Biomedical subjects

C Junqué

Publications and source records attributed to C Junqué.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1999

Neuropsychological functioning in a subclinical obsessive-compulsive sample.

BACKGROUND: Previous neuropsychological research has suggested that the study of psychometrically defined subclinical samples might be a valid approach to understand the underlying pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This approach has the potential benefit of overcoming some of the methodological problems linked to the use of clinical samples. METHODS: A group of subclinical obsessive-compulsive (OC) subjects (n = 35), selected on the basis of their scores on the Padua Inventory, and a control group were assessed on executive functioning tasks and other neuropsychological tests which have been demonstrated to be impaired in clinical OCD patients and/or in those with several basal ganglia disorders. RESULTS: Subclinical OC subjects needed significantly more moves than controls to reach the solution criteria on the Tower of Hanoi puzzle, and performance on this test was positively correlated with total score and the Checking factor of the Padua Inventory. There were no between-group differences on the other frontal lobe tests. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that deficits in manipulating spatial information might be basic in OCD, and are congruent with the involvement of the frontostriatal circuits in the disorder.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Overestimation and unreliability in "feeling-of-doing" judgements about temporal ordering performance: impaired self-awareness following frontal lobe damage.

"Feeling-of-doing" accuracy in a temporal ordering task in 33 patients with frontal lobe lesions and a matched control group was investigated. The temporal ordering task used word lists that had high, medium, or no semantic interrelatedness. Patients with frontal lobe lesions showed an impairment in temporal ordering across all three word lists. Both groups performed better on the lists with higher semantic interrelatedness. Patients with frontal lobe lesions overestimated their ability to order words accurately. On the less semantically interrelated lists, metamemory judgment in patients with frontal lesions did not correlate with their performance. These results indicate that both temporal order judgment and metacognitive decisions about temporal order judgment are subserved by the prefrontal cortex and further clarifies the role of the frontal lobes in behavioral monitoring.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Hemispheric functional imbalance in a sub-clinical obsessive-compulsive sample assessed by the Continuous Performance Test, Identical Pairs version.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) sufferers have long been observed to give excessive consideration to normally ignored exogenous and endogenous stimuli. This over-focused attention concerning their symptoms has led researchers to experimentally investigate the attentional mechanisms involved in this disorder and its psychobiological basis. Previous psychometric and neuropsychological research has demonstrated the validity of the sub-clinical analogue in the study of the mechanisms underlying OCD. In this study, 71 introductory university students were recruited from an original pool of 450 people on the basis of their scores on the Spanish version of the Padua Inventory. A high obsessive group (n = 35) was compared with a control group (n = 36) on a standard sustained attention task: the Continuous Performance Test, Identical Pairs version (CPT-IP). The results showed a significant interaction effect between CPT-IP subscales (verbal and spatial) and group membership. This effect was more evident among men. The results were unrelated to general intelligence, depression, anxiety, personality or motivational factors. These findings support the hypothesis that neuropsychological deficits in OCD may be related to a hemispheric functional imbalance rather than to a lateralised dysfunction of a particular hemisphere.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Magnetic resonance imaging measurement of the caudate nucleus in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and its relationship with neuropsychological and behavioral measures.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate structural basal ganglia abnormalities in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and their relationship with the neuropsychological deficits and behavioral problems found in ADHD. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Adolescents were recruited from a local polytechnic institute of secondary education. SUBJECTS: Eleven adolescents with ADHD and 19 healthy control subjects. Subjects with ADHD were diagnosed by the school psychologist from a total population of 450 students according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised. Diagnosis was confirmed by the Conners Teachers Rating Scale and a structured family interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Magnetic resonance imaging single-slice transversal measurements of the head of the caudate nucleus and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, which was specially designed to assess frontal-striatal functioning. RESULTS: The ADHD group had a larger right caudate nucleus area than the control group. In control adolescents, larger caudate nucleus areas were associated with poorer performance on tests of attention and higher ratings on the Conners Teachers Rating Scale. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further evidence of the involvement of the caudate nucleus in the neuropsychological deficits and behavioral problems found in ADHD. The larger caudate nucleus found in the ADHD group could be related to a failure of the maturational processes that normally result in volume reduction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Impaired estimation of word occurrence frequency in frontal lobe patients.

Neuroanatomical correlates of the estimation of occurrence frequency have received little attention. This study investigates the possible role of the frontal lobe in estimating word occurrence frequency. A sample of 27 patients with frontal lesions were matched with normal controls by sex, age and years of education. Significant differences between patients and controls were found for frequency estimation, but not for item recognition. Studying accuracy of estimation as a function of actual frequency, the frontal group performed worse, especially at high frequencies of occurrence. As far as lesion lateralization is concerned, the right frontal subgroup performed worse than the control group in the estimation of frequency. Our results suggest that the prefrontal cortex plays a role in estimating word occurrence and that there is a dissociation between frequency memory and recognition memory, pointing to the involvement of two different cerebral systems.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Information needs of the traumatic brain injury patient's family members regarding the consequences of the injury and associated perception of physical, cognitive, emotional and quality of life changes.

