Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Trail Making Test”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Neuropsychological effects of ethylene dichloride exposure.

Production of 1,2-dichloroethane (EDC) has increased and exposure to it has been reported to produce adverse effects in animals and CNS effects in humans. A group of 221 EDC exposed hazardous clean-up workers incurred chronic exposure to EDC without protective equipment. A clinical history and the following tests were administered: the WHO Adult Environmental Neurobehavioral Test Battery (AENTB), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III); WRAT 3 Reading, Cancellation H, Trail Making, Stroop, Rey Osterreith, Animal Naming, COWAT, TOMM, Rey 15, Lanthony d-15 Color Vision, and Vistech Contrast Sensitivity. Mood and symptoms were assessed with the SCL90-R, BDI, BAI and IES. The clinical neuropsychological evaluation of these workers indicates lower neuropsychological functioning in the domains of processing speed; attention; cognitive flexibility; motor coordination and speed; verbal memory; verbal fluency; and visuo-spatial abilities. These workers also showed disturbed mood and impaired vision. Dose/response relationships between exposure to EDC and test scores are shown.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

A longitudinal study of anticardiolipin antibody levels and cognitive functioning in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between persistently raised anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) levels and neuropsychological performance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Forty-five patients with SLE underwent a detailed neuropsychological assessment on 2 occasions 12-18 months apart. Serum samples stored since the time of previous assessments as well as samples obtained 6 months to 2 years before the first neuropsychological assessment were tested for IgG aCL levels. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the number of times their aCL levels were elevated (never, once, twice, 3 times). A wide-ranging battery of new neuropsychological tests was utilized, and the results were compared with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels, C3 levels, and results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: Analysis of variance revealed that the group with persistently elevated aCL levels performed less well than the other groups. At the first neuropsychological assessment, poorer performance by this group was noted for letter cancellation (P = 0.02), trail making task B (P = 0.04), and digit span (P = 0.03). At the second assessment, letter cancellation (P = 0.01), trail making task A (P = 0.03), trail making task B (P = 0.01), word fluency (P = 0.01), and reaction time (P = 0.05) were impaired. In contrast, no significant differences in neuropsychological test results were identified with respect to DNA antibody or C3 levels. MRI abnormalities were associated with both persistent elevation of aCL levels and low C3 levels. CONCLUSION: Levels of IgG aCL that were persistently elevated over a 2-3-year period (as opposed to never or occasionally elevated) were associated with significantly poorer performance in cognitive function by patients with SLE. Tasks requiring speed of attention and concentration appear to be particularly affected.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Influence of alcohol on cognitive performance during mild hypoglycaemia; implications for Type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Alcohol and hypoglycaemia independently affect cognitive function. This may be relevant for insulin-treated diabetic patients who drive motor vehicles. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of mild hypoglycaemia (2.8 mmol/l) with modest alcohol intoxication (levels below UK driving limits) on intellectual performance in patients with Type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp (60 mU/m2) was used to study 17 subjects [age 35 +/- 8 years, HbA1c 8.1 +/- 1.4% (mean +/- sd)] on four occasions: (A) euglycaemia (4.5 mmol/l) with placebo, (B) euglycaemia with alcohol, (C) hypoglycaemia (2.8 mmol/l) with placebo, and (D) hypoglycaemia with alcohol. Cognitive performance was assessed using four-choice reaction time (4CRT, primary outcome), measurements of general intellectual skills [trail making B (TMB) and digit symbol substitution (DSST)], and visual information processing [visual change detection (VCD)]. A test related to driving performance (hazard perception) was also used. RESULTS: In experiments B and D the average blood alcohol level was 43 mg/dl. This was associated with deterioration in 4CRT [+ 35 ms [95% confidence interval (CI) 20, 50]] and TMB, whereas hypoglycaemia without alcohol increased 4CRT only [+ 39 ms (95% CI 5, 73)]. However, when alcohol was combined with hypoglycaemia, there was marked deterioration in all the cognitive function tests [4CRT 74 ms (95% CI 35, 113), TMB, DSST and VCD]. Hazard perception was not affected. The effect of alcohol was no different in euglycaemia than in hypoglycaemia, i.e. there was no interaction. Whereas hypoglycaemia did not reduce the likelihood that the subjects would drive, alcohol did. CONCLUSIONS: The cumulative effect of alcohol and hypoglycaemia on cognitive function together has implications for driving in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Both independently impair cognitive function and together the effects are additive. Patients with Type 1 diabetes should be educated about hypoglycaemia and driving and should avoid alcohol completely if planning to drive.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A Canadian multicenter trial assessing memory and executive functions in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with olanzapine.

