Age-related slowing is well documented but its origin remains unclear. A first validation study (Study 1) performed in 46 participants examined the effect of attention allocation (manipulated through a dual task) on various portions of individual simple reaction time (SRT) distribution (minimum, centile 5, centile 50, and centile 95 RTs). It showed that attention 'deprivation' due to a secondary task is not uniform throughout the distribution but impaired mainly the ability to produce a large number of fast responses. Study 2 investigated in 88 healthy participants age-related slowing of perceptual, motor, decision, and attentional processes using SRT and choice reaction time (CRT), finger tapping, and visual inspection time tests. It showed that the majority of SRT slowing after the age of 40 is due to lengthening of centile 5 RT, suggesting perceptuomotor slowing, an interpretation supported by longer visual inspection time and lower tapping frequency. After 60 years, SRT lengthening was due to a further lengthening of the centile 5-centile 50 SRT index, suggesting the participation of attentional decline. These findings support the hypothesis that age-related slowing in simple repetitive tasks is mainly related to slowing at the stage of perceptuomotor processes, and after 60 years, to additional decline of attention.

These findings were interpreted as evidence for a phonological deficit in developmental dyslexia.

Lower incidence of vascular events following small artery ischemic stroke Small artery infarction, which is particularly prevalent among Asians (1), carries a lower risk of recurrent stroke at one-month compared with other stroke subtypes, but long-term findings are inconsistent (2,3). Data on subsequent myocardial infarction risk after small artery stroke are limited. We compared the incidence of vascular events following ischemic stroke due to small artery disease vs. other etiologies among prospectively recruited Asian patients admitted to the Singapore General Hospital from 2005 to 2007. Telephone follow᎑up at a median of 30 months (IQR 24-34) masked to clinical information was obtained for 89% of the cohort. Among the 731 patients with known stroke etiology, 49% had small artery infarction, 38% had large artery infarction, 12% had cardioembolic, and 1% had other etiology. Figure 1 shows the cumulative incidence of subsequent vascular events. Using Cox regression adjusted for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and atrial fibrillation, small artery infarction was associated with a lower incidence of recurrent stroke [hazard ratio (HR) 0•62; P = 0•047], myocardial infarction (HR 0•45; P = 0•031), vascular death (HR 0•18; P = 0•002), and composite vascular events (HR 0•59, P = 0•007) compared with nonsmall artery stroke. The lower risk of subsequent vascular events following small artery infarction may be explained by a differing underlying pathology from large artery and

The present findings support the subdivision of binge drinkers according to gender and personality dimensions. Male and female binge drinkers should not be considered a unitary group, but rather a population of individuals that encompasses at least 2 distinct personality patterns. These findings have major implications for prevention and treatment approaches.

These results clarify the relations between EFE recognition, cognitive abilities, and drinking characteristics in alcohol dependence and clearly suggest that cognitive factors should be taken into account in future studies exploring emotional processes in alcohol dependence. Specific cognitive programs should be developed to rehabilitate cognitive and emotional abilities simultaneously.