Influence of memory, attention, IQ and age on auditory temporal processing tests: preliminary study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the existence of correlations between the performance of children in auditory temporal tests (Frequency Pattern and Gaps in Noise--GIN) and IQ, attention, memory and age measurements. METHOD: Fifteen typically developing individuals between the ages of 7 to 12 years and normal hearing participated in the study. Auditory temporal processing tests (GIN and Frequency Pattern), as well as a Memory test (Digit Span), Attention tests (auditory and visual modality) and intelligence tests (RAVEN test of Progressive Matrices) were applied. RESULTS: Significant and positive correlation between the Frequency Pattern test and age variable were found, which was considered good (p<0.01, 75.6%). There were no significant correlations between the GIN test and the variables tested. CONCLUSIONS: Auditory temporal skills seem to be influenced by different factors: while the performance in temporal ordering skill seems to be influenced by maturational processes, the performance in temporal resolution was not influenced by any of the aspects investigated.

Influence of memory, attention, IQ and age on auditory temporal processing tests: preliminary study / Influência da memória, atenção, QI e idade em testes de processamento auditivo temporal: estudo preliminar

PURPOSE: To investigate the existence of correlations between the performance of children in auditory temporal tests (Frequency Pattern and Gaps in Noise - GIN) and IQ, attention, memory and age measurements. METHOD: Fifteen typically developing individuals between the ages of 7 to 12 years and normal hearing participated in the study. Auditory temporal processing tests (GIN and Frequency Pattern), as well as a Memory test (Digit Span), Attention tests (auditory and visual modality) and intelligence tests (RAVEN test of Progressive Matrices) were applied. RESULTS: Significant and positive correlation between the Frequency Pattern test and age variable were found, which was considered good (p<0.01, 75.6%). There were no significant correlations between the GIN test and the variables tested. CONCLUSIONS: Auditory temporal skills seem to be influenced by different factors: while the performance in temporal ordering skill seems to be influenced by maturational processes, the performance in temporal resolution was not influenced by any of the aspects investigated. .

OBJETIVO: Investigar a existência de correlações entre o desempenho de crianças com desenvolvimento típico em testes temporais auditivos (Padrão de Frequência e Gaps in Noise - GIN) e medidas de memória, atenção, quociente intelectual e a idade. MÉTODO: Quinze participantes, com idades entre 7 e 12 anos, sem queixas envolvendo audição e desenvolvimento cognitivo, foram submetidos aos testes de processamento temporal auditivo (GIN e Padrão de Frequência), teste de Memória (Span de Dígitos), Atenção (auditiva e visual) e testes de inteligência (Matrizes Progressivas de Raven). RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas correlações significantes e positivas entre o teste Padrão de Frequência e a variável idade, sendo essa considerada boa (p<0,01, 75,6%). Não foram verificadas correlações significantes entre o teste GIN e as variáveis testadas. CONCLUSÃO: As habilidades temporais consideradas parecem ser influenciadas por diferentes fatores: enquanto a habilidade de ordenação temporal parece ser influenciada por processos maturacionais, o desempenho para a habilidade de resolução temporal não foi influenciado por nenhum dos aspectos investigados. .

Atenção, memória e funções executivas em crianças e adolescentes de 6 a 12 anos avaliados pelo CANTAB / Attention, memory and executive functions in children and teenagers between 6 to 12 years old evaluated by CANTAB

A neuropsicologia infantil e uma area distinta dentro da neuropsicologia clinica e o seu surgimento e uma consequencia do reconhecimento de que as relacoes cerebrocomportamento na crianca diferem significativamente dessas relacoes no adulto. Diversos testes neuropsicologicos tem sido desenvolvidos especialmente para administracao em computador, incluindo a bateria CANTAB que tem sido amplamente utilizada em pesquisas com diferentes grupos de idade e patologias. Em relacao ao desenvolvimento, alguns aspectos da atencao estao presentes no inicio da infancia enquanto outros continuam a se desenvolver ao longo da infancia e adolescencia. A memoria sofre inumeras alteracoes ao longo da vida, especialmente na idade pre-escolar. E as funcoes executivas demoram mais tempo para se desenvolver por completo e estudos apontam que alguns componentes ja estao presentes de forma imatura em criancas entre os 6 e 12 anos de idade, mas a completa maturacao acontece com a idade. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi investigar o desenvolvimento da atencao, memoria e funcoes executivas em criancas e adolescentes dos 6 aos 12 anos de idade com o CANTAB, buscando padroes especificos de desenvolvimento para os componente dessas funcoes. Foram avaliados 85 criancas e adolescentes (43 masculino) entre 6 e 12 anos de idade, sem historico de disturbios neurologicos e/ou psiquiatricos, exposicao cronica a agentes toxicos, lesao ou cirurgia cerebral e problemas de desenvolvimento. Foram utilizados o teste Matrizes Progressiva Coloridas de Raven e os seguintes subtestes do CANTAB: Choice Reaction Time, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Pattern Recognition Memory, Delayed Matching to Sample, Spatial Recognition Memory, Spatial Span, Stockings of Cambridge, Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift, Stop Signal Task e Information Sampling Task(AU)

