our personal status and environment. Hence, any breakdown in the continuity of life involves a distortion of memory. Such distortions can be observed in stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as major depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, where autobiographical memory retrieval is characterized by overgenerality (i.e., the tendency to recall generic memories rather than specific events in response to cue words). Such memory disorders can be observed at different degrees in cancer patients. We will report studies focusing on the above-mentioned psychiatric disorders and cancer, and will attempt to establish a relation with autobiographical memory disturbances. The better understanding of such memory deficits could permit new pathophysiological hypotheses to emerge. Recommendations for future research that will enhance understanding of the factors that contribute to autobiographical memory in cancer are suggested

Semantic hyperpriming in schizophrenic patients: increased facilitation or impaired inhibition in semantic association processing?

International audiencePrevious studies analyzing semantic priming in schizophrenic patients have reported conflicting results. In the present study, we explored semantic priming in a sample of schizophrenic patients with mild thought disorders. We wondered if distinct cognitive processes, such as facilitation and/or inhibition, underlie semantic hyperpriming and are variously impaired in schizophrenic patients. Using a lexical decision task, we evaluated semantic priming in 15 schizophrenic patients (DSM-IV) with mild thought disorders and 15 healthy controls matched for sex, age, and education level. The task was designed to divide semantic priming into two additive components, namely facilitation effect and inhibition effect. One-sample t-tests were performed to investigate differences in semantic priming, facilitation, and inhibition within each group. ANOVAs were performed to compare the effects of semantic priming, facilitation, and inhibition between groups. Patients displayed greater semantic priming than controls (i.e., hyperpriming), but this was not due to increased facilitation in processing semantically related pairs. On the contrary, hyperpriming was the result of prolonged response time to process semantically unrelated pairs, corresponding to a requirement to inhibit unrelated information. We demonstrated semantic hyperpriming in stabilized schizophrenic patients with mild severity of symptoms. Thus, semantic hyperpriming may be an intrinsic feature of schizophrenia that is not related to the clinical state of patients. Semantic hyperpriming was due to an inhibition effect involved in processing semantically unrelated information not to increased facilitatory effect for related pairs

Éclipses, comètes et arc-en-ciel. Textes et images au XVIe siècle

Étude des phénomènes naturels dans la production libraire et l'iconographie à partir de l'incunable (Chroniques de Nurenberg, Pline l'Ancien) : motifs de la représentation, modes, etc

Etude des effets d'amorçage sémantique dans le vieillissement normal et dans la maladie d'Alzheimer

CAEN-BU Droit Lettres (141182101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Evaluation des capacités de mémoire implicite : enjeux et limites

International audienc

Actualités sur la plainte cognitive associée au cancer du sein : la mémoire prospective, une mémoire oubliée Cognitive dysfunctions in breast cancer patients: prospective memory, a forgotten memory

International audienceNumerous recent studies have revealed the existence of cognitive dysfunctions in patients with non-central nervous system cancer. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in the population, and as such, is used as a model of non-central nervous system cancer research. Within these cognitive dysfunctions, deficits in episodic memory are frequently reported. Research on memory impairment has mainly focused on the retrospective side of memory, while there is little research on the prospective side. However, prospective memory, memory for intentions, is essential for self-sufficiency and the accomplishment of daily-activities such as thinking to take one's medication at the right time, or thinking to post a letter, for example. Only a few studies are currently published on this topic. They suggest the presence of prospective memory deficit in breast cancer patients; however, the processes involved in this deficit are not well defined. In conclusion, further studies are needed to increase knowledge of the causes and physiological impairments of prospective memory linked to cancer. This knowledge will significantly help to better care for patients with cognitive decline. The purpose of this review is to establish an inventory of knowledge about cognitive impairments in patients with breast cancer, with a specific focus on prospective memory.De nombreuses études révèlent la présence de déficits cognitifs chez des patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein. Parmi les déficits cognitifs rapportés par les patientes, les troubles de la mémoire épisodique sont fréquents. Les études réalisées sur ces troubles font le plus souvent référence au versant rétrospectif, alors que le versant prospectif fait également l'objet de plaintes de la part des patientes. Bien que la mémoire prospective (MP) soit essentielle au déroulement des activités du quotidien, comme penser à prendre ses médicaments au bon moment, seulement six études sont actuellement publiées dans le cancer du sein. Ces études révèlent une diminution des performances de MP mais sans que les causes et les mécanismes impliqués soient véritablement précisés. Il apparaît nécessaire de mener de nouvelles études afin d'approfondir les connaissances sur les causes et les processus déficitaires de la MP dans cette pathologie. Ces connaissances permettront, à terme, une meilleure prise en charge des patientes et une amélioration de leur autonomie. L'objectif de cette revue est de dresser un état de l'art sur les troubles cognitifs rencontrés par les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein, avec une attention particulière portée aux recherches menées sur les déficits de MP dans cette pathologie. Mots clés : cancer du sein • fonctions cognitives • mémoire prospective • chimiothérapie • hormonothérapi

