RESUMO
The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is one of the most used neuropsychological tests to assess information processing speed and working memory in brain injured patients. This study was carried out with the purpose of obtaining normative data for the PASAT-3â³ in a healthy Argentinean population, which would result in a reference control population. The PASAT-3â³ was administered in a sample of 296 healthy voluntary subjects, born and living in Argentina. The age range went from 20 to 70 years-old. The level of education was 0 to 13 or more years of schooling. The sample obtained a mean of 44.60 (SD = 10.72) in the PASAT-3â³. It was found that the score obtained in the PASAT-3â³ was related to the age and the level of instruction of the participants. Their performance diminished as age increased and, conversely, it increased as the level of instruction was higher. Normative data was obtained for a Latin American population from Argentina. Percentile distributions obtained by decades of age and different levels of education should be considered as useful reference values for clinicians and investigators when applying the PASAT-3â³ to assess cognitive function in different pathologies.
Assuntos
Testes Neuropsicológicos/normas , Adulto , Idoso , Envelhecimento/psicologia , Argentina , Feminino , Voluntários Saudáveis/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Memória de Curto Prazo , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valores de Referência , Adulto JovemRESUMO
La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar los efectos del estrés social agudo inducido experimentalmente con una versión modificada del TSST (Trier Social Stress Test), en los niveles sistémicos de la hormona cortisol y en la ejecución de una tarea de atención sostenida y dividida, en estudiantes universitarios de ambos sexos. Los resultados mostraron que el protocolo modificado del TSST produjo incrementos en los niveles sistémicos de cortisol en los participantes de sexo masculino, pero no afectó la ejecución en la prueba PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). Se discuten estos resultados a la luz de trabajos previos en los que se observan diferencias por género en los efectos del estrés.
A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo determinar os efeitos do estresse social agudo induzido experimentalmente com uma versão modificada do TSST (Trier Social Stress Test), nos níveis sistêmicos do hormônio cortisol e na execução de uma tarefa de atenção sustentada e dividida, em estudantes universitários de ambos os sexos. Os resultados mostraram que o protocolo modificado do TSST produziu aumento nos níveis sistêmicos de cortisol nos participantes de sexo masculino, mas não afetou a execução na prova PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). Discutem-se esses resultados à luz de trabalhos prévios nos quais se observam diferenças por gênero nos efeitos do estresse.
This research project examined the effects of acute social stress induced experimentally with a modified version of TSST (Trier Social Stress Test) on the systemic levels of the cortisol hormone and on the execution of a sustained and divided attention task, in male and female university students. Results showed that the modified TSST protocol caused increases in the systemic levels of cortisol in male participants, but did not affect the execution of the PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task). The results are discussed in the light of previous studies in which gender differences in the effects of stress are observed.
Assuntos
Atenção , Hidrocortisona , Estresse Fisiológico , NeurologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between multitasking ability defined by performance on a complex task integrating multiple cognitive domains and vocational functioning in multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: Survey data collection. SETTING: Laboratory with referrals from an outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling individuals with MS (N=30) referred between October 2011 and June 2012. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The modified Six Elements Test (SET) to measure multitasking ability, Fatigue Severity Scale to measure fatigue, several neuropsychological measures of executive functioning, and vocational status. RESULTS: Among the sample, 60% of individuals have reduced their work hours because of MS symptoms (cutback employment group) and 40% had maintained their work hours. Among both groups, SET performance was significantly associated with performance on several measures of neuropsychological functioning. Individuals in the cutback employment group demonstrated significantly worse overall performance on the SET (P=.041). Logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between SET performance and vocational status, while accounting for neuropsychological performance and fatigue. The overall model was significant (χ(2)3=8.65, P=.032), with fatigue [Exp(B)=.83, P=.01] and multitasking ability [Exp(B)=.60, P=.043] retained as significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Multitasking ability may play an important role in performance at work for individuals with MS. Given that multitasking was associated with vocational functioning, future efforts should assess the usefulness of incorporating multitasking ability into rehabilitation planning.
Assuntos
Atenção/fisiologia , Emprego , Função Executiva/fisiologia , Esclerose Múltipla/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Fadiga/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Testes NeuropsicológicosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the difficulty of paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT) in a population of high intellectual level, under ideal cognitive testing circumstances. METHOD: One hundred medical students underwent PASAT testing. They had slept well the night before, they had eaten before the assessment, they were not using any drugs that could affect the central nervous system and they did not have depression, anxiety or any chronic disease. RESULTS: The average result from the three-second version of PASAT was 57.5 percent and, from the two-second version, it was 44.3 percent. CONCLUSION: Even under ideal circumstances, PASAT is a very difficult test for the general population. It may not be ideal for neurologists to screen, assess and follow up patients with cognitive function in multiple sclerosis.
OBJETIVO: Avaliar a dificuldade do teste auditivo compassado de audição seriada (PASAT) em uma população de alto nível intelectual, sob condições ideais para testes cognitivos. MÉTODO: Cem estudantes de medicina se submeteram ao PASAT. Eles haviam dormido bem na noite anterior, tinham comido antes da avaliação, não estavam em uso de qualquer droga que pudesse afetar o sistema nervoso central e não apresentavam depressão, ansiedade ou qualquer doença crônica. RESULTADOS: A média de acertos na versão de três segundos do PASAT foi 57,5 por cento e, para a versão de dois segundos, a média foi 44,3 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: Mesmo sob condições ideais, PASAT é um teste muito difícil para a população geral. Talvez ele não seja ideal para que os neurologistas triem, avaliem e façam seguimento da função cognitiva na esclerose múltipla.
Assuntos
Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Percepção Auditiva/fisiologia , Inteligência , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Esclerose Múltipla/diagnóstico , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Estudantes de Medicina/psicologiaRESUMO
Uma amostra aleatória de 300 indivíduos de Belo Horizonte foi examinada para investigar o desempenho motor e cognitivo em adultos neurologicamente saudáveis. Participantes de idade entre 18 e 90 anos, com escolaridade entre 1 e 25 anos, foram avaliados com o Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), o Nine Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) e a Caminhada Cronometrada de 25 pés (TW-25). As análises de regressão mostraram que a idade influencia mais o desempenho motor (14% de variância explicada para membros superiores e 11% para membros inferiores) enquanto a velocidade de processamento é melhor explicada pela educação (10,6% da variância explicada). Análises da Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve (ROC) apontaram declínio do desempenho cognitivo em indivíduos com menos de 10 anos de escolarização, e do desempenho motor em indivíduos com mais de 60 anos de idade. A educação e a idade são duas variáveis importantes para a avaliação dos desempenhos motor e cognitivo.
Motor and cognitive performance in neurologically healthy adults and older people was examined in a random sample of 300 individuals from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Formal schooling ranged from 1 to 25 years, and age varied from 18 to 90 years-old. Participants were evaluated through the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Nine Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) and Timed Walking of 25 feet (TW-25). Regression analyses showed that age influences motor performance (14% of explained variance for the upper limbs and 11% for the lower limbs), while cognitive speed was better explained by education (10,6% of explained variance). Receiver-Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves analyses pointed out to a decline in cognitive performance in individuals with lower level of schooling (less than 10 years) and worse motor performance in older individuals (more than 60 years-old). Education and age are important variables to be taken into consideration in motor and cognitive assessments.