• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.21 no.5 s.77
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• pp.103-111
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationships between cognitive abilities and driving characteristics of elderly drivers. Driving characteristics of elderly and younger drivers who were driving a fixed base driving simulator vehicle were examined. Participants consisted of 12 drivers over age 65 (the 'older' group) and 12 drivers between the ages of 25 and 55 (the "younger" group). As indices of cognitive ability, critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) tests and cognitive reaction tests were given before the driving task. CFF was also tested after the simulated driving task for both groups. Cognitive reaction tests, which were composed of speed estimation tests, multiple choice reaction tests and obstacle avoidance tests, were developed by the Korean Road Traffic Safety Authority in 2003. CFF values between the two groups exhibited significant differences both before and after the task, with a p-value less than 0.01 and a t-value of -3.01 before the test and a p-value less than 0.031 and a t-value of -2.35 after the test. Older drivers' CFF values were lower than those of the younger. However, there was no difference in older or younger driver CFF values before and after the task within the same group. Except for the multiple choice reaction test, there was no difference in cognitive reaction test results between the two groups. The elderly drivers made more errors though they did not differ from the younger drivers in reaction times. At the simulated driving task the reaction time of the elderly driver was longer than that of the younger; however, the driving speed of the elderly was lower and the number of collisions greater. There was a positive correlation (r=.496) between the number of errors in the multiple choice reaction test and the number of collisions in the driving task. Therefore, it was identified that critical attributes contributing to automobile crashes involving elderly drivers included cognitive difficulty in judging and responding to complex situations.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 1984

In an attempt to take Comprehensive nursing care the author tested cognitive function and psychiatric disturbance produced by normal adults. Mini-mental state and simple reaction time were tested and general health questionnaire was conducted two hundred subjects. The data were analyzed statistically and the results follow: 1. The score of mini-mental state of the elderly group was less significant than that of the younger group in the tests of cognitive dysfunction. The score of MMS of the female group, the illiteracy group less significant than that of other groups in the test of cogntive dysfunction. 2. Reaction time of the elderly group was slower than that of the younger group. Reaction time of the female group was slower than that of the male group. Reaction time of the illiteracy group was the slowest & the unskilled group was slower than that of the other groups. 3. As a result of the results of psychiatric disturbance the score of general health questionnaire of the elderly group was significantly higher than that of the younger group in the tests of psychiatric disturbance. The test of psychiatric disturbance sho-wed that the score of general health questionnaire of the female group was significantly higher than that of the male group in the tests of psychiatric disturbance. The illiteracy group was the highest in the psychiatric disturbance among other groups and the unskilled group was significantly higher than the other groups. 4. Education had higher correlation to mini-men-tat state, while age negative correlation in comparison with other variables age had higher correlation to reaction time, while education had negative correlation in comparison with other variables. Sex had low correlation in these tests.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.42-51
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• 2010

Imaging studies using MRI, PET, and/or MEG have been primary evaluation methods to quantitatively assess cognitive function. Recent advances in computational technology and information technology may allow a novel evaluation methodology to quantitate cognitive function more cost-effectively. In this study, we developed a software package composed of a series of tests to evaluate cognitive ability combined with a user-friendly touch screen input device. This cognitive assessment tool can quantitate concentration, numeric memory, associative memory, topological memory, visual and muscular reaction, and acoustic reaction over a relatively short testing time. We performed an empirical study on eighty normal subjects aged 20 and 59 years old using the developed evaluation methods. Age-related cognitive deterioration after 40 years old was confirmed. There was no difference in cognitive ability between male and female in the same age group. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a simple but effective evaluation software tool to quantitatively assess cognitive ability. This methodology may provide improved accessibility and reduced costs to perform cognitive function studies to compare between various subject groups.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the cognitive function in the elderly and to identify the influencing factors. Methods: The design of this study was descriptive research design. A total of 139 elderly people (aged 65 years and over) visiting the electroencephalogram (EEG) center in Seoul, Korea were evaluated. Data were assessed by self-administered questionnaires and CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS). Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 23.0 for Windows. Results: There were significant differences in the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), executive functions and reasoning according to education level. K-MMSE, visual memory and executive functions were different depending on the jobs. Age was highly correlated with cognitive function. In addition, stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the factor significantly associated with reaction time and visual memory was depression. Depression and Trait-Anxiety had significant impacts on executive functions and K-MMSE. Conclusion: CNSVS enabled the accurate and objective measurement of cognitive function. Therefore, this study provides useful data to improve cognitive function of the community-dwelling elderly. The results suggested that there is need for comprehensive interventional programs that manage cognitive impairment.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.41-50
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• 2014

