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This study examined task-switching abilities and emotion regulation strategies in euthymic bipolar patients (EBP). Forty EBP and 40 healthy individuals performed face categorization tasks where they switched between emotion and non-emotion (i.e., gender) features among faces and completed emotion regulation questionnaire (Gross and John, 2003). Subject groups showed substantial differences in task-switching abilities and emotion regulation strategies: (1) there was a dissociation between emotion and gender classification in EBP. The switch cost was larger [i.e., higher reaction times (RTs) on switch as compared to no-switch trials] for gender categorization as compared to the emotion categorization task. In contrast, such asymmetries were absent among healthy participants. The differential pattern of task switching reflected functional disturbances in frontotemporal neural system and an attentional bias to emotion features of the faces in EBP. This suggests that when a euthymic bipolar patient is preoccupied with emotion recognition, an instruction to perform gender categorization results in greater cost on RTs. (2) In contrast to healthy individuals, EBP reported more frequent use of emotion suppression and lesser use of cognitive reappraisal as emotion regulation strategy. (3) Emotion regulation was found to be a significant predictor of task-switching abilities. It is argued that task switching deficits rely on maladaptive emotion regulation strategies in EBP specifically when tasks of emotional significance are involved.

Huperzine-A is effective in reducing cognitive and task switching deficits in patients with AD.

INTRODUCTION Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with cognitive decline but little is known about frontal-subcortical and posterior cortical cognitive functioning in patients with PD. The present study was designed to: (a) compare frontal and posterior cognitive functioning between patients with PD and healthy controls; (b) determine the effect of levodopa (L-dopa) on frontal-subcortical and posterior cortical cognitive functions; and (c) identify predictors of cognitive functions in patients with PD.

Objectives:To determine (i) levodopa (L-Dopa) responsiveness on cortical functions, health related quality of life and fatigue severity (ii) relationship between cortical functions, health related quality of life and fatigue severity post L-Dopa treatment of patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (I-PD).Methods:Participants included 50 patients diagnosed with I-PD who were attending Civil and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during May 2016 to July 2017 and 50 healthy individuals (HI) took part in the study. Participants completed Cortical Function Assessment, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire and Fatigue Severity Scale. Patients were tested twice on these measures: pre and post- L-Dopa treatment.Results:Patients with I-PD showed cortical functioning deficits, deteriorated health related quality of life and experience of severe fatigue, in contrast with HI. There was significant improvement in cortical functioning and quality of life while reduction in fatigue severity was observed after three months of L-Dopa medication in I- PD patients. Higher cortical functioning deficits correlated with deteriorated health related quality of life and severe fatigue. Cortical functioning was a significant predictor of health related quality of life and fatigue severity.Conclusion:L-Dopa is an effective treatment for cortical dysfunctions, health related quality of life and fatigue in I-PD. Cortical functioning is a significant marker of quality of life and fatigue in patients with I-PD.