Serial verbal learning task (explicit long-term memory) and verbal fluency (generation of a response) are tests that are usually severely impaired in schizophrenia. Despite the growing literature supporting the clinical efficacy of olanzapine, psychiatrists still question its cognitive consequences. This study assessed the efficacy of olanzapine on neurocognitive functioning. Patients (N = 134) meeting diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform, or schizoaffective disorders began an 8-week, open-label olanzapine treatment at a dose of 5 mg/d, which was increased to 10 mg/d after 1 week. Daily dosage was subsequently adjusted between 5 and 20 mg/d based on individual clinical status. All previous antipsychotics were tapered and discontinued during the first 2 weeks of the study. Neuropsychologic assessments were carried out at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. Explicit long-term memory was assessed with the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test: the average immediate recall score significantly improved (P < 0.001), as did the delayed recall score (P < 0.001). The average total score on category fluency improved from 34.6 words at baseline to 37.6 words at end point (P < 0.0001). Time on both Trail A and B making tasks significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Lack of a control arm makes it impossible to exclude a practice effect as an explanation for the enhanced cognitive performance, although the Word List Recall test represents one of the better resources to avoid a practice effect. After switching to olanzapine, there was a statistically significant improvement of cognitive function in the 3 main domains tested and no significant worsening of any memory or executive function measure.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1987

A prospective longitudinal study of neuropsychological and psychosocial factors in asymptomatic individuals at risk for HTLV-III/LAV infection in a methadone program: preliminary findings.

To test the hypothesis that cognitive impairment may be present early in the course of HTLV-III/LAV infection, intravenous drug abusers (IDVAs) without overt symptoms of AIDS related illness were tested with standard neuropsychological and psychosocial measures. This study is the baseline for a prospective longitudinal study of the natural history of HTLV-III/LAV infection in this high risk population. Of 211 subjects initially evaluated, 70 (33%) were HTLV-III/LAV seropositive and 141 (67%) were seronegative. At the baseline, by univariate analysis, the seropositive IVDAs were significantly (p less than .05) more impaired than seronegatives on 4 of 8 measures: Finger Tapping--dominant, hand, Digit Span Forward, Trail making A and WAIS-Similarities. However, by multivariate analysis the seropositives were significantly more impaired only on the WAIS-Similarities and Wechsler--Associative Learning tests. Multiple factors such as drug use and psychological stress may have influenced test performance. These preliminary results, however, suggest that seropositive IVDAs may show evidence of impaired neuropsychological function even in the absence of AIDS related symptoms and are consistent with the hypothesis of the early neurotropism of HTLV-III/LAV.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Education, gender and cognitive performance in a 62-year-old normal population: results from the Turva Project.

Four WAIS (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale) subtests, and tasks of memory and cognitive control were administered to a population sample of 143 men and 179 women. Subjects with a minor advantage in years of education out-performed those with only primary schooling. Gender-related effects were also remarkable. Whereas the general abilities were equal in the genders, women out-performed men on recall of word pairs and objects, on verbal cognitive control and on Digit Symbol. In contrast, men excelled on Trail Making A, and on Block Design. The findings emphasize the need for age norms by gender and education for cognitive tests.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Human research on MDMA (3,4-methylene- dioxymethamphetamine) neurotoxicity: cognitive and behavioural indices of change.

Laboratory animals can develop serotonergic neurotoxicity after repeated doses of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or 'Ecstasy'. If similar neural damage occurs in humans, this may be evident in cognitive or behavioural impairments. In a review of the behavioural skills shown by drug-free recreational Ecstasy users, three aspects of cognitive performance are often affected: reduced memory for new information (Rivermead Behavioral Memory, supraspan word recall), impaired higher executive processing (Wisconsin Card Sort, Tower of London), and heightened impulsivity (Impulsiveness, Venturesomeness and Empathy Questionnaire, Matching Familiar Figures test). Performance on other more basic cognitive functions is generally unimpaired (simple reaction time, choice reaction time, number vigilance, Stroop, trail making). Some Ecstasy users also complain of poor memories and/or concentration difficulties, which they attribute to MDMA use. There are many methodological problems and uncertainties with research in this field: non-random allocation of subjects to drug conditions, the deleterious effects of other psychoactive drugs, and the possibility that these adverse profiles reflect pre-existing personality characteristics in Ecstasy users. However, this particular pattern of cognitive decrements in humans, is consistent with the animal data on those brain areas showing serotonergic damage following MDMA: the frontal cortex (impulsivity and higher cognitive impairments), and hippocampus (memory deficits). Finally, this profile of cognitive deficits is also consistent with a hypothetical integrative construct: namely reduced cortical inhibition.

Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of diesel exhaust on neurobehavioral and pulmonary functions.

