TY - JOUR

T1 - TVA-based modeling of short-term memory capacity, speed of processing and perceptual threshold in chronic stroke patients undergoing cognitive training

T2 - Case-control differences, reliability, and associations with cognitive performance

AU - Richard, Geneviève

AU - Petersen, Anders

AU - Ulrichsen, Kristine Moe

AU - Kolskår, Knut K.

AU - Alnæs, Dag

AU - Sanders, Anne Marthe

AU - Dørum, Erlend S.

AU - Ihle-Hansen, Hege

AU - Nordvik, Jan E.

AU - Westlye, Lars T.

PY - 2020/10/28

Y1 - 2020/10/28

N2 - Attentional deficits following stroke are common and pervasive, and are important predictors for functional recovery. Attentional functions comprise a set of specific cognitive processes allowing to attend, filter and select among a continuous stream of stimuli. These mechanisms are fundamental for more complex cognitive functions such as learning, planning and cognitive control, all crucial for daily functioning. The distributed functional neuroanatomy of these processes is a likely explanation for the high prevalence of attentional impairments following stroke, and underscores the importance of a clinical implementation of computational approaches allowing for sensitive and specific modeling of attentional sub-processes. The Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) offers a theoretical, computational, neuronal and practical framework to assess the efficiency of visual selection performance and parallel processing of multiple objects. Here, in order to assess the sensitivity and reliability of TVA parameters reflecting short-term memory capacity (K), processing speed (C) and perceptual threshold (t0), we used a whole-report paradigm in a cross-sectional case-control comparison and across six repeated assessments over the course of a three-week computerized cognitive training (CCT) intervention in chronic stroke patients (> 6 months since hospital admission, NIHSS ≤ 7 at hospital discharge). Cross-sectional group comparisons documented lower short-term memory capacity, lower processing speed and higher perceptual threshold in patients (n = 70) compared to age-matched healthy controls (n = 140). Further, longitudinal analyses in stroke patients during the course of CCT (n = 54) revealed high reliability of the TVA parameters, and higher processing speed at baseline was associated with larger cognitive improvement after the intervention. The results support the feasibility, reliability and sensitivity of TVA-based assessment of attentional functions in chronic stroke patients.

AB - Attentional deficits following stroke are common and pervasive, and are important predictors for functional recovery. Attentional functions comprise a set of specific cognitive processes allowing to attend, filter and select among a continuous stream of stimuli. These mechanisms are fundamental for more complex cognitive functions such as learning, planning and cognitive control, all crucial for daily functioning. The distributed functional neuroanatomy of these processes is a likely explanation for the high prevalence of attentional impairments following stroke, and underscores the importance of a clinical implementation of computational approaches allowing for sensitive and specific modeling of attentional sub-processes. The Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) offers a theoretical, computational, neuronal and practical framework to assess the efficiency of visual selection performance and parallel processing of multiple objects. Here, in order to assess the sensitivity and reliability of TVA parameters reflecting short-term memory capacity (K), processing speed (C) and perceptual threshold (t0), we used a whole-report paradigm in a cross-sectional case-control comparison and across six repeated assessments over the course of a three-week computerized cognitive training (CCT) intervention in chronic stroke patients (> 6 months since hospital admission, NIHSS ≤ 7 at hospital discharge). Cross-sectional group comparisons documented lower short-term memory capacity, lower processing speed and higher perceptual threshold in patients (n = 70) compared to age-matched healthy controls (n = 140). Further, longitudinal analyses in stroke patients during the course of CCT (n = 54) revealed high reliability of the TVA parameters, and higher processing speed at baseline was associated with larger cognitive improvement after the intervention. The results support the feasibility, reliability and sensitivity of TVA-based assessment of attentional functions in chronic stroke patients.

KW - Attentional deficits

KW - Cerebral stroke

KW - Computerized cognitive training

KW - Longitudinal assessment

KW - Theory of visual attention

KW - Transcranial direct current stimulation

U2 - 10.7717/peerj.9948

DO - 10.7717/peerj.9948

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33194366

AN - SCOPUS:85095121753

VL - 8

JO - PeerJ

JF - PeerJ

SN - 2167-8359

M1 - e9948

ER -