Document Detail


Dual-task conditions modulate the efficiency of selective attention mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20621109     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Given previous demonstrations of both selective and divided attention deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, understanding how declines in the integrity of component processes of selective attention in these patients interact with impairments to executive processes mediating dual-task performance has both theoretical and practical relevance. To address this issue, healthy elderly and AD patients performed computerized tasks of spatial orienting, Simon response interference, and visual search both in isolation and while simultaneously engaged in a visuomotor tracking task (i.e., maintaining car position within a simulated driving environment). Results from the single-task conditions confirmed previous demonstrations of selective attention deficits in AD. Dual-task conditions produced in AD patients (but not healthy elderly) a change in the efficiency of the selective attention mechanisms themselves, as reflected in differential effects on cue or display conditions within each task. Rather than exacerbating the selective attention deficits observed under single-task conditions, however, dual-task conditions produced an apparent diminution of these deficits. We suggest this diminution is due to the combination of deficient top-down inhibitory processes along with a decrease in the attention-capturing properties of cue information under dual-task conditions in AD patients. These findings not only increase our understanding of the nature of the attentional deficits in AD patients, but also have implications for understanding the processes mediating attention in neurologically intact individuals.
Authors:
Elena K Festa; William C Heindel; Brian R Ott
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural     Date:  2010-07-17
Journal Detail:
Title:  Neuropsychologia     Volume:  48     ISSN:  1873-3514     ISO Abbreviation:  Neuropsychologia     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-23     Completed Date:  2010-12-08     Revised Date:  2012-03-08    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0020713     Medline TA:  Neuropsychologia     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3252-61     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive, Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University, Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Elena_Festa@Brown.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alzheimer Disease / psychology*
Attention / physiology*
Cognition / physiology
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Orientation / physiology
Photic Stimulation
Psychomotor Performance / physiology
Reaction Time / physiology
Space Perception / physiology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
AG16335/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01 AG016335-05/AG/NIA NIH HHS; R01 AG016335-09/AG/NIA NIH HHS
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