Ten railroad workers and 6 electricians referred for shortness of breath also had slowness of response, memory loss, and disordered sleep, all of which suggested neurobehavioral impairment. The hypothesis was that diesel exhaust causes central nervous system impairment. Six electricians worked within enclosed concrete walls and roofs that trapped diesel exhaust from trucks. Seven railroad mechanics had tuned diesel engines indoors for 15-50 y, and 3 crewmen rode in locomotives. Neurobehavioral and visual functions were measured with a 26-test battery. Compared with unexposed men, the 16 in this study had significantly impaired reaction time, balance, blink reflex latency R-1, Culture Fair, peg placement, trail making, and verbal recall. Thirteen men had abnormal visual fields, and 11 had abnormal color confusion indices. Nine men had airways obstruction. The author could not attribute abnormalities to confounding factors or bias. Severe neurobehavioral impairment was associated with exposure to confined diesel exhaust. In additional studies of diesel-exposed workers, especially drivers of locomotives and trucks, investigators should use sensitive neurobehavioral methods.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Assessment of quality of life as observed from the baseline data of the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trial quality-of-life substudy.

The improvement of aspects of a patient's quality of life may be as important as prolonging survival in evaluating clinical trials of heart failure. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the baseline measures from the quality-of-life substudy from the Studies of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD) trial. The measures included the 6-Minute Walk Test, Dyspnea Scale, Living with Heart Failure, Physical Limitations, Psychologic Distress and Health Perceptions, as reported by both patients and staff. Cognitive functioning, such as Vocabulary, Digit Span and Trails Making, was also assessed. Patients were classified as New York Heart Association class I (n = 158) versus II or III (n = 150). The internal consistencies (i.e., reliabilities) of the self-report measures were high, except for the Health Perceptions of Class II or III patients. Reliability of the SOLVD quality-of-life battery was confirmed by significantly better life quality among New York Heart Association class I patients versus class II or III patients combined on the Walk Test, Physical Limitations, Dyspnea, Living with Heart Failure, Psychologic Distress and staff perceptions of patient health. In accordance with prior studies, the measures were uncorrelated with left ventricular ejection fraction. By demonstrating strong internal consistencies, reliability based on physician reports, and independence of ejection fraction levels, use of this quality-of-life assessment battery in this and other clinical trials of compromised ventricular functioning is supported.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed2002

How specific are host-produced kairomones to host-seeking ixodid ticks?

Ixodid ticks respond to host-produced substances (kairomones) that influence the ticks' host-finding behavior. In the laboratory adult blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum L., and American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) became akinetic on residues rubbed from their principal hosts (deer for the former two species and dogs for the latter). However, arrestment also occurred when adults of these species were tested using the same method bioassay, but with host substances reversed (i.e., I. scapularis and A. americanum against canine substances, and D. variabilis against deer gland substances). Although adult D. variabilis exhibited arrestant responses to deer substances and are often found along trails used by deer, they apparently make little use of deer as hosts. It is unclear whether responding to deer-produced kairomones may have disadvantages for D. variabilis. Until the active components of host-produced arrestment kairomones are isolated, identified and evaluated in behavioral tests, this host-finding strategy remains only partially understood.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Decision making and executive function in severe traumatic brain injured patients: validation of a decision-making task and correlated features].

OBJECTIVE: At the chronic stage, severe traumatic brain injured (TBI) patients experience difficulty in making decisions. Several studies have demonstrated the involvement of the prefrontal cortex, in particular the orbitofrontal region, in decision-making. The aim of the present study was to validate a decision-making task in this population and to ascertain whether the components of their dysexecutive syndrome may affect their decision-making and lead to difficulties for social rehabilitation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen TBI patients and 15 controlled subjects matched for age, sex and years of education were assessed by a battery of executive tests (GREFEX) and by the gambling task (GT). RESULTS: The TBI subjects performed significantly worse than the controlled group in five out of six GREFEX tests. The TBI choices are significantly more disadvantageous than the choices of the control group when considering the three last blocks of 20 cards of the GT. The GT total score correlated significantly with execution time of the Stroop interference condition and the Trail Making Task B, as well as with the two measures (correct sequence span and number of crossed boxes) of the double condition of Baddeley's task. CONCLUSION: We postulate that executive functioning (supervisory attentional system) influence performance in the gambling task through mechanisms of inhibitory control, divided attention and working memory. Thus, this task seems to be determined by multiple factors; the process of decision-making may depend on frontal integrity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effect of acute hypoglycemia on visual information processing in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Acute hypoglycemia in people with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus causes general impairment in cognitive performance. The effects on more specific cognitive processes are less well defined. Acute hypoglycemia has been shown to impair visual information processing in nondiabetic human subjects and has now been examined in 16 adult subjects with type 1 diabetes. All subjects had normal visual acuity and no diabetic retinopathy, and their median (range) age was 24 (18-47) years with a median (range) duration of type 1 diabetes of 8 (2-18) years and a mean (SD) HbA1c of 8.5 (1.3)%. A hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique was used to maintain arterialized blood glucose at 5.0 mmol l(-1), and on separate test days, either euglycemia was continued or hypoglycemia (2.6 mmol l(-1)) was induced. During each condition subjects performed tests of visual processing and cognitive function. Hypoglycemia caused a significant disruption in general cognitive ability as assessed by digit symbol (p < 0.001) and trail-making B (p < 0.05) tasks. Conventional measures of visual acuity were unaffected by hypoglycemia, but visual information processing deteriorated significantly as indexed by inspection time (p < 0.005) and visual change detection (p < 0.01). Contrast sensitivity tended to deteriorate during hypoglycemia (p = 0.06). In conclusion, hypoglycemia impairs important aspects of early visual information processing and contrast sensitivity in adults with type 1 diabetes. Further research is needed to evaluate the functional relevance of such changes for everyday tasks that require the intake of visual information at speed and under conditions of low contrast.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Neuropsychological sequelae of digital mobile phone exposure in humans.