We studied physical, cognitive, emotional and quality-of-life changes noted by relatives in a sample of 65 severely traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients several years after injury. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the families perception of these changes and their need for information concerning the consequences of TBI. Our results indicated that the perceived changes in behavioural and affective symptoms and in the patient's quality of life were most closely associated with the need expressed by family members for information concerning, TBI. We also found that family relationships were especially affected by problems in the behavioral and affective domain, and the decrease in patient quality of life, as reported by relatives. These findings underline the importance of providing the relatives of TBI patients with information about the consequences of the injury with particular emphasis on behavioural and emotional disturbances, in order that they might cope better with these problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Right hemisphere dysfunction in subjects with attention-deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity.

The attention-deficit disorder, with and without hyperactivity, is associated with defective attention, response inhibition and, in attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity, with motor restlessness. In adults, inattention, defective response inhibition, and impersistence are more commonly seen in right hemisphere lesions. In the present study, we investigate possible right hemisphere dysfunctions in attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity. The right hemisphere performance of 60 teenagers, 16 having attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity, 9 having attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity, and 35 controls, selected clinically (DSM-III) and experimentally (through Continuous Performance Test and Paced Auditory Addition Task), with normal IQ was assessed using a wide-ranging battery of visuospatial, visuoperceptive, and visuoconstructive functions (Benton's Line Orientation, Benton's Visual Retention, Raven's Progressive Matrices, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale [WAIS] Block-Design, Rey's Complex Figure). Teenagers with attention-deficit disorder with and without hyperactivity performed significantly worse than controls. Greater differences were found between subjects with attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity and control than between subjects with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity and control subjects. Our results seem to be consistent with right-hemisphere dysfunction, especially in subjects with attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity. Additionally, WAIS Block-Design and Benton's Line Orientation are the visuospatial tests with the highest discriminant power to differentiate between controls, subjects with attention-deficit disorder without hyperactivity, and subjects with attention-deficit disorder with hyperactivity.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

[Attention: a complex cerebral function].

INTRODUCTION: Attention is a brain neurocognitive state of preparing what precedes perception and action, and is a result of cortical and subcortical networks. Attention selectively focuses our consciousness while filtering the constant flow of sensory information, selects competent parallel processing among stimuli and activates brain zones for ordering appropriate responses. DEVELOPMENT: From a neurofunctional point of view this paper reviews and describes attention as a brain function regulated by three interrelated systems: Alertness or arousal providing tonic attention, dependent on the mesencephalic reticular activating system and its connections: posterior attention or attention of perceptive selectivity that depends on zones of the right posterior parietal cortex and its connections; and, anterior attention or supervisory attention that regulates deliberate attention, and supported by zones of the anterior cingulate and lateral prefrontal cortex and the connections of the zones.

Attention↗

PubMed1996

Neuropsychological alterations in patients with computed tomography-detected basal ganglia calcification.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cognitive and mental status of patients with basal ganglia calcification on a computed tomographic scan. DESIGN: Eighteen ambulatory patients with basal ganglia calcification and without other radiological findings who were identified from the computed tomography records of a general hospital in a 2-year period and 16 control subjects who were matched for age, education, sex, and premorbid IQ estimation consented to participate. All subjects underwent a neurological evaluation, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and tests with psychiatric rating scales. RESULTS: Significant differences for the control group were found in tests that evaluated motor speed and executive, visuospatial, and some memory functions. Four patients (22%) met criteria for organic mood disorder (minor depression, three patients; bipolar depression, one patient) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Revised Third Edition, whereas six other patients (33%) met diagnostic criteria for obsessive-compulsive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that patients with basal ganglia calcifications frequently have a subcortical pattern of neuropsychological dysfunction and behavioral changes that are known to be associated with alterations of the frontal-limbic-basal ganglia circuits. The pattern of neuropsychological impairment is consistent with basal ganglia damage. However, poor performance in other neuropsychological tests suggest additional involvement of other connected networks.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Frontal lobe activation during word generation studied by functional MRI.

AIMS: To further delimit the specific verbal operations occurring in the dorsolateral frontal cortex during the generation of words. METHODS: Different verbal fluency tasks guided by distinct specifications (phonological, semantic, or automatic production of words) were used in a functional magnetic resonance study. The study group comprised 10 right-handed normal subjects ranging in age from 23 to 27 years. Functional magnetic resonance images were obtained in a 1.5-Tesla magnet using a spoiled GRASS sequence. RESULTS: Noticeable activation was found during the word generation tasks in the dorsolateral frontal cortex. The region showing the most prominent activation was the posterior part of the left middle frontal gyrus. Nevertheless, the different tasks each had a different activation effect. The phonologically guided generation of words produced the most consistent activation of the middle frontal gyrus, which mainly involved the premotor cortex. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that operations concerned with the generation of sound sequences, rather than the amount of produced words or their semantics, are responsible for sustained focal activity observed in the frontal lobes during verbal fluency tasks.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Neuropsychology of left-handedness: current knowledge].

