Task-load manipulation in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: An alternative measure of information processing speed

Forn, Cristina; Ripollés, Pablo; Cruz-Gómez, Álvaro Javier; Belenguer, Antonio; González-Torre, J.A.; Ávila, César

doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2013.04.003

Cited by 35 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…We expected these patients, compared to healthy controls (HCs), to require a larger number of neural resources while executing the SDMT, especially under experimental conditions with higher IPS demands (e.g., at a shorter ISI). As observed in previous studies [13,14], we expected the number of neural resources recruited to solve this task to be inversely related to its IPS demands (that is, more neural resources would be required with the shortest ISI). We also hypothesized that MS patients would require a larger number of neural resources while executing the SDMT than HCs, and that these differences would also be related to task difficulty.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…An adapted version of the SDMT, suitable for fMRI studies and described previously by Forn et al [14], was used in this study. Two tasks were employed, A and B, which were randomly presented as a block design paradigm.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, a growing number of studies have revealed that MS patients might retain apparently normal cognitive performance by increasing the number of neural resources, at least in early stages of the disease [8,9,10,11,12]. Therefore, these and other studies have advocated the need for coupling neuropsychological assessments with neuroimaging techniques, and for understanding the MS cognitive status as part of the “neural efficiency hypothesis” [13,14]. This hypothesis states that quick efficient subjects employ fewer resources (reflected as less activation during the task), while less effective or slower subjects require more neural resources (reflected as hyperactivation while doing the task).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As IPS is not a cognitive function per se, rather a trait that underlies other cognitive abilities, the study of its neural underpinnings through neuroimaging procedures might be cumbersome [14]. However, as we previously indicated, the SDMT seems optimal for assessing IPS even in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based settings because it is an easy task whose brain activation pattern mainly depends on IPS capabilities (although a minor component of working memory is also involved), and its variations cannot be attributed to using different cognitive strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, as we previously indicated, the SDMT seems optimal for assessing IPS even in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based settings because it is an easy task whose brain activation pattern mainly depends on IPS capabilities (although a minor component of working memory is also involved), and its variations cannot be attributed to using different cognitive strategies. Indeed in a previous study [14], we used an fMRI-adapted version of the SDMT that allows the interstimulus interval (ISI) to be manipulated, and we observed that: (1) the SDMT is a suitable task for assessing IPS because it requires functional interactions among distant brain areas during task execution; (2) fast, but not slow, SDMT performance requires recruiting the frontal cortex; (3) in accordance with the “neural efficiency hypothesis,” higher SDMT scores are associated with the lower activation of several frontal lobe areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

et al. 2017

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Background: Reduced information-processing speed (IPS) is a primary cognitive deficit of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The neural efficiency hypothesis describes an inverse relationship between cognitive performance in a task and the amount of cognitive resources devoted to it. Previous studies have shown that the neural efficiency hypothesis provides an appropriate framework to explore cognitive dysfunction in neurological patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the neural efficiency hypothesis regarding IPS capabilities in cognitively preserved MS patients. Methods: 16 MS patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled and neuropsychologically assessed. All participants also performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-adapted version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at different interstimulus intervals (ISI: 1.5, 2, and 2.5 s). Results: MS patients only displayed lower SDMT performance when the ISI was set at 1.5 s. However, MS patients' normal SDMT performance at larger ISIs was achieved at the cost of increased brain activation, hence revealing that they were less cognitively efficient than the HCs. Regression analyses confirmed this conclusion by showing an opposite relationship between SDMT performance and the amount of neural resources recruited in the HC and MS groups. Thus, while a positive relationship between both variables was observed in MS patients, this correlation was negative for the HC group. Conclusions: MS patients require more cognitive resources than HCs to achieve a normal SDMT performance, then revealing that they are less efficient regarding IPS capabilities.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Exploring Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

et al. 2017

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Non-classical behavior of the default mode network regions during an information processing task

2020

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Causal influences of salience/cerebellar networks on dorsal attention network subserved age-related cognitive slowing

Wong

Liu

et al. 2022

GeroScience

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Age-related cognitive slowing is a prominent precursor of cognitive decline. Functional neuroimaging studies found that cognitive processing speed is associated with activation and coupling among frontal, parietal and cerebellar brain networks. However, how the reciprocal influences of inter- and intra-network coupling mediate age-related decline in processing speed remains insufficiently studied. This study examined how inter- and intra-brain network influences mediate age-related slowing. We were interested in the fronto-insular salience network (SN), frontoparietal dorsal attention network (DAN), cerebellar network (CN) and default mode network (DMN). Reaction time (RT) and functional MRI data from 84 participants (aged 18–75) were collected while they were performing the Arrow Task in visual or audial forms. At the subject level, effective connectivities (ECs) were estimated with regression dynamic causal modelling. At the group level, structural equation models (SEMs) were used to model latent speed based on age and the EC mediators. Age was associated with decreased speed and increased inter-network effective connectivity. The CN exerting influence on the DAN (CN → DAN EC) mediated, while the SN → DAN EC suppressed age-related slowing. The DMN and intra-network ECs did not seem to play significant roles in slowing due to ageing. Inter-network connectivity from the CN and SN to the DAN contributes to age-related slowing. The seemingly antagonizing influences of the CN and SN indicate that increased task-related automaticity and decreased effortful control on top-down attention would promote greater speed in older individuals.

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Task-load manipulation in the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: An alternative measure of information processing speed

Cited by 35 publications

References 29 publications

Exploring Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Exploring Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Non-classical behavior of the default mode network regions during an information processing task

Causal influences of salience/cerebellar networks on dorsal attention network subserved age-related cognitive slowing

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