The effect of electromagnetic fields from digital mobile phones (DMP) on cognitive functioning is an area receiving increased attention. This study compares the performance of 120 volunteers on 8 neuropsychological tests during real or sham exposure to a DMP set to maximum permissible radiofrequency power output. When results were adjusted for known covariates (gender, age, or education), several alterations at significance levels of p<0.05 were obtained. Of these, simple and choice reaction times (CRT) showed strong evidence of impairment. Further, performance on the Trail Making Task (TMT) improved, supporting the hypothesis that DMP radiofrequency emissions improve the speed of processing of information held in working memory.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effects on neurobehavioral performance of chronic exposure to chemically contaminated well water.

Occupational exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) and other solvents impairs neurobehavioral performance. Use of well water contaminated with TCE and solvents has been associated with excessive symptoms, cancers, birth defects and impaired blink reflex. We extended these observations by measuring the neurophysiological (NPH) and neuropsychological (NPS) status of subjects who used water contaminated with 6 to 500 ppb of TCE for 1 to 25 years. The 170 well-water exposed subjects who resided in southwest Tucson, Arizona overlying the Santa Cruz River aquifer, were compared to 68 referent subjects for NPH and NPS tests. Also, 113 histology technicians (HT) were referents for blink reflex latency only. Affective status was assayed by a Profile of Mood States (POMS). Exposed subjects were statistically significantly impaired when compared to referents for NPH tests. These impairments included sway speed with eyes open and closed, blink reflex latency (R-1), eye closure speed, and two choice visual reaction time. NPS status was statistically significant impaired for Culture Fair (intelligence) scores, recall of stories, visual recall, digit span, block design, recognition of fingertip numbers, grooved pegboard and Trail making A and B. POMS scores were elevated. Prolonged residential exposure to well-water containing TCE at lower levels than occupational exposures, but without time away from exposure for metabolism and excretion of toxins, was associated with neurobehavioral impairment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Family history of alcoholism and cognitive recovery in subacute withdrawal.

A family history of alcoholism has been demonstrated to be an important factor affecting cognitive function. However, no studies have yet been conducted to compare cognitive recovery of family history-positive (FH+) and family history-negative (FH-) alcoholics in the subacute withdrawal period. To tackle this problem, a neuropsychological test battery consisting of six computerized tests was administered to 19 FH+ and 20 FH- alcoholics at 2 and 7 weeks after abstinence. At 2 weeks after abstinence, overall performance of both FH+ and FH- groups was significantly poorer than that of healthy controls. At 7 weeks, these performances tended to recover, but in Trail Making A and Figure Position, performances of FH+ alcoholics remained worse than those of controls, while those of FH- alcoholics did not. Thus cognitive recovery during the subacute withdrawal period was worse among FH+ alcoholics than FH- alcoholics, and this finding should be considered when planning alcohol rehabilitation programs.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Ants estimate area using Buffon's needle.

We show for the first time, to our knowledge, that ants can measure the size of potential nest sites. Nest size assessment is by individual scouts. Such scouts always make more than one visit to a potential nest before initiating an emigration of their nest mates and they deploy individual-specific trails within the potential new nest on their first visit. We test three alternative hypotheses for the way in which scouts might measure nests. Experiments indicated that individual scouts use the intersection frequency between their own paths to assess nest areas. These results are consistent with ants using a 'Buffon's needle algorithm' to assess nest areas.

Algorithms↗