About 10% of the population is left-handed or non-right handed. Its brain organization and cognitive skills could differ in relation to right-handed subjects. Our current knowledge is far of get to know its etiology. The scientific literature is sufficiently wide as interesting to review its main contributions. The experimental studies undertake the last 30 years, but this current revision is centred on studies from the last 10 years. From them it is concluded that in Neuropsychology of the left-handedness there are great disagreements. The investigation needs to distinguish types of left-handedness or non-right-handedness, while it is not demonstrated that there is a single type of left-handedness.

Brain↗

PubMed1996

[Neuropsychological disorders due to left fronto-striatal lesions: a longitudinal study of an adolescent].

Relatively little is known of the neuropsychological consequences of isolated frontal-striatal lesions in children. We study the case of an adolescent boy who suffered a stroke in the left hemisphere at the age of 11. In addition to the expected frontal dysfunctions, the patient at first suffered lowered IQ and attention disorder with hyperactivity. Four years after the stroke, only frontal lobe dysfunctions (difficulties in planning, anticipating, responding, generating words, attending, and sequencing with loss of mental flexibility) persisted. The functional recovery might have come about because the right hemisphere striate assumed functions of the left hemisphere. The persistence of frontal dysfunctions favors specialization of the left frontal lobe and the relatively early maturity of this cortical structure.

Cerebral Infarction↗

PubMed1996

[Learning and memory skills in patients with cryptogenic epilepsy].

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the nature of memory deficits in patients with cryptogenic epilepsy and partial seizures. Sixty-two patients were compared to forty-four controls on several verbal and visual memory tests (short-term memory, learning, long-term recall, and recognition). Performance in the patients group was significantly impaired only on the test of verbal delayed recall.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The role of prefrontal regions in the Stroop task.

The Stroop is a classical paradigm that presumably involves the inhibition of automatic responses and is frequently used to assess the frontal lobe functions. We investigated the effect of discrete prefrontal lesions in a Stroop task. A sample of 32 patients with frontal lesions were matched with normal controls by sex, age and years of education. Significant differences between patients and controls were found for errors but not for reaction time. Regression analysis showed that the region most related to errors was the right prefrontal lateral cortex. Left lobectomies did not impair the Stroop performance. Our results favour the role of the right prefrontal cortex in sustained attention, and disagree with the conception of the left prefrontal cortex having a role in the inhibition of verbal automatic responses.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Persistence of MRI hyperintensity of the globus pallidus in cirrhotic patients: a 2-year follow-up study.

We investigated the long-term persistence and short-term stability of globus pallidus (GP) hyperintensity on T1-weighted MRI in 19 cirrhotic patients. After a mean interval of 25.8 months, the hyperintensity of the GP persisted in 17 patients. Hyperintensity disappeared in two patients with hepatocarcinoma, indicating that hyperintensity can revert to normal in circumstances other than liver transplants. Ten patients participated in a 6-month study with repeated evaluations of GP signal intensity, plasma ammonia levels, and selected neuropsychological tests. The GP signal was fairly stable during the follow-up, and the variables considered maintained significant relationships. GP hyperintensity appears as a stable indicator of the functional status of cirrhotic patients.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

[Neuropsychological signs in frontal and temporal supratentorial neuroepithelial tumors].

We have studied a group of patients with supratentorial neuroepithelial tumors before and after surgical treatment. The main neuropsychological impairments were in verbal memory. After surgery, neuropsychological performance improved in 36.1%, worsened in 13.6% and remained the same in 29.7%. In 21.6%, normal performance had already been observed. The physiology of brain tumors make it difficult to distinguish between frontal and temporal symptoms. However, neuropsychological assessment in useful for maximizing the patient's social adjustment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

When does human brain development end? Evidence of corpus callosum growth up to adulthood.

To locate structural changes in the brain accounting for the increasing effectiveness in cognition and skills that occurs at the final stage of behavioral development, we attempted to determine the age at which the corpus callosum completes its active growth period. We assessed the growth rate of the corpus callosum by measuring its area twice on midsagittal magnetic resonance imaging scans separated by a 2-year interval, in a series of 90 subjects with a wide range of ages. We observed an increase in the size of the corpus callosum as long as human mentation expands, up to the middle 20s. Clinical and experimental data about the corpus callosum, together with the present findings, suggest that the corpus callosum is part of the highest order-latest maturing neural network of the brain.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

MRI pallidal hyperintensity and brain atrophy in cirrhotic patients: two different MRI patterns of clinical deterioration?

In cirrhotic patients, even in a stable nonencephalopathic state, MRI may show cerebral atrophy and increased signal in globus pallidus on T1-weighted sequences. We investigated the relationship between cerebral atrophy and increased pallidal signal and the clinical status of 30 cirrhotic patients. We found a weak association between the two MRI findings. There were different patterns of clinical variables related to the imaging findings. Performance on motor tasks involving speed correlated with the pallidal signal and plasma ammonia levels but not with atrophy. Test results for memory and frontal-premotor function were associated with brain atrophy but not with the pallidal signal or with ammonia.

Aged↗