The characteristics of cognitive neuroscience tests in a schizophrenia cognition clinical trial: Psychometric properties and correlations with standard measures.

In comparison to batteries of standard neuropsychological tests, cognitive neuroscience tests may offer a more specific assessment of discrete neurobiological processes that may be aberrant in schizophrenia. However, more information regarding psychometric properties and correlations with standard neuropsychological tests and functional measures is warranted to establish their validity as treatment outcome measures. The N-back and AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) are two promising cognitive neuroscience tests designed to measure specific components of working memory and contextual processing respectively. In the current study, we report the psychometric properties of multiple outcome measures from these two tests as well as their correlations with standard neuropsychological measures and functional capacity measures. The results suggest that while the AX-CPT and N-back display favorable psychometric properties, they do not exhibit greater sensitivity or specificity with functional measures than standard neurocognitive tests

Neuropsychological Tests for developmental Disorders

注意欠陥/多動性障害や広汎性発達障害などの発達障害をともなう子どもへの適切な教育を行う特別支援教育のための個々のニーズの適切な実態把握が必要とされている。本論文では客観的な評価手法の1つとして子どもへの適用が検討されているウィスコンシンカード分類テストやストループテストなどの各種神経心理学的検査について,その諸特性と本邦での動向を概観した。わが国の各検査の子どもにおける標準化は未だ十分ではなく,臨床応用には発達的変化の検討や標準値の作成が進められることが課題と考えられた

An investigation into the relationship between performance on tests neuropsychological function and performance on three everyday problem-solving tasks

This study set out to examine the relationship between performance on neuropsychological tests and performance on everyday-problem solving tasks. Three everyday problem-solving tasks covering three domains of daily life were developed, and a battery of neuropsychological tests known to have an executive function component was selected. A within participants design was used and tasks and tests were administered to a group of thirty-two individuals (hospital inpatients and outpatients) with non-progressive brain- injuries. Correlations between individual tests and everyday problem-solving tasks were examined and three multiple regressions (one for each of the everyday problem-solving tasks) carried out. Comparison of performances on individual neuropsychological tests with those on the three everyday problem-solving tasks showed: (a) Performance on the Six Elements Test, an executive function test considered to have high ecological validity, correlated well with performance on the three problem- solving tasks, (b) The pattern of significant relationships between individual problem-solving tasks and individual neuropsychological tests suggested that there was a degree of specificity to each of the three everyday problem-solving tasks designed, (c) In some participants a dissociation between performance on everyday problem-solving tasks and on neuropsychological tests of executive function was observed. The multiple regression analyses, carried out to explore the explanatory value of performance on the battery of neuropsychological tests for performance on the everyday problem-solving tasks, showed that, depending on the task, between one quarter and one third of overall performance were explained by the group of neuropsychological tests administered. The study is best regarded as a pilot project on which to base further exploration of the association between performance on pure tests of neuropsychological functioning and performance on tasks of everyday problem-solving

A study of the relationship between metabolism using1H-MRS and function using several neuropsychological tests in temporal lobe epilepsy

AbstractSeveral investigators have reported on the relationship between metabolism, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and function, using neuropsychological tests in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients , but the opinions regarding the results remain in contention. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between metabolism, using proton MRS (1H-MRS), and function using several neuropsychological tests in the temporal lobes of TLE patients. We studied 29 TLE patients at our hospital using1H-MRS and neuropsychological tests. We used a clinical 1.5 T MR unit. We conducted five neuropsychological tests to examine the function of the left or right temporal lobe. There were significant correlations between the N-acetylaspartate/creatine + phosphocreatine (NAA/Cr) ratios and the scores of almost all of the neuropsychological tests for the temporal lobe function ipsilateral to the spike focus. However, in two Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) subtests we found no significant correlation in the ipsilateral side. These findings suggest that the NAA/Cr ratios, which reflect neural metabolism, are closely related to function in the temporal lobes of TLE patients . The disparity between the results in two subtests of WMS-R show that several tests may be necessary in order to assess temporal lobe function

The Effectiveness of Training Programs on the Fidelity of Neuropsychological Tests