Child neuropsychology is a distinct area in the clinical neuropsychology and its emergence is a consequence of the acknowledgment that the brain-behavior relationships in child differ significantly from those in adult. Several neuropsychology tests have been developed to be administered in computers, including the CANTAB that has been widely used by researchers concerning different ages and pathologies groups. In regard to the development, some aspects of attention are present in the beginning of childhood while others continue to develop along the childhood and youth. Memory processes undergo many changes throughout life, especially in preschool age. Executive functions take longer to fully develop and researches indicate that some components are present in immature form on child between 6 to 12 years old, but the complete ripening occurs with age increase. The aim of this work was to investigate the development of attention, memory and executive functions in children and teenagers from 6 to 12 years old using the CANTAB, and verify if there are specific patterns of development for the components of these functions. There were evaluated 85 children and teenagers (43 male) between 6 to 12 years old with no history of neurological and/or psychiatric disorders, chronic exposures to toxic agents, injury or brain surgery and development disorders. They were submitted to the Ravens progressive matrices and the following CANTABs subtests: Choice Reaction Time, Rapid Visual Information Processing, Pattern Recognition Memory, Delayed Matching to Sample, Spatial Recognition Memory, Spatial Span, Stockings of Cambridge, Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift, Stop Signal Task e Information Sampling Task(AU)

Memory span measured by the spatial span tests of the Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery in a group of Brazilian children and adolescents / Capacidade de memória medida por testes de retenção espacial da bateria neuropspicologica computadorizada de Cambridge em um grupo de crianças e adolescentes brasileiros

The neuropsychological tests of spatial span are designed to measure attention and working memory. The version of the spatial span test in the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) evaluates these functions through the recall of sequences of spatial locations presented to the subject. Objective: The present study investigated how age, gender and educational level might affect the performance of the non-verbal system. Methods: A total of 60 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years were assessed (25 males and 35 females). Results: The results showed no gender differences in test performance. Children with six or more years of education showed better performance than children with less than three years of education. Older children had more schooling and thus were able to recall a greater number of items. Span length values proved similar to a previous large normative study which also employed the CANTAB Spatial Span (De Luca et al., 2003). Conclusion: The similarity in performance of the Brazilian children and adolescents studied and the group of Australian participants examined by the cited authors, despite the socio-cultural and economical differences, points to the suitability of the task for the assessment of attention and working memory in Brazilian children.

Testes neuropsicológicos de span visuoespacial são construídos para avaliar amplitude atencional e memória de trabalho. Na versão do teste de span visuoespacial da Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) essa avaliação é feita através de sequências de localização espacial. Objetivo: O presente estudo investiga como a idade, o sexo e a escolaridade podem afetar o desempenho nesse sistema não-verbal. Métodos: Foram avaliadas 60 crianças e adolescentes com idades entre 6 e 18 anos (25 meninos; 35 meninas). Resultados: Os resultados não mostraram diferenças no desempenho do teste entre os sexos. O grupo de crianças com seis ou mais anos de escolaridade foi melhor do que a de crianças menores de três anos de estudo. Nossos resultados sugerem que as crianças mais velhas e, portanto, com maior tempo de escolaridade conseguem se lembrar de um número maior de itens. Os valores de amplitude foram similares aos obtidos em um experimento normativo prévio amplo no qual foi utilizado o teste Spatial Span do CANTAB (De Luca et al., 2003). Conclusão: Estas concordâncias de desempenhos entre crianças e adolescentes brasileiros e o grupo de participantes australianos examinados pelos autores citados nos mostram que apesar das diferenças sócio-culturais e econômicas existentes, a tarefa é adequada para avaliação de atenção e memória de trabalho em crianças brasileiras.