Le sommeil dans les cancers non-cérébraux : revue de la littérature, mécanismes potentiels et perspectives pour mieux comprendre les troubles cognitifs associés

International audienceBreast cancer patients have frequent complaints of sleep disturbances. Sleep plays a major role in cognitive functioning, especially in executive functions, such as planning or flexibility, and also in memory consolidation. These cognitive functions are among the most frequently impaired in breast cancer. However, the influence of sleep on cognitive performance in patients treated for breast cancer has been little investigated. In addition, the physio-pathological mechanisms associated with sleep disturbances in breast cancer patients are not clear for now. The objective of this non-exhaustive review is to describe sleep alterations encountered in breast cancer, their potential mechanisms and to link these alterations with cognitive difficulties of patients. The studies conducted until now revealed the existence of a sleep complaint, with mainly insomnia symptoms, in breast cancer patients. These results are in accordance with those of studies using actigraphy after chemotherapy. Polysomnography (PSG) studies also suggest alterations in sleep architecture, but these studies are scarce and suffer from several limitations. Sleep alterations have mainly been studied in the context of chemotherapy. However, sleep alterations are little studied in case of other treatments, such as hormonal therapy, or even in the absence of treatment. Recent studies have highlighted the potential role of sleep–wake cycle alterations and sleep apnea in breast cancer occurrence and survival; however, this association still needs to be more deeply evaluated. Finally, the links between objective sleep alterations and cognition are still little explored. A better understanding of sleep disorders in breast cancer will allow adapting the treatment in order to improve patients’ quality of life.Les patientes atteintes d’un cancer du sein se plaignent fréquemment d’une altération de leur sommeil. Ce dernier joue un rôle crucial dans le fonctionnement cognitif, notamment dans les fonctions exécutives telles que la planification ou la flexibilité, ou encore dans la consolidation des souvenirs en mémoire à long terme. Ces fonctions cognitives sont fréquemment altérées dans le cancer du sein. Cependant, l’influence du sommeil sur les performances cognitives reste peu documentée dans cette pathologie. En outre, les mécanismes physiopathologiques associés aux troubles du sommeil dans le cancer du sein sont, actuellement, mal compris. L’objectif de cette mise au point est de faire un état de l’art des altérations du sommeil rencontrées dans le cancer du sein, de décrire les potentiels mécanismes impliqués et de mettre en lien ces altérations avec les troubles cognitifs. Les études réalisées jusqu’ici auprès de patientes atteintes d’un cancer du sein révèlent l’existence d’une plainte de sommeil, avec principalement des symptômes évocateurs d’insomnie. Ces résultats sont en accord avec les données obtenues en actimétrie après chimiothérapie. Les études en polysomnographie (PSG) suggèrent également des altérations de l’architecture du sommeil, mais ces études sont encore peu nombreuses et souffrent de plusieurs limites. Les altérations du sommeil ont été majoritairement décrites chez des patientes traitées par chimiothérapie. En revanche, elles sont peu étudiées dans le cadre d’autres traitements, tels que l’hormonothérapie, ou même en dehors des traitements. Des études récentes mettent en avant les effets potentiellement carcinogènes des altérations du rythme activité–repos et des apnées, mais la causalité de ces effets doit être confirmée. Enfin, les liens existant entre les altérations du sommeil et la cognition sont encore peu explorés, notamment à l’aide de mesures objectives du sommeil. Une meilleure compréhension des troubles du sommeil dans le cancer du sein permettra d’adapter la prise en charge afin d’améliorer, à terme, la qualité de vie des patientes

Are Sleep Complaints Related to Cognitive Functioning in Non-Central Nervous System Cancer? A Systematic Review