This study examined the characteristics of brain's reaction pattern concerning the preference for product images and compared them with the result of subjects' intuitive evaluation of their preference for the same materials. Two tests were conducted; the first one that calculated comfort properties based on brainwave measurements in order to examine the impression given by the images of products presented separately, one-by-one, and the second one that had subjects evaluate the preference directly by comparing the images of all products simultaneously. The first test was titled 'Independent Cognitive Response' and the second test, 'Relative Cognitive Response', and their characteristics were as follows. In the 'Independent Cognitive Response', the state of emotion was expressed in absolute values based on the comparison with the information accumulated through the subject's own experience and the feeling expressed as 'pleasant' or 'unpleasant' persisted as absolute values. In the 'Relative Cognitive Response', the state of emotion relative to the information of other images compared in the stage of perceiving the images was expressed, and in this case, the state of emotion described as 'calm' or 'excited' acted as relative values.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.178-188
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The influence of musical aptitude on cognitive test performance in musicians is a long-debated research question. Evidence points to the low performance of nonmusicians in visual and auditory cognitive tasks (working memory and attention) compared with musicians. This cannot be generalized to all nonmusicians, as a sub-group in this population can have innate musical abilities even without any formal musical training. The present study aimed to study the effect of musical aptitude on the working memory and selective attention. Subjects and Methods: Three groups of 20 individuals each (a total of 60 participants), including trained-musicians, nonmusicians with good musical aptitude, and nonmusicians with low musical aptitude, participated in the present study. Cognitive-based visual (Flanker's selective attention test) and auditory (working memory tests: backward digit span and operation span) tests were administered. Results: MANOVA (followed by ANOVA) revealed a benefit of musicianship and musical aptitude on backward digit span and Flanker's reaction time (p<0.05). Discriminant function analyses showed that the groups could be effectively (accuracy, 80%) segregated based on the backward digit span and Flanker's selective attention test. Trained musicians and nonmusicians with good musical aptitude were distinguished as one cluster and nonmusicians with low musical aptitude formed another cluster, hinting the role of musical aptitude in working memory and selective attention. Conclusions: Nonmusicians with good musical aptitude can have enhanced working memory and selective attention skills like musicians. Hence, caution is required when these individuals are included as controls in cognitive-based visual and auditory experiments.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.178-188
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• 2021

Background and Objectives: The influence of musical aptitude on cognitive test performance in musicians is a long-debated research question. Evidence points to the low performance of nonmusicians in visual and auditory cognitive tasks (working memory and attention) compared with musicians. This cannot be generalized to all nonmusicians, as a sub-group in this population can have innate musical abilities even without any formal musical training. The present study aimed to study the effect of musical aptitude on the working memory and selective attention. Subjects and Methods: Three groups of 20 individuals each (a total of 60 participants), including trained-musicians, nonmusicians with good musical aptitude, and nonmusicians with low musical aptitude, participated in the present study. Cognitive-based visual (Flanker's selective attention test) and auditory (working memory tests: backward digit span and operation span) tests were administered. Results: MANOVA (followed by ANOVA) revealed a benefit of musicianship and musical aptitude on backward digit span and Flanker's reaction time (p<0.05). Discriminant function analyses showed that the groups could be effectively (accuracy, 80%) segregated based on the backward digit span and Flanker's selective attention test. Trained musicians and nonmusicians with good musical aptitude were distinguished as one cluster and nonmusicians with low musical aptitude formed another cluster, hinting the role of musical aptitude in working memory and selective attention. Conclusions: Nonmusicians with good musical aptitude can have enhanced working memory and selective attention skills like musicians. Hence, caution is required when these individuals are included as controls in cognitive-based visual and auditory experiments.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2020