Memory span measured by the spatial span tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in a group of Brazilian children and adolescents.

The neuropsychological tests of spatial span are designed to measure attention and working memory. The version of the spatial span test in the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) evaluates these functions through the recall of sequences of spatial locations presented to the subject. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated how age, gender and educational level might affect the performance of the non-verbal system. METHODS: A total of 60 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years were assessed (25 males and 35 females). RESULTS: The results showed no gender differences in test performance. Children with six or more years of education showed better performance than children with less than three years of education. Older children had more schooling and thus were able to recall a greater number of items. Span length values proved similar to a previous large normative study which also employed the CANTAB Spatial Span (De Luca et al., 2003). CONCLUSION: The similarity in performance of the Brazilian children and adolescents studied and the group of Australian participants examined by the cited authors, despite the socio-cultural and economical differences, points to the suitability of the task for the assessment of attention and working memory in Brazilian children.

Testes neuropsicológicos de span visuoespacial são construídos para avaliar amplitude atencional e memória de trabalho. Na versão do teste de span visuoespacial da Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) essa avaliação é feita através de sequências de localização espacial. OBJETIVO: O presente estudo investiga como a idade, o sexo e a escolaridade podem afetar o desempenho nesse sistema não-verbal. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 60 crianças e adolescentes com idades entre 6 e 18 anos (25 meninos; 35 meninas). RESULTADOS: Os resultados não mostraram diferenças no desempenho do teste entre os sexos. O grupo de crianças com seis ou mais anos de escolaridade foi melhor do que a de crianças menores de três anos de estudo. Nossos resultados sugerem que as crianças mais velhas e, portanto, com maior tempo de escolaridade conseguem se lembrar de um número maior de itens. Os valores de amplitude foram similares aos obtidos em um experimento normativo prévio amplo no qual foi utilizado o teste Spatial Span do CANTAB (De Luca et al., 2003). CONCLUSÃO: Estas concordâncias de desempenhos entre crianças e adolescentes brasileiros e o grupo de participantes australianos examinados pelos autores citados nos mostram que apesar das diferenças sócio-culturais e econômicas existentes, a tarefa é adequada para avaliação de atenção e memória de trabalho em crianças brasileiras.

The use of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) in neuropsychological assessment: application in Brazilian research with control children and adults with neurological disorders

Computerized neuropsychological tests can be effective and have many benefits. This paper addresses these issues using the computer-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to assess Brazilian children and adults. Preliminary normative data for Brazilian children obtained in a series of CANTAB subtests are presented together with data from adults (controls) and samples of patients with multiple sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The results obtained in children confirmed the normative values reported for American children (Luciana & Nelson, 2002), indicating high applicability of the CANTAB battery for children in the evaluation of visual memory, working memory, planning, and set shifting. For multiple sclerosis patients, CANTAB revealed differences between the control and multiple sclerosis groups for all subtests employed, including visual memory, working memory, spatial memory, decision making, inhibitory control, and sustained attention. In children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the CANTAB tests revealed specific detriments in attention and memory. These results of the application of CANTAB in different patient groups indicate that the battery is appropriate for assessing several central nervous system diseases.(AU)

The use of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) in neuropsychological assessment: application in Brazilian research with control children and adults with neurological disorders

Computerized neuropsychological tests can be effective and have many benefits. This paper addresses these issues using the computer-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) to assess Brazilian children and adults. Preliminary normative data for Brazilian children obtained in a series of CANTAB subtests are presented together with data from adults (controls) and samples of patients with multiple sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The results obtained in children confirmed the normative values reported for American children (Luciana & Nelson, 2002), indicating high applicability of the CANTAB battery for children in the evaluation of visual memory, working memory, planning, and set shifting. For multiple sclerosis patients, CANTAB revealed differences between the control and multiple sclerosis groups for all subtests employed, including visual memory, working memory, spatial memory, decision making, inhibitory control, and sustained attention. In children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the CANTAB tests revealed specific detriments in attention and memory. These results of the application of CANTAB in different patient groups indicate that the battery is appropriate for assessing several central nervous system diseases.