International audiencePatients with non-central nervous system (CNS) cancer frequently report cognitive complaints, that are recurrent and affect their quality of life. In order to improve supportive care of these cognitive difficulties, it is important to identify associated factors. Sleep disturbance is a good candidate to study, as patients with non-CNS cancer frequently report sleep disorders, and sleep plays a key role in cognitive functioning. The objective of the present systematic review was to summarize the results of studies evaluating the relationship between cognition and sleep in non-CNS cancer, and to highlight the need for further studies. PubMed [Medline] and Scopus databases were screened from April to November 2020 for studies published in English evaluating the association between cognition and sleep in adults with non-CNS cancer. The characteristics and risk of bias for each of the 30 included studies have been reported. Greater cognitive complaints in patients with non-CNS cancer were related to poorer self-reported sleep quality in almost all studies (n = 22/24). By contrast, around half of the studies reported a significant association between poorer neuropsychological performances and sleep complaints (n = 5/11). The studies were found to have several limitations, such as the lack of a control group, which would have shed the light on the period of occurrence of this association (e.g. after cancer diagnosis or after cancer treatments). Our review also identified factors that may influence the relationship between cognition and sleep. Recommendations are given for improving the methodology of future studies and extending the impact of their results

Can the emotional connotation of concepts modulate the lexico-semantic deficits in Alzheimer's disease?: Emotion and semantic memory in Alzheimer's disease

International audienceSemantic memory impairments are a common symptom of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may occur at a relatively early stage. These disturbances can be evidenced by a hyperpriming effect (greater semantic priming in AD patients than in controls). Up till now, very few studies of semantic memory have included emotionally charged concepts. Our aim was therefore to study the semantic processing of such concepts, as opposed to neutral ones, in early AD. Given that emotional processes are relatively preserved at the beginning of the disease compared with other cognitive functions, we expected that an emotional connotation would influence the spreading activation of words and affect some of the impairments in semantic processing. We administered a semantic priming task (lexical decision task) implicitly assessing semantic memory to 26 patients with AD and 26 normal controls. Primes and targets either had a semantic relationship (e.g. tiger-lion), a semantic and emotional (positive or negative) relationship (e.g. slap-smack) or no relationship at all (e.g. chair-horse), or else belonged to a word-nonword condition (e.g. window-inuly). Compared with controls, the patients showed pathological hyperpriming effects in all conditions, especially in the emotional conditions. Hyperpriming implies a deterioration in specific attributes, as it is difficult to tell two concepts apart once their distinctive attributes have been lost. These results suggest that emotional concepts, like neutral ones, lose some of their distinctive attributes in early AD, and as the emotional processes are preserved, there is greater similarity between close emotional concepts than between close neutral concepts

An exploration of the semantic network in Alzheimer’s disease: Influence of emotion and concreteness of concepts

International audienceSemantic deficits are often reported in even the very early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but investigations usually focus on concrete and non-emotional entities, ignoring the broad range of concepts that feature in everyday conversations. Emotional concepts (e.g., snake) have been found to be processed more accurately than neutral ones (e.g., chair) in AD. Our aim here was therefore to explore the dimensions of both concreteness and emotion within the semantic framework, and in particular to determine whether abstract emotional words (e.g., grief) are processed as accurately as concrete emotional ones (e.g., snake) in AD. We administered a semantic priming task (lexical decision), yielding an implicit measurement of semantic memory, to 15 patients with AD and 31 normal controls. Concrete and abstract word pairs either shared a semantic relationship (e.g., table-chair, motive-reason), a semantic and emotional relationship (e.g., snake-viper; grief-sadness), or no relationship at all (e.g., pencil-horse). On the basis of response time differences between these conditions, we obtained four semantic priming (SP) scores: concrete neutral SP, abstract neutral SP, concrete emotional SP, and abstract emotional SP. In the AD group, the SP score for abstract neutral concepts was not significant, and significantly below the other three SP scores, that seems to reflect a major deterioration in these concepts. An abnormal hyperpriming effect was observed in the concrete neutral SP condition (SP score significantly higher than that of controls), reflecting a partial deterioration in these concepts. These results suggest that, without an emotional relationship, abstract words deteriorate more quickly than concrete words. No such dissociation linked to the concreteness effect was observed with emotional words. Therefore, in AD, emotional concepts would be affected later, be they concrete or abstract