Objectives: S-HTP is a projective test of cognitive activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the response characteristics in the S-HTP test as they related to seven emotions and cognitive processes. Methods: 153 students underwent S-HTP testing. 10 students were excluded and a total of 143 students' data was used for the study. 143 students were classified into four groups by SCAT. A survey was conducted on seven emotions and cognitive processes painting the Whole picture, house, tree, and person, and after receiving IRB review exemption, the chi-square test was conducted to check homogeneity of the groups by gender and age. Finally, frequency analysis by constitution for each item was conducted. Results: The reaction characteristics of S-HTP, focusing on the seven emotions and cognitive processes detailed by Korean Medicine, are as follows: 1. The primary sentiment while drawing during S-HTP was 'Joy (hui)' followed by 'Thought (sah)'. 2. The sentiments while painting during the S-HTP test, and the emotions of looking at the picture after the S-HTP test, increased in 'Joy (hui)' and decreased in 'Thought (sah)'. 3. 'Thought (Sah)' was the highest scored process while drawing S-HTP, followed by 'jee (智)'. However, 'ryeo (慮)' was similar to 'jee (智)' in an unclassifiable constitution. Conclusions: The primary characteristics of the S-HTP test response are 'Joy (hui)' and 'Thought (sah)' in emotion, and 'sah (思)' and 'jee (智)' in cognitive processes. Therefore, it is necessary to verify this during the S-HTP test.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.83-94
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• 1998

Objectives : Phencyclidine(PCP) or PCP-like substances such as ketamine have been known to rekindle the cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. The aims of this study were to identify whether PCP-like substances can produce cognitive deficit in schizophrenia, to discuss relation with aging process, and finally to speculate underlying neurochemical mecha-nisms by various drug responses. Methods : In experiment I, radial maze tests were done in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats for 3 days to get baseline data. Being divided into 4 groups(6 rats respectively) of normal aged, normal adult controls, atropine-treated and ketamine-treated, the radial maze tests were repeated on every week for 6 weeks, and then the rats were sacrificed by intracardiac perfusion with phosphate-buffered 10% formaldehyde solution for histology. The brain specimen was stained with hematoxylin-eosin to count cells in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In experiment II, radial maze tests were done for 48 rats before any drug treatment and only after ketamine administration. Thereafter, haloperidol, bromocriptine, clonidine, nimodipine, tacrine, valproic acid, naloxone and fluoxetine were intramuscularly injected on every other day in addition to ketamine. Radial maze tests were repeated on every week for 6 weeks, and then rats were prepared by the same procedure for histology. Results : 1) Reaction times of radial maze tests of atropine-treated rats were significantly prolonged than those of normal aged(p<0.05) or normal adult controls(p<0.05). Cell numbers of prefrontal cortex & hippocampus in ketamine-treated rats were significantly reduced than those in normal aged (p<0.05) or normal adult controls(p<0.005). 2) Reduced cell numbers by ketamine became significantly raised by tacrine administration in prefrontal cortex & hippocampus(p<0.05), while there were no significant changes on radial maze tests. Cell numbers also tended to be raised by nimodipine, fluoxetine and haloperidol administration. Conclusions : In conclusion, the visuospatial memory disorders in ketamine-induced psychotic rats might be partly asso-ciated with aging process. Furthermore, the responses to the various drugs suggested cholinergic system might have an important role in the neurochemical mechanism of the cognitive dysfunction in ketamine-induced psychosis. Otherwise, calcium metabolism as well as serotonergic and dopaminergic systems seemed to be possibly related.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2008

Objectives : Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) has been used for many years as a treatment for cerebrovascular diseases in Oriental medicine. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) on cognition and motor function recovery after ischemic brain injury, and also the expression of BDNF in hippocampus. Methods : This study was designed with 4 subgroups to evaluate the effects of Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san). As control groups, group I has no treatment during 1 week after ischemic brain injury and group II has no treatment during 2 weeks after ischemic brain injury. As experimental groups, group III has been treated with Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) during 1 week after ischemic brain injury and group IV have treated with Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) during 2 week after ischemic brain injury. Each group has been examined by tests as follows, neurological motor behavioral tests, cognitive motor behavior test and histological test. Neurological motor behavior tests consisted of limb placement test, beam-walking test and horizontal wire test. Cognitive motor behavior test was performed by using Morris water maze. In the histological test, TTC(2,3,5-triphenylteterazolium chloride) staining, hematoxylin & eosin staining, and immunohistochemical staining were used. Results : 1. The tests for motor function recovery change had significantly good result in the experimental groups as compared with control groups(p<.05). 2. The Morris water maze test on cognition also had significantly good result in the experimental groups as compared with control groups(p<.05). 3. In the immunohistochemical staining for the expression of BDNF in hippocampus, more immune reaction was investigated in the experimental groups as compared with control groups. Especially group IV has the greatest immune reaction. Conclusions : Ohyaksungi-san(Wuyaoshunqi-san) has good effects on cognition and motor function recovery after ischemic brain injury, and also the expression of BDNF in hippocampus.