IRCSS San Camillo, Venice, Italy.
J Clin Neurophysiol. 2010 Jun;27(3):198-206. doi: 10.1097/WNP.0b013e3181e0aa14.
Aim of this study is to investigate working memory functions in nondemented patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using neuropsychological testing and auditory event-related potentials. Twenty-four patients with ALS and 17 age- and education-matched controls underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment, with particular emphasis on working memory functions. Event-related potentials were assessed with an active auditory oddball paradigm. In a subsample (67%) of patients with ALS, the neuropsychological assessment revealed impaired performance on working memory tests (semantic and letter verbal fluency, modified card sorting test, trail making test, digit span, Corsi blocks tapping test, and prose memory). The analysis of event-related potentials showed a significant delay of the N100, P200, and N200 latency in ALS compared with controls. Correlation analysis showed a relation between clinical parameters (disease duration and functional rating scale) and neuropsychological test results (letter fluency and trail making test) and between disease duration and P300 amplitude. The neuropsychological and event-related potentials profile of patients with ALS at an average is consistent with a mild dysfunction of the central executive component of working memory. In conclusion, the results support previously published reports that indicate the involvement of the extramotor functions in a significant subsample of ALS.
本研究旨在使用神经心理学测试和听觉事件相关电位来研究非痴呆型肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）患者的工作记忆功能。24 名 ALS 患者和 17 名年龄和教育程度匹配的对照组接受了全面的神经心理学评估，特别强调了工作记忆功能。事件相关电位采用主动听觉Oddball 范式进行评估。在 ALS 患者的亚组（67%）中，神经心理学评估显示工作记忆测试（语义和字母流畅性、改良卡片分类测试、连线测试、数字跨度、Corsi 块敲击测试和散文记忆）表现受损。事件相关电位分析显示，与对照组相比，ALS 患者的 N100、P200 和 N200 潜伏期明显延迟。相关性分析显示，临床参数（疾病持续时间和功能评定量表）与神经心理学测试结果（字母流畅性和连线测试）以及疾病持续时间与 P300 振幅之间存在相关性。ALS 患者的神经心理学和事件相关电位特征平均与工作记忆的中央执行成分的轻度功能障碍一致。总之，结果支持先前发表的报告，表明运动外功能在 ALS 的一个重要亚组中存在。
