• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2005

To evaluate the effect of lead biomarkers including bone lead on neurobehavioral test in lead workers, 652 lead workers without any occupational exposure to organic solvent, mercury and arsenic were agreed to participate this study. For the control subjects 102 non-occupationally lead exposed blue collar workers in general manufacturing industries were also joined this study. All study subjects joined this study with written informed consent. The study variables of lead exposure were blood and patella lead. For the general characteristics of study subjects, standardized questionnaire regarding age, sex, past disease history, job duration, body mass index (BMI), drinking and smoking habit were provided. For the past history of neurotoxicity related diseases, all study subjects were interviewed by qualified occupational health physician. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Compared with controls without occupational lead exposure, lead exposed subjects had worse performance on all tests(p<0.05). 2. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for blood lead were negative for 13 of the 14 tests. Blood lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms & root MSD), Trail-Making Test B, Digit Symbol Substitution, Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention, and Purdue pegboard both hand). 3. After adjustment for covariates (age, sex, job duration, education level, BMI, smoking and drinking status), the signs of the regression coefficients for patella lead were negative for 12 of the 14 tests. Patella lead was a significant predictor of poorer scores on 8 tests (simple reaction time(ms). Purdue Pegboard assembly, Digit Span Test, Benton Visual Retention. Pursuit Aiming rest (no. of correct & no. of incorrect), Purdue pegboard non-dominant hand and both hand). With above results, blood lead and patella lead were associated with poorer performance of neurobehavioral tests. In addition, patella lead was confirmed to be better predictor of manual dexterity test in neurobehavioral test battery in lead workers

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.199-220
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• 2013

The main objective of this study is to explore the relationship between psychological factors (i.e. math anxiety, attention, attitude, Working Memory Capacity (WMC), and Field dependency) and students' mathematics problem solving based on Revised Bloom Taxonomy. A sample of 169 K11 school girls were tested on (1) The Witkin's cognitive style (Group Embedded Figure Test). (2) Digit Span Backwards Test. (3) Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS). (4) Modified Fennema-Sherman Attitude Scales. (5) Mathematics Attention Test (MAT), and (6) Mathematics questions based on Revised Bloom Taxonomy (RBT). Results obtained indicate that the effect of these items on students mathematical problem solving is different in each cognitive process and level of knowledge dimension.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-95
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the effects of a group cognitive improvement program on cognitive function, depression and self-esteem in elderly individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Methods: This was an experimental study that employed a pre-post design of a non-equivalence control group. The subjects were 52 elderly people with mild cognitive impairment, 25 of whom were assigned to the experimental group and 27 to the control group. The program was conducted for a total of 12 sessions for 60 minutes each. Data were analyzed using the ${\chi}2-test$, Fisher's exact test, and Independent t-test with the SPSS 20.0 program. Results: After the intervention, the group who participated showed improvement in all areas of cognitive function based on MMSE-KC (F=26.37, p.<0.001), the Rey Complex Figure Test: copy (F=20.66, p.<0.001), Immediate memory of Seoul Verbal Learning Test-Elderly's version (F=29.68, p.<0.001), delayed memory (F=45.79 p.<0.001), memory recall (F=28.97, p.<0.001), Forward of Digit Span Test (F=9.25, p=.004), backward (F=8.33, p.=0.006), language comprehension (F=13.42, p.<0.001), and digit symbol coding (F=17.74, p.<0.001) relative to the control group. Moreover depression (F=24.09, p.<0.001) was decreased in program participants, whereas self-esteem (F=40.24, p.<0.001) was increased. Conclusion: The program could be a useful intervention because the results show that the group cognitive improvement program has a significant effect on cognitive function, depression and self-esteem in elderly with mild cognitive impairment.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 2007

Objectives: This study was focused on the influence of chronic aircraft noise exposure on children's continuous performance, intelligence and reading skill. Methods: We enrolled 586 children in 4-6th grade of 7 primary schools near air base in Korea. Continuous performance was measured using the computerized ADS program. We analyzed 477-512 children on the visual continuous performance test, auditory continuous performance test, intelligence test, and reading and the vocabulary test. Intelligence was measured using vocabulary, digit span, block design, and digit symbol tests of K-WISC-III. Results: The commission error and variability deviation of auditory continuous performance test and reading test were significantly higher among children in schools with the helicopter noise and the fighting plane noise compared to children in the low noised schools. Conclusion: There was a possibility that chronic aircraft noise exposure was associated with impairment of the school performance. The result of our study also shows chronic aircraft noise was associated with reading ability.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2016

Background: Formaldehyde is used to preserve cadaver in medical schools, and students are exposed to formaldehyde during cadaver dissection classes. When humans are exposed to formaldehyde, it induces mucosal inflammation, skin inflammation, and declining of neurobehavioral function including attention and memory executive functions. The purpose of this study is to identify the effects of formaldehyde exposure on student's neurobehavioral performance during cadaver dissection classes. Methods: The level of formaldehyde was measured in a cadaver dissection class. A total of 16 students were randomly divided into two groups. One group wore respiratory protection masks, while the other group did not. Among many subtests in Korean Computerized Neurobehavioral test, backward digit span was tested on all subjects before and after the class. Results: The length of memorized digit span between the two groups was not significant; however there was a greater decrease in neurobehavioral function after formaldehyde exposure in the non-mask group than the mask group. Conclusion: Formaldehyde exposure during cadaver dissection may likely decrease neurobehavioral performance of students. Therefore, proper ventilation system and respiratory protective equipment are necessary to protect medical school students from adverse effects of formaldehyde exposure.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.122-132
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• 2005

Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess cognitive functions and their relationship with sleep symptoms in young narcoleptic patients. Methods: Eighteen young narcolepsy patients and 18 normal controls (age: 17-35 years old) were recruited. All narcolepsy patients had HLA $DQB_1$ *0602 allele and cataplexy. Several important areas of cognition were assessed by a battery of neuropsychological tests consisting of 13 tests: executive functions (e.g. cognitive set shifting, inhibition, and selective attention) through Wisconsin card sorting test, Trail Making A/B, Stroop test, Ruff test, Digit Symbol, Controlled Oral Word Association and Boston Naming Test; alertness and sustained attention through paced auditory serial addition test; verbal/nonverbal short-term memory and working memory through Digit Span and Spatial Span; visuospatial memory through Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test; verbal learning and memory through California verbal learning test; and fine motor activity through grooved pegboard test. Sleep symptoms in narcolepsy patients were assessed with Epworth sleepiness scale, Ullanlinna narcolepsy scale, multiple sleep latency test, and nocturnal polysomnography. Relationship between cognitive functions and sleep symptoms in narcolepsy patients was also explored. Results: Compared with normal controls, narcolepsy patients showed poor performance in paced auditory serial addition (2.0 s and 2.4 s), digit symbol tests, and spatial span (forward)(t=3.86, p<0.01; t=-2.47, p=0.02; t=-3.95, p<0.01; t=-2.22, p=0.03, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences in other neuropsychological tests. In addition, results of neuropsychological test in narcolepsy patients were not correlated with Epworth sleepiness scale score, Ullanlinna narcolepsy scale score and sleep variables in multiple sleep latency test or nocturnal polysomnography. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that young narcolepsy patients have impaired attention. In addition, impairment of attention in narcolepsy might not be solely due to sleep symptoms such as excessive daytime sleepiness.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.28 no.1 s.49
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• pp.175-185
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• 1995

To evaluate the neurobehavioral effects of blood lead, we performed NCTB (Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery) on 59 men who were exposed to lead occupationally. Performance on the tests was studied in relation to three ranges of blood lead $(low,\;0. Workers with high and medium blood lead concentrations showed poorer performances on digit span backward, digit symbol and Benton Visual Retention. After adjustment for age and education, high and medium group showed significantly impaired performance on Benton visual retention and slightly impaired performance on digit span backward. But it showed no different performance on tests between high and medium blood lead group.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.174-182
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to develop a computerized test to measure the level of mathematic achievement and related cognitive functions in children and adolescents in South Korea. Methods: The computerized Comprehensive Learning Test-Mathematic (CLT-M) consists of the whole number computation test, enumeration of dot group test, number line estimation test, numeral comparing test (magnitude/distance), rapid automatized naming test, digit span test, and working memory test. To obtain the necessary data and to investigate the reliability and validity of this test, 399 children and adolescents from kindergarten to middle school were recruited. Results: The internal consistency reliability of the CLT-M was high (Cronbach's alpha=0.76). Four factors explained 66.4% of the cumulative variances. In addition, the data for all of the CLT-M subtests were obtained. Conclusion: The computerized CLT-M can be used as a reliable and valid tool to evaluate the level of mathematical achievement and associated cognitive functions in Korean children and adolescents. This test can also be helpful to detect mathematical learning disabilities, including specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics, in Korea.

• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.181-195
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• 2009

Students' approaches to mathematical problem solving vary greatly with each other. The main objective of the current study was to compare students' performance with different thinking styles (divergent vs. convergent) and working memory capacity upon mathematical problem solving. A sample of 150 high school girls, ages 15 to 16, was studied based on Hudson's test and Digit Span Backwards test as well as a math exam. The results indicated that the effect of thinking styles and working memory on students' performance in problem solving was significant. Moreover, students with divergent thinking style and high working memory capacity showed higher performance than ones with convergent thinking style. The implications of these results on math teaching and problem solving emphasizes that cognitive predictor variable (Convergent/Divergent) and working memory, in particular could be challenging and a rather distinctive factor for students.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2003

Objectives : We carried out tests for neurobehavior by using WHO-NCTB (neurobehavioral core test battery) and Perdue pegboard score test to identify differences between lacunar infarction cases and controls. Methods : Among the subjects who underwent MRI between February 2001 and March 2002 in a university hospital located in Seoul and who were diagnosed only as lacunar infarction without any intracranial disease, 46 patients were selected as cases (male: 21, female: 25). Controls were selected who had no cerebrovascular disease on MRI by matching age (5 years), gender, and education (2 years) in a ratio of 1:1 , Among WHO-NCTB, the following 5 tests and Perdue pegboard score test were used to categorize the study subjects: digit and symbol matching, simple reaction time, Benton visual retention, digit span, and Pursuit aiming test, Results : Among the above 6 tests of neurobehavior, lacunar infarction cases showed lower score than controls except for the simple reaction time test. As the controlling variables of multivariate analysis in the stepwise regression analysis, the followings were selected due to their significant association: age, education, BMI, gender, drinking, exercise, add systolic blood pressure. From multivariate regression analysis, there was significant difference (p<0.05) between lacunar infarction cases and controls in digit and symbol matching, Benton visual retention, digit span, pursuit aiming, and Perdue pegboard score test, but not in the score of simple reaction time test. Conclusions : We suggest that the above 5 tests for neurobehavior, with the exception of the simple reaction time test, might be used as the basis for recommendation of further treatment and other neurological tests by the earlier defection for neurological abnormality in lacunar infarction.