• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.130-138
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• 2023

Background and Purpose: Growing evidence has shown that cognitive interventions can mitigate cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, most previous cognitive interventions have been group-based programs. Due to their intrinsic limitations, group-based programs are not widely used in clinical practice. Therefore, we have developed a tablet-based cognitive intervention program. This preliminary study investigated the feasibility and effects of a 12-week structured tablet-based program on cognitive function in patients with MCI. Methods: We performed a single-arm study on 24 patients with MCI. The participants underwent a tablet-based cognitive intervention program 5 times a week over a 12-week period. The primary outcome was changes in cognitive function, measured using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K). Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, within two weeks of the last program (post-intervention), and at the six-month follow-up session. Results: The completion rate of the tablet-based program was 83.3% in patients with MCI. The program improved cognitive function based on the CERAD-K total score (p=0.026), which was maintained for at least three months (p=0.004). There was also an improvement in the depression scale score (p=0.002), which persisted for three months (p=0.027). Conclusions: Our 12-week structured tablet-based program is feasible for patients with MCI. Furthermore, although further studies with a double-arm design are required, the program appears to be an effective strategy to prevent cognitive decline in patients with MCI.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2017

Background and Purpose Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) is a well-known and commonly used measure of creativity. However, the TTCT-induced creative hemodynamic brain activity is rarely revealed. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the neural correlates of creative thinking in the setting of a modified version of the figural TTCT adapted for an functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. Methods We designed a blocked fMRI experiment. Twenty-five participants (11 males, 14 females, mean age $19.9{\pm}1.8$) were asked to complete the partially presented line drawing of the figural TTCT (creative drawing imagery; creative). As a control condition, subjects were asked to keep tracking the line on the screen (line tracking; control). Results Compared to the control condition, creative condition revealed greater activation in the distributed and bilateral brain regions including the left anterior cingulate, bilateral frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital regions as shown in the previous creativity studies. Conclusions The present revealed the neural basis underlying the figural TTCT using fMRI, providing an evidence of brain areas encompassing the figural TTCT. Considering the significance of a creativity test for dementia patients, the neural correlates of TTCT elucidated by this study may be valuable to evaluate the brain function of patients in the clinical field.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.120-129
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• 2018

Background and Purpose: Prospective memory (PM) has a known relationship with frontal function, and PM decline has been observed in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Cerebral small vessel disease, as evidenced by white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), is linked to frontal dysfunction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between PM decline and WMHs in patients with aMCI. Methods: Of 74 enrollees with aMCI, 69 completed this prospective study. We compared total scores and sub-scores of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) administered at baseline and 3 months later, stratifying patients by degree of WMHs. Results: A significant decline was seen in PRMQ total scores and PM scores at the 3-month mark in patients with moderate (vs. mild) degrees of WMHs ($-2.8{\pm}7.2$ vs. $0.2{\pm}7.1$; p=0.032). In addition, patients with moderate (vs. mild) degrees of deep WMHs (DWMHs) showed greater PM decline, whereas PM loss in patients with mild, moderate, or severe degrees of periventricular WMHs (PVWMHs) did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Findings of this study indicate that the burden of WMHs is consistently implicated in PM deterioration experienced by patients with aMCI, and signifies greater PM decline, especially in instances of extensive DWMHs. Greater attention to the change of PM is therefore needed in aMCI patients with WMHs.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-106
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in EEG through attention. Concentration training and performing tasks are important factors in the improvement of motor learning ability. Methods: In the experiment, 22 healthy people were divided into two groups: the trail making test (TMT) group and the computerized neurocognitive function test (CNT) group. A one-way Neuro Harmony M test to see whether there was a significant difference among the groups. Results: The TMT group showed a significant increase in ${\alpha}$ wave, ${\alpha}$ wave sequence, and ${\beta}$ wave sequence; however, there were no significant differences in SMR wave, SMR wave sequence, and ${\beta}$ wave. The CNT group showed increases in ${\alpha}$ wave, ${\alpha}$ wave sequence, SMR wave, SMR wave sequence, and ${\beta}$ wave sequence; however, there was no significant difference in ${\beta}$ wave. In EEGs before and after two performance tasks were changed, there were significant differences in ${\beta}$ wave, SMR wave, SMR wave sequence; however, there were no significant differences in ${\alpha}$ wave sequence, ${\beta}$ wave, and ${\beta}$ wave sequence. Conclusion: Attention training and concentration training offer feedback and repetition for constant stimulus and response. Moreover, attention training and concentration training can contribute to new studies and motivation by developing fast sensory and motor skills through acceptable visual and auditory stimulation.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.743-757
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• 2010

Theory of mind (ToM) is the ability to infer one's own and other people's mental states such as beliefs, desires, and intentions. Although the majority of research in ToM has focused on young children or autistic individuals, several studies have investigated ToM in normal old age and in the demented elderly. This article provides an overview on existent findings of theory of mind in aging populations and suggests future directions for research including applying neuroimaging techniques and real-life tasks. It is still unclear how ToM in aging is associated with other aspects of cognition. However, it is expected that ToM perspective on aging will increase our understanding of aging of cognition and social functioning.

• Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorders
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.158-168
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• 2023

Background and Purpose: Facial emotion recognition deficits impact the daily life, particularly of Alzheimer's disease patients. We aimed to assess these deficits in the following three groups: subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Additionally, we explored the associations between facial emotion recognition and cognitive performance. Methods: We used the Korean version of the Florida Facial Affect Battery (K-FAB) in 72 SCD, 76 MCI, and 76 mild AD subjects. The comparison was conducted using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with adjustments being made for age and sex. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was utilized to gauge the overall cognitive status, while the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB) was employed to evaluate the performance in the following five cognitive domains: attention, language, visuospatial abilities, memory, and frontal executive functions. Results: The ANCOVA results showed significant differences in K-FAB subtests 3, 4, and 5 (p=0.001, p=0.003, and p=0.004, respectively), especially for anger and fearful emotions. Recognition of 'anger' in the FAB subtest 5 declined from SCD to MCI to mild AD. Correlations were observed with age and education, and after controlling for these factors, MMSE and frontal executive function were associated with FAB tests, particularly in the FAB subtest 5 (r=0.507, p<0.001 and r=-0.288, p=0.026, respectively). Conclusions: Emotion recognition deficits worsened from SCD to MCI to mild AD, especially for negative emotions. Complex tasks, such as matching, selection, and naming, showed greater deficits, with a connection to cognitive impairment, especially frontal executive dysfunction.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.242-255
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• 1997

Characteristics of attention deficit of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) were investigated by administering six computerized attention tests of Vienna Test System and four neuropsychological tests to children aged 6-12, with ADHD(n=21) and age-matched normal control children(n=22). The findings indicated that ADHD children show lower level of vigilance, more decline of performance in vigilance task on time, and impaired preparedness to response. They also have selective attention deficit on monitoring tasks, but did not have sustained attention deficit compared with normal control children. On the tasks wich overload their information processing capacity, ADHD children show more impulsive response pattern than normal control children. The performance of ADHD was worse than control on the neuropsychological tests sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction. The presense 'These' attention deficits supports the theory that the defect of ADHD is due to the dysfunction of more than one brain region, including brain stem reticular formation and frontal lobe.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.110-117
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• 2018

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms and tardive dyskinesia (TD) and reveal the association of cognitive function and TD in patients with schizophrenia. Methods We recruited 30 schizophrenia patients with TD and 31 without TD from a national mental hospital in South Korea. To assess depressive and anxiety symptoms, the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were conducted. Using the five-factor structure of the BDI-II and BAI, somatic anxiety, cognitive depression, somatic depression, subjective anxiety, and autonomic anxiety were assessed. Computerized neurocognitive function test (CNT) was performed to assess levels of cognitive functions. We compared the clinical characteristics, levels of cognitive functions, and depressive and anxiety symptoms between schizophrenia patients with TD and without TD. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, independent t-test and Mann Whitney U test were conducted to compare two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships among the abnormal involuntary movement scale (AIMS), BDI-II, BAI, somatic anxiety, cognitive depression, somatic depression, subjective anxiety, and autonomic anxiety. Results The subjects with TD had significantly lower score on the cognitive depression than those without TD (t = -2.087, p = 0.041). There were significant correlations between the AIMS score and the BDI-II score (r = -0.386, p = 0.035) and between the AIMS score and cognitive depression score (r = - 0.385, p = 0.035). Conclusions Our findings suggest the inverse relationship between severities in TD and depression and support the assumption that there is an inverse relationship between the pathophysiology of TD and depression.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2018

Objectives: Chronic insomnia disorder is a common and one of the most distressing sleep disorders. This pilot study was conducted to compare the spatial function between insomnia disorder patients and good sleeping control. Methods: We enrolled the 22 patients with chronic insomnia during over one year who met the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria of insomnia disorder and 27 normal sleeping controls. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) has been performed to compare the spatial cognitive function between insomnia disorder patients and good sleeping controls. Results: The CANTAB results showed significant differences in the problems solved in minimum moves of Stockings of Cambridge test (t = -2.499, p = 0.017). The significant difference between two groups remained after controlling age, sex, and Beck Depression Index non-sleep scores (F = 5.631, p = 0.022). Conclusion: This study suggests that the patients with insomnia disorder have poor spatial planning function.

• Journal of Korean Society of Neurocognitive Rehabilitation
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.27-34
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of task training for cognitive activation of upper extremity on upper limb function and activities of daily living and to suggest intervention in rehabilitation treatment. From January to February of 2018, nine stroke patients were arbitrated 30 minutes a day, five days a week, for four weeks. For the experimental group, the therapist has induced the group using the linguistic guidance to patients, so they utilize the cognition strategy. The control group conducted active exercises in a range of motion using the instruments and passive exercises in a range of motion to reduce the stiffness of joints and upper limbs. As muscle strengthening exercises, the patients were assigned to work on the biceps muscle of arm, triceps muscle of arm, and deltoid according to the individual patient's muscular strength level. For the experimental group, the MBI was improved by ten points at maximum, and K-AMPS motor skills showed the improvements of 1.0 logit at maximum, and processing skills showed improvements of 0.6 logits at maximum. In MFT, the maximum improvement was by two points. For the control group, MBI was improved by five points at maximum, and 0.2 maximum improvements were shown in K-AMPS' motor skills and 0.3 maximum improvements in processing skills. MFT showed no change. The conclusion is that the challenges to enable training for stroke patients give a positive impact on upper limb function and activities of daily living.