Background: There will probably be an exponential increase in the number of seniors suffering from dementia, as aging is the greatest risk factor for this disease. Therefore, neuropsychological tests to assessing dementia are likely to play an increasingly important role for medical services in Japan. This study developed and evaluated the usefulness of a training program on neuropsychological tests aimed at promoting the understanding of testers with regard to the cognitive functions and communication required in the neuropsychological testing process. Methods: The subjects of this study comprised 20 individuals engaged in administrating neuropsychological tests at the Japan-Multidomain Intervention Trial for Prevention of Dementia in Older Adults with Diabetes. A four-hour training session was held. The first part of the training program focused on “cognitive functions and communication;” the second addressed “neuropsychological tests.” As the main evaluation criteria, a fidelity checklist was created with 14 items designed to measure success or failure with regard to important and easily mistakable aspects of implementing each neuropsychological test. They were conducted three times: before, immediately after, and six months after the training. Results: The main effect of time was significant for the “fidelity” score. The effect size was large at η2 = 0.69. A simple main effect test using the Bonferroni method revealed significant differences between the pre-training and post-training values and between the pre-training and six-month point values. However, no significant differences were found in self-efficacy scores before, immediately after, and six months after the training. Conclusion: This outcome indicates that the fidelity of the subjects to neuropsychological tests increased as a result of the training program, and that this improvement was maintained through the six-month period following the program. Moreover, the large effect size suggests that the training program may be effective in facilitating the mastery of neuropsychological tests in testers

NORMATIVE DATA FOR FOUR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS IN A SAMPLE OF ADULTS WHO ARE ILLITERATE AND FROM LATIN AMERICA

Neuropsychological tests are standardized tasks used to measure psychological functioning that is associated with a particular brain structure. These tests often are used in diagnosing a cognitive deficiency resulting from brain injuries. Currently, there are a limited number of studies that have focused on standardization of neuropsychological tests in Latin America. Therefore, the vast majority of cognitive tests used in the evaluation of patients with brain damage have no normative parameters adjusted to the cultural characteristics of Latinos and Latinas. As a result, neuropsychological diagnoses among this population may be inadequate, and evaluation of rehabilitation program effectiveness limited. The importance of culturally appropriate indices of neurological tests cannot be overstated; of all the problems presented by individuals with brain injuries, cognitive disorders are the leading source of disability for adequate work, family, and social reintegration among this group. There is an urgent need to standardize neuropsychological tests in Latin America, among Latinos in the US and any other regions where neuropsychological test have not been standardized. An important population subgroup in Latin America severely lacking in norms for many neuropsychological tests are those deemed illiterate or unable to read or write. Developing normative data for individuals who are illiterate will allow neuropsychologists to have a more accurate comparison when attempting to diagnose cognitive deficits among this group in Latin America. This dissertation is unique, as no other studies have looked at the normative data and standardization of neuropsychological tests within this population in Latin America

Display Enhanced Testing For Concussions And Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Cognitive assessment systems and methods that provide an integrated solution for evaluating the presence or absence of cognitive impairment. The present invention is used to test cognitive functions of an individual including information processing speed, working memory, work list learning and recall, along with variations of these tasks. Immersive and non-immersive systems and methods are disclosed. Testing and results feedback using the present invention may be completed in real time, typically in less than 15 minutes.Emory UniversityGeorgia Tech Research Corporatio

How Valuable are Clinical Neuropsychological Assessments? A Meta-analysis of Neuropsychological Tests with Comparison to Common Medical Tests and Treatments

There has been a general decrease in neuropsychological assessments at a time when medical diagnostic technology and treatments have expanded, leading to a faulty assumption that medical tests and healthcare treatments provide more reliable or valid data than psychological assessments. A landmark report from the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Psychological Assessment Work Group (PAWG) found that validity coefficients for many psychological tests were indistinguishable from those of medical tests (Meyer et al., 2001). An updated systematic review of the advancement in neuropsychological testing is essential to the continued advancement of the value of neuropsychological assessment in healthcare. This meta-analysis sought to (1) summarize effect sizes of neuroimaging to diagnose dementia, medications to treat chronic diseases, and neuropsychological tests to diagnose dementia and TBI, (2) determine the differences (if any) in effect sizes between medical domains, and (3) determine the differences (if any) in effect sizes between medical domains and neuropsychological tests. EBSCO networks were searched for original research examining the efficacy of neuroimaging for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD),neuropsychological tests for AD and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and medication to treat memory impairment and cardiovascular events between clinical and control samples. Studies were coded using a complex multi-comparison, outcome, and subgroup schema. Data were analyzed under random-effects modeling. Of 6,668 studies identified, 78 were retained for primary and ancillary meta-analyses (715 effect sizes extracted; 35,810 clinical and 42,964 control participants represented). Primary results indicated a significant difference between domains, such that neuroimaging (g = -1.603) and neuropsychological tests (g = -1.591) both yielded greater effect sizes than medication studies (g = -0.009]. Secondary results indicated the AD neuropsychological test effect size [g = -2.213) was significantly different than the TBI neuropsychological test efficacy [g = -0.649; Q(1) = 42.821, p = 0.000]. Additionally, results indicated nonsignificant effect sizes for both memory impairment medications (g = -.052) and aspirin for cardiovascular events (g = .017). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic efficacy of neuroimaging and neuropsychological tests were both substantial and non-significantly different from one another. These findings provide clinicians and consumers with convincing evidence that neuropsychological tests are a reliable diagnostic tool for people with acquired and neurodegenerative brain disorders