Information-processing speed is the primary deficit underlying the poor performance of multiple sclerosis patients in the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT).

The aims of this study were to determine which cognitive domains are evaluated by the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and to identify which of them are responsible for the poorer performance displayed by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in this task. A total of 30 healthy controls and 30 MS patients completed the PASAT task as well as the different tests contained in the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N), some Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-III) subtests, the Spanish version of the Chicago Multiscale Depression Inventory (CMDI), and a new PASAT-based task (ADD1) that was specifically designed for this study. Analysis of covariance and regression-based analyses were performed to identify the predictors that are most strongly associated with the PASAT scores and the between-groups differences in the performance of this task. PASAT execution was associated with scores of the Digit Backward test, Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT), and measures of working memory and information-processing speed. On the other hand, differences between healthy volunteers and MS patients were mainly associated with the SDMT scores. MS patients also exhibited poorer execution than controls in the ADD1 task. Our results suggest that reduced information-processing speed (and not working memory) is the primary alteration underlying the lower scores in the PASAT task (and probably other cognitive deficits) that characterize MS patients. Based on these results, we suggest that tests that capitalize the role of information-processing speed may be of special relevance in the neuropsychological assessment of this clinical population.

[Applications of functional magnetic resonance imaging in pre-surgical patients: motor, mnemonic and linguistic functions]. / Aplicaciones de la resonancia magnética funcional en pacientes prequirúrgicos: funciones motora, de memoria y lingüística.

AIMS: This paper reviews and describes cases involving useful protocols for pre-surgical evaluation in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the motor, mnemonic and linguistic functions. DEVELOPMENT: The application of fMRI in pre-surgical evaluation allows us to pinpoint the anatomical location of a function in relation to the lesion. This technique therefore appears as an alternative to the classical intraoperative tests, which are more aggressive and costly. The paper describes aspects and considerations of fMRI with regard to the methodology and procedure employed in its application, as well as the control of contaminating variables that can affect results. The language protocols are described in terms of lateralisation and localisation, and are divided into expressive and receptive language protocols, together with linguistic protocols for overall stimulation that allow the localisation of both expressive and receptive areas. Concerning the motor protocols, we describe the procedures for patients with and without difficulties in their movement. Lastly, we review and describe the memory protocols that give rise to bilateral stimulation in the mesial temporal areas, which allows both lateralisation and localisation of the hippocampal and parahippocampal areas that are functionally significant for the patients' memory. Each of the protocols is illustrated with cases carried out by our work team. CONCLUSIONS: The development of new protocols for pre-surgical evaluation must be guided by greater delimitation and consistency in functional stimulation, as well as analysis of the behaviour displayed.

[A rare neurologically originated speech disorder: foreign accent syndrome]. / Una rara alteración del habla de origen neurológico: el sindrome del acento extranjero.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign accent syndrome (FAS) is an unusual neurological speech disorder documented in not more than twenty specific studies. As a consequence of a cerebral mainly subcortical injury, the patient s speech is foreign sounding to native listeners. As subject cannot avoid this foreign accent, and given its abrupt emergence, this disorder usually involves emotional consequences by loss of identity and of belonging to a speech community. CASE REPORT: In this paper, a case from Castellón de la Plana (Spain) is presented with a injury in right basal ganglia and the literature about this topic is revised. CONCLUSIONS: From the available data, we describe the main characteristics of the syndrome and discuss the possible role of basal ganglia