• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.95-102
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• 2019

This study was to investigate the effect of eye movement and intentional finger movement on cognitive ability. Normal adult subjects were randomly divided into two groups: saccadic eye movement(SEM) and intentional finger movement(IFM). After 2 weeks of intervention, Digit span was used for short-term memory test and N-back was used for working memory test. As a result, the short-term memory of the IFM group increased significantly over time, and the follow-up test showed difference between group. The IFM group's the execution time, the error count and the accuracy rate of n-back item showed significant effects over time. The SEM group's the execution time and the accuracy of n-back item showed significant effects over time. In conclusion, the IFM method, which is a multiple stimulus that can activate the cerebral cortex more extensively than the single stimulus SEM, may be more useful as an intervention method of cognitive function improvement.

• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.135-151
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preschoolers' motor proficiency and their executive function. Participants were 72 children who participated in individual tests. Motor proficiency was measured by a shortened form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition(BOT-2). Executive functions were assessed by utilizing the revised version of the four tasks: 'Day-Night Task', 'Dimensional Change Card Sort Task', 'Lift Flag Task' and 'Digit Span Task'. The major findings were as follows. First, the 5-year-olds motor proficiency was found to be better than the 4-year-olds. Second, the 5-year-olds executive function was found to be better than the 4-yeat-olds. Last, the 4-year-olds' and 5-year-olds' motor proficiency was related to their executive function. Concretely, fine manual control of motor proficiency was executive function and there was a high correlation. And behavior response inhibition and working memory of executive function was motor proficiency and there was a high correlation. Data analysis showed that preschoolers' motor proficiency and their executive function were different by their age level and that preschoolers' motor proficiency was correlated with their executive function.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the cognitive performance of major depressive disorder (MDD) in military service/conscription personnel who visited the psychiatric clinic for a medical certificate to consider the situation from the perspective of Korea's unique compulsory military system. We used the Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV (K-WAIS-IV) as the test for verifying the suitable level of cognitive functioning for military service and as the embedded measure with reflecting suboptimal effort. Methods : The study was conducted on 56 (28 males, age 19-34) in/out-patients admitted to the psychiatry department and diagnosed with MDD (DSM-IV). All participants completed a structured clinical interview (MINI-Plus), as well as self-report questionnaires related to demographics and severity of clinical symptoms. K-WAIS-IV was administered to each subject to assess cognitive characteristics. Results : Military group showed significantly lower processing speed index (PSI) score including subtests of symbol search (SS) and coding (CD) score, compared to the control group. There was no other significant differences in the Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptual Reasoning Index (PRI), Working Memory Index (WMI) scores including sub-tests comprised of the above indices, and Reliable Digit Span (RDS), Enhanced-RDS-Revised (E-RDS-R) between the study and control groups. Conclusion : This study was the first effort to verify the characteristics of Korea's military group with MDD and suggest the applicability of PSI and processing speed of K-WAIS-IV as an embedded performance index to test sub-optimal effort or low motivation beyond the purpose of testing cognitive deficits.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2015

This study examined the effects of a tablet PC-based music-making program on the executive function of adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Four adolescents with intellectual disabilities participated in this program. Each participant received 45-minute individual sessions twice a week for a total of 16 sessions. The music-making program was designed in the sequence of planning; learning table PC operations; exploring musical elements; making rhythm, melody, and lyrics; composing loop sections; and presentation of the completed music. The Stroop test, Children's Color Trails Test, and Digit Span and Letter-Number sequencing tests were measured at pretest, midtest, and posttest in order to examine changes in executive function. The participants showed increased scores on all three tests. The participants' attention span also increased and their attempts to correct errors during tasks occurred more frequently at posttest. This study supports the effects of the technology-based program on the executive function of adolescents with intellectual disabilities and presents its expanded applicability for adolescents who show low cognitive function and limited motivation for cognitive engagement.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2004

Objectives: Sound and light (SL) stimulation has been used as a method to induce some useful mental states in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. It is believed that sound and light entrainment device (SLED) has some specific effects through synchronization of EEG in patients who use it. Theta frequency is believed to stimulate deep relaxation and short term memory processing. This study was conducted to evaluate if 4-10 Hz SL stimulation can induce relaxation and improve short term memory function. Methods: Ten medical students with no medical or psychiatric problems participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups. One group was applied with real SLED was applied to one group (R group) and pseudo SLED to the other group (P group). The two groups were exposed to SL stimulation with SLED 15 minutes a day for 5 days, and after two days rest the two groups were switched over. The Korean Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS), Academic Motivation Tests (AMT), Test Anxiety Scale (TAS), Korean Auditory Verbal Learning Test (K-AVLT), and digit span were used to evaluate short term memory. Spielberger's State-Trait anxiety inventory and heart rate variability (HRV) test were used to evaluate degree of relaxation. Results: Compared with S group, R group showed a significant improvement in K-AVLT and digit span after a single application of SL stimulation. But 5-day long application did not reveal any differences between the two groups. A significant change in HRV was observed in 5-day long application of SL stimulation after being switched over to other SLED. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that 4-10 Hz SL stimulation has some positive influences on short term memory and relaxation.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.219-229
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among Exercising Activity, muscle mass, Muscular strength and cognitive function of 274 elderly people aged 65 years and older living in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do As for the data collection methods, were measured the Exercising Activity, muscle mass and muscular strength and the Korean version of Mini Mental State Examination(MMSE-K) and digit span test were measured. The results are as follows First, there was a statistically significant correlation between Exercising activity, muscle mass, muscular strength, and cognitive function of the elderly. Second, Exercising activity of the elderly showed a positive (+) influence on muscle mass, muscular strength, and cognitive function. Third, the muscle mass of the elderly showed a statistically significant (+) influence on muscular strength and cognitive function. Fourth, the strength of the elderly showed a positive (+) influence on cognitive function.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-189
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• 2015

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate Korean Wechsler Intelligence profiles and specific abilities related to attention problem of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods : The Korean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition (K-WISC-IV) and Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) were administered to 91 children and adolescents (age $8.5{\pm}2.6$ years, 73 boys) with ADHD. Pearson correlation and independent t-tests were used. Results : The means of Working Memory Index (WMI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI) showed a score of low average in K-WISC-IV. WMI scores for the K-WISC-IV showed clinically significant correlations with omission errors, commission errors, and response time variability on auditory ATA. PSI scores also showed significant correlations with response time and variability on visual ATA. In addition, significantly lower digit span backward scores were observed in hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes compared to inattentive subtype (t=3.60, p<.001). Conclusion : Children with ADHD showed significantly lower scores in WMI and PSI which were clinically correlated with ATA scores, and hyperactive-impulsive/combined subtypes showed poorer working memory functions in WMI. Follow-up studies are proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 2011

Objectives : To investigate the cognitive functions of pediatric cancer patients and to test the hypotheses that the impairment of processing speed and working memory are more prevalent in children with medulloblastoma (MBL) compared to children with neuroblastoma (NBL). Methods : We gave the Korean version of the Wechsler Intelligent Scale for Children-III to 21 children with MBL and 24 children with NBL during outpatient follow-up after the treatment was completed. Results : Children with MBL showed below average performance across most of the sub-tests. The full scale IQ, verbal IQ, and performance IQ of children with MBL were significantly lower than those of children with NBL. There were significant differences between two groups in coding and Digit Span subtest scores. Children with MBL performed especially poorly in the coding subtest. Conclusion : These findings support previous reports of generally low IQ and the dysfunction of processing speed and working memory among children with MBL, a kind of central nervous system tumor. Further investigation is needed to determine how the deficit of processing speed and working memory affect neurocognitive development and general intelligent functions.

• Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2017

Objectives : It has been shown that early intervention is crucial for favorable outcome in patients with schizophrenia. However, development of biomarkers for predicting prognosis of psychotic disorder still requires more research. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether baseline mismatch negativity (MMN) predict prognosis in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP). Methods : Twenty-four patients with FEP and matched healthy controls (HCs) were examined with MMN at baseline, and their clinical status were re-assessed after 1 year. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed to compare baseline MMN between the two groups. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors predicting prognosis in FEP patients during the follow-up period. Results : MMN amplitudes at baseline were significantly reduced in patients with FEP compared to healthy controls. In the multiple regression analysis, baseline MMN amplitude significantly predicted later improvement of performances on digit span and delayed recall of California Verbal Learning Test. However, baseline MMN did not predicted improvement of clinical symptoms. Conclusion : These results indicate that MMN may be a possible predictor of improvement in cognitive functioning in patients with FEP. Future study with larger sample and longer follow-up period would be needed to confirm the findings of the current study.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.976-988
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• 2002

The aim of this study was to examine the memory and attention enhancement effect of YMG-1 and YMG-2, which are modified herbal extracts from Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ). YMJ, composing six herbal medicine, has been used for restoring the normal functions of the body to consolidate the constitution, nourishing and invigorating the kidney functions for hundreds years in Asian countries. A series of studies reported that YMJ and its components enhance memory retention, protects neuronal cell from reactive oxygen attack and boost immune activities. Recently the microarray analysis suggested that YMG-1 protects neurodegeneration through modulating various neuron specific genes. A total of 55 subjects were divided into three groups according to the treatment of YMG-1 (n=20), YMG-2 (n=20) and control (C; n=15) groups. Before treatments, all of subjects were subjected to the assessments on neuropsychological tests of K-WAIS test, Rey-Kim memory test, and psychophysiological test of Event-Related Potential (ERP) during auditory oddball task and repeated word recognition task. They were repeatedly assessed with the same methods after drug treatment for 6 weeks. Although no significant effect of drug was found in Rey-Kim memory test, a significant interaction (P = .010, P < 0.05) between YMG-2 and C groups was identified in the scores digit span and block design, which are the subscales of K-WAIS. The very similar but marginal interaction (P = .064) between YMG-1 and C groups was found too. In ERP analysis, only YMG-1 group showed decreasing tendency of P300 latency during oddball task while the others tended to increase, and it caused significant interaction between session and group (p= .004). This result implies the enhancement of cognitive function in due to consideration of relationship between P300 latency and the speed of information processing. However, no evidence which could demonstrate the significant drug effect was found in neither amplitude or latency. These results come together suggest that YMG-1, 2 may enhance the attention, resulting in enhancement of memory processing. For elucidating detailed mechanism of YMG on learning and memory, the further